Saniderm Healing Process

Tegaderm is a sterile, breathable, waterproof, germ-proof barrier to protect your new tattoo. Tegaderm will protect your tattoo from contamination and will also protect your clothes and sheets from excess ink, blood and fluid that are the normal by-products of healing a tattoo. After tissue has been injured, the body goes through autolytic debridement – a big word for the body’s natural process of removing dead and dying tissue. During this process, moisture and enzymes are produced to help break down dead tissue and, in normal circumstances, they dry up and evaporate which reduces their effectiveness. When this happens, longer healing times are required and scabbing and scarring may occur. Saniderm/Tegaderm locks in these healing enzymes, called autolysins, and allows the skin to continue to function as normal because the bandage is permeable to oxygen and water vapor (breathable).

1. You can shower normally while healing, but please still abstain from swimming or submerging your tattoo in bodies of water.

2. DO NOT scrub the area with the Tegaderm, it will come off.

3. You can wear the same Tegaderm for UP TO 5 days, DO NOT exceed 5 days

4. AFTER the film comes off, wash off the remaining gunk and let the area air out; use a thin layer of unscented lotion to keep the area moisturized. 

5. DO NOT PANIC when there’s a bubble of pooling blood under the plastic! That is normal, your body will re-absorb the liquid in a couple of days and help heal your tattoo. 

6. If your tegaderm/saniderm came off before the 5 days, please return to your artist for a FREE re-application of the film. OR use a general lotion-method of tattoo healing instead. 

7. If you have questions, please contact your artist or our tattoo studio.