​For most of my clients, I use a second skin wrap for the healing process to speed up recovery and get better long term healing results. I use a brand called Recoveryderm currently, but it goes under many different brand names, saniderm, tegaderm, tattooderm, etc. which all work very similarly. For clients with adhesive allergies or other skin sensitivities I recommend a more traditional aftercare method to avoid unnecessary skin irritation during the healing process.

• Recoveryderm Aftercare

  • For small pieces or pieces that are mainly linework or have minimal color or shading, typically the wrap should stay on about 3-5 days. For larger pieces or tattoos with a lot of color and shading, typically a little more time is better, about 5-7 days.​

  • While the wrap is on it will fill up with a bit of fluid-excess blood, plasma, excess ink-and look a bit strange. It can sometimes look a bit blurry or goopy, and this is totally normal! If the tattoo bleeds very excessively it can sometimes cause the wrap to leak or fall off a bit early. Small leaks sometimes are okay, often the wrap is able to sort of stick itself back down after its done leaking, but large leaks can be troublesome so larger leaks may mean the wrap needs to come off early. 

  • The wrap will peel a bit along the edges over the few days it's on, getting caught on clothes and rubbing against stuff and etc. This is okay as long as the wrap doesn't peel over top of the tattoo anywhere. If it does, this breaks the sanitary seal which means germs could possibly get in, so the wrap would need to be removed so the tattoo could be cleaned.

  • In the case of an allergic reaction (excessive redness along all the skin covered by the wrap, not just the tattoo, or unusual amounts of pain, rashes, etc.) the wrap would need to be removed because at that point it would be doing more harm than good. Typically the only people who have problems are people who are allergic to adhesives and is fairly uncommon.

  • In any case where the wrap had to be taken off before day 3 of the process, it would be best to revert to the traditional aftercare method listed below for the remainder of the healing process.

  • When taking the wrap off, do so gently with lots of warm, soapy, running water. Some irritation can occur when taking the wrap off in the skin surrounding the tattoo, but it typically goes away in a day or two. After the wrap is removed, with clean hands, clean the tattoo with liquid, antibacterial soap thoroughly but gently. Let air dry or pat dry with a clean, soft towel, and then apply a thin layer of aquaphor to moisturize the healing skin.

  • For the next 2 days, wash the area 2-3 times a day with liquid antibacterial soap and, once dry, apply a thin layer of aquaphor.

  • For the following week after that, wash 1-2 times a day with liquid antibacterial soap and, once dry,  apply a thin layer of lotion to moisturize.

  • NO-PICKING, ITCHING, SCRATCHING, SUNNING, SWIMMING, OR SOAKING FOR 2-3 WEEKS FROM THE DAY THE TATTOO WAS DONE. 

• Traditional Aftercare​

  • Remove the seran wrap no longer than 3 hours after the tattoo was done. Wash gently with liquid, antibacterial soap​, let air dry or pat dry with a clean, soft towel, then wrap in new seran wrap (without ointment or lotion) and leave on for the remainder of the night. Fresh tattoos bleed a bit for the first 2-3 days after they're done, particularly while sleeping, so it's important to keep the tattoo wrapped at night to avoid contact with fabrics. 

  • Wash with liquid antibacterial soap 3-5 times a day for the first week, and apply a thin layer of aquaphor to the tattoo after washing and drying every time unless the tattoo will be wrapped in seran wrap.

  • During the first week, the tattoo will need to be wrapped in seran wrap at night and any time clothing needs to come in contact with it, to avoid fabric rubbing it and to avoid clothing sticking to it. The tattoo can be unwrapped any time it can be exposed without risk of germs or touching things, so how often it can be unwrapped will depend on the area of the body that it's on.

  • For the second week, wash 1-3 times a day with liquid antibacterial soap and apply a thin layer of lotion to the tattoo after washing/drying. 

  • For the third week, or until sensitivity and any flakiness are gone, once a day for washing and continue to lotion.

  • NO-PICKING, ITCHING, SCRATCHING, SUNNING, SWIMMING, OR SOAKING FOR 2-3 WEEKS FROM THE DAY THE TATTOO WAS DONE. 

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For any questions or concerns about the healing process please email me at zombiecattats@gmail.com, and I'll respond as soon as I am able!