Tattoo Aftercare
Healing With
Recovery Derm
How to Remove Recovery Derm:
When it is time to remove your Recovery Derm please take care and take as much time as needed to remove it. Ripping off the second skin quickly can permanently damage your tattoo.
We recommend removing it with warm water and the soap provided in your aftercare bag. This is often easiest in the shower, but avoid running hot water over the tattooed area. Be extremely careful when removing the Recovery derm from your skin, gently lift a corner and run some water under the bandage before starting to remove it.
Once you have a corner of the second skin loosened pull down and away from the tattooed area. If removing the second skin this way is uncomfortable or painful, we recommend using the soap provided in your aftercare bag to make a lather, then use your finger and the lather to loosen the adhesive on the Recovery derm.
First 24 Hours-3 Days:
Keep the Recovery Derm/second skin on for 24 hours minimum, 3 days if possible. You can remove it at any time if the seal around the tattoo is broken.
You can shower with the Recovery Derm on, but make sure no water gets under the second skin and that the seal remains intact.
After 3 Days:
After 3 days, you can remove the first piece of the second skin. See “How to remove Recovery Derm” above.
Once out of the shower be sure to pat the tattooed area dry carefully with a clean paper towel.
If using the second piece of recovery derm do not put any ointment on your tattoo. It will keep the second skin from adhering to your skin. The second piece of Recovery derm can stay on for 3-5 additional days.
Second Piece of Recovery Derm:
After the second application of second skin is removed you can start to use both the soap and ointment we provide. Wash the tattoo gently with the soap, pat dry with a clean paper towel, and apply the ointment as needed. Be careful not to over-hydrate the tattoo, it’s better to let it get a little dry than to over-hydrate.
If you have a preferred soap and lotion feel free to use them as long as it is scent free. This will last for another 2 weeks as your tattoo heals. Make sure to wash the tattoo daily and keep up with ointment as needed.
For more information about the Recovery Derm see the links above.
Healing Without Recovery Derm
Without the Recovery Derm, the aftercare process is a little simpler. Once you get home from your appointment we recommend you use a pea-sized drop of the soap we provide you to wash the tattoo. You can also use unscented soap to wash the tattoo if you prefer.
With clean hands gently massage the soap into the tattoo making sure to lather across the area. Once the tattoo is fully covered in the soap you can rinse with lukewarm water, and pat dry with a clean paper towel.
Once the tattoo is dry you can add the ointment provided. You want to use enough to make the tattoo hydrated, but not saturated. If the skin is shiny and greasy afterwards you’ve added too much.
Add ointment 2-3 times a day as needed. Everybody’s body is different and you may need to adjust the amount of ointment to how you heal.
