Saniderm/Tegaderm/Second Skin (there are many brands) is a breathable, flexible bandage for your tattoo that's intended to lock in your body's natural healing fluids, while protecting it from all outside contact. It is permeable to gasses, allowing your skin to "breathe" and is safe to leave on for up to 4 days following the tattoo procedure. Once removed, your tattoo has gone through most of the healing process already and should have minimal peeling and flaking from there on out.

When you leave the shop with your bandage on your job is essentially done for the next 3-4 days. Keep an eye on the bandage to ensure that the seal around the edges has not broken, exposing the tattoo and allowing outside contact of the tattoo.

It is completely normal for fluid to build up inside of your bandage, this is a mixture of your body's normal weeping/healing process. While it may look gross, it is your body's natural reaction to the tattoo. The only time you would need to remove the bandage before 3-4 days is if the seal is broken or the bandage is torn, exposing the tattoo.

Saniderm is technically a waterproof bandage and you can shower with it on. However, we do not recommend prolonged exposure to water during this time because it can weaken the adhesive. We also advise against excessive sweating while wearing the bandage, as sweat can become trapped heath the bandage.

Gently remove the bandage after 3-4 days. Do this by starting at one corner and slowly peel it off in whichever direction works best, either down or sideways in the direction of hair growth. We recommend removing it in the shower, the hot water will loosen the adhesive so the bandage will peel of more easily.

Once the bandage is removed, immediately wash your tattoo using liquid, fragrance-free soap, like Dial Gold. Only use your fingertips when washing your tattoo, a washcloth can be too abrasive. Rinse thoroughly with warm water and pat the tattoo dry with a clean towel or fresh paper towel.

After leaving the shop, keep your tattoo bandaged for a few hours, or until you're at home and can safely and properly clean your tattoo.

Once at home, remove your soaker bandage/plastic wrap and wash your tattoo with a liquid, fragrance-free, antibacterial soap (we recommend Dial Gold) and warm water. Use only your clean fingertips when washing your tattoo -towels/sponges/loofahs are too abrasive and can potentially scratch or damage your tattoo. Lightly pat your tattoo dry with a towel or just let it air dry - you never want to rub a fresh tattoo.

After your tattoo is fully dry, apply a very thin layer of ointment (we recommend Aquaphor) all over your tattoo and rub it in well. Just the same as you would normally with lotion.

Repeat the cleaning and ointment process three times per day for the first three days.

The first three nights after getting tattooed you will need to protect your tattoo from drying out throughout the night and sticking to your sheets or clothing. You do this by cleaning your tattoo and applying ointment, as described above, and then wrapping your tattoo with plastic wrap for while you sleep.

In the morning when you wake up, immediately remove the plastic wrap and wash your tattoo thoroughly and apply your ointment.

Remember, your tattoo is an open wound, so when you wrap it with plastic wrap you need to be sure that it has been thoroughly cleaned first, or else any kind of bacteria and germs will essentially be trapped against your wound and will have prolonged exposure to it throughout the night.