DERM AFTERCARE

What is tattoo derm?

-Derm acts like a second skin. It is a plastic barrier that has tiny micro air holes for your skin to have proper oxygen flow to heal, but also keeps your tattoo moist, and protected from unwanted bacteria and debris getting into your tattoo.  You also benefit getting the least amount of scabbing to no scabbing or peeling, preserving more ink in your tattoo.

Step 1:   Wear the derm 3-4 days after receiving the tattoo. There will be plasma fluid build-up as the day progresses a.k.a. ink sacs. It is normal to have plasma build up under the derm. Plasma helps heal the tattoo and some will get re-absorbed back into your skin is healing.

-         You do not want blood fluid to build up. Dead blood cells can cause surface infections.

(If you are noticing a bloody build up, please contact your artist, then either have the derm changed out to a new derm, or continue following through with the aftercare.)

Step 2:    On your third or fourth day, wash your hands thoroughly with warm water and antibacterial soap before removing the derm. I recommend dial gold soap.

Step 3:    Pat your tattoo dry with paper towel, do not use a regular towel to dry your tattoo. Towels can harbor bacteria. Let your tattoo air dry a bit.

Step 4:    Wash your hands each time before putting a thin layer of either an ointment or lotion on your tattoo.

Step 5:    When you put on your first application of moisturizer, and before you have to put on your second application of moisturizer, give your tattoo another wash and let it air dry before the second application, then don’t wash your tattoo anymore. Continue to moisturize it. When showering, avoid direct water contact on the tattoo. Its ok if it gets a little wet. Don’t get it soaked.

Ointment should be 3-4 times since they are a little thicker and keeps your skin moisturized longer, lotions should be 4-5 times a day. If you have any scabs or dead skin, do not pick at them. Let them natural fall off. Do not over moisturize to the point its swimming, especially if you have scabs, otherwise you can reopen the skin and can create color loss and or infections.

Lotions/Ointments I recommend:

Hustle butter

Tattoo Lovers Care

After Inked Tattoo

If using A+D and Aquaphor:

A+D and Aquaphor are thick ointments and should only be used on day one of apply moisture to your tattoo after the derm comes off. Afterwards, switch to an unscented lotion, like Lubriderm. You might have to apply lotion more often than you would with an ointment. The moment your tattoo feels really dry, apply your next lotion. Otherwise use any of the lotions/ointments I recommended.

Avoid:

-        Petroleum-based ointments. They are really thick and cannot absorb into your skin properly, choking out your tattoo and can prolong the healing process, create scabs, or can occur color loss. Your skin needs oxygen to heal.

-        Anything that has lavender in their products. A lot of people are unaware of having lavender allergies and can break out in a rash. Make sure to look at the ingredients before use if you have a skin allergy to a specific ingredient.

-        Moisturizing while your tattoo is wet. You can trap the moisture under your tattoo, which can create your scabs to not dry out properly and or can cultivate bacteria.

What should I do if the derm is leaking?

-        Contact me please, I will then walk you through what you should do for your next step.

-        IF YOU ARE LOCAL, contact me and I would prefer you coming into the shop and having me changing out the bandage properly.

-        IF YOU ARE NOT LOCAL , contact me and I will talk you through on changing out your bandage. I will give you extra derm in case you have to change it out yourself.

What should I do if the derm has big ink sacs with in the sealed derm?

-        If you are unsure of the status of your healing tattoo, please contact me with some pictures please.

-        It is fine if there are ink sacs, but sometimes too much of ink sacs can waterboard your tattoo, especially if it’s resting on your tattoo for long periods of time. Some people will ooze more plasma than others and some areas on the body will ooze more plasma than other spots. They can also sometimes create white heads that, do not pop them, it can disrupt the ink and you will have missing ink spots once the white heads go away.

-        If you are local, please contact me and stop by at the shop so I can change out your bandage properly.

-        IF YOU ARE NOT LOCAL, I recommend to drain the excess. Do not poke a hole in your derm. Instead, with clean hands, pull from one of the ends of your derm that the sac it is closet to. Do not drain all of it. Just enough to where you have some liquid underneath from preventing your tattoo drying out too fast.

After you drain it, alcohol wipe your skin in the area that you pulled from and stick a piece of the spare derm you have received in that area.

My Derm has half rolled up on me and my tattoo is exposed, what should I do?

-        IF YOU ARE LOCAL, contact me and come into the shop so I can either properly change out the bandage or you can follow through with the aftercare and just make sure to keep it clean and moisturized.

-        IF YOU ARE NOT LOCAL, with clean hands, take the derm off, wash your tattoo with warm water and antibacterial soap. Make sure all the suds are off. Pat it dry with paper towel and let it air dry a bit. Then reapply the spare derm on your tattoo. If you don’t have enough derm then follow through with the aftercare and keep your tattoo clean and moisturized.

What should I do if I noticed my skin being irritated around the derm?

-        Remember contact me if you are unsure and send pictures please.

Derm Allergy

-        A lot of people don’t know they have skin allergies until something occurs. If you are noticing your skin getting puffy like a hive- like reaction, take off the bandage and follow through with the aftercare. Your skin is most likely reacting to the adhesive of the derm. Different brands of derms will use different ingredients for the adhesives not all are made the same. You will know by day 1 wearing the derm if you are developing a reaction. The reaction will go away after taking the derm off.

Examples of derm reactions: