Recovery Derm Shield is a transparent matte film adhesive bandage. Derm Shield offers maximum breathability and flexibility, providing optimal conditions for gentle healing and skin renewal. It eliminates scabbing and reduces the risk of scarring, while preventing exposure to bacteria, dirt, and abrasion. Derm Shield is waterproof, but permeable to allow skin perspiration, and it is durable enough to keep up with your everyday activities.  It works by locking in your body’s natural healing fluids so your tattoo stays hydrated and heals quickly and efficiently with no scabbing and reduced scarring. Another perk—because it is breathable, you can wear it for several days at a time while your tattoo heals.  This allows you to skip out on the frequent washing and ointment applying involved with traditional tattoo aftercare.When you leave the shop, you will have a piece of Derm Shield protecting your tattoo, and you will be given a second sheet to take home with you. You’ll notice that fluid will gather underneath of your bandage during the first 24 hours; this is a mix of plasma, ink, and a minimal amount of blood, and is completely normal.Approximately 24 hours after the completion of your tattoo, you will change the bandage. To do so, please follow the below instructions:Wash your hands, and gently peel off the existing Derm Shield. Wash the tattoo with gentle soap, and warm water. I recommend a mild liquid hand soap (like Dr. Bronner’s, Dial or Softsoap, just no perfumed or exfoliating body washes).  Once you clean your tattoo, make sure all the soap has been rinsed, then gently pat dry with a clean paper towel. Do not use a bath towel or cloth as this can leave bacteria or fibers on your fresh tattoo.  The area must be completely dry, with no ointments or lotions. Peel the provided Derm Shield, as shown at your appointment, and adhere it to your tattoo. As a friendly reminder, you must peel the white plastic sections off first then apply it adhesive side down with the plus signs facing upwards.  If needed, have a friend help. Leave the second piece of bandage on for 4 to 5 days. After that time, gently and slowly peel off the Derm Shield. If needed, you can do this in the shower, and it will help it peel off more easily. From here, you can apply lotion when needed, and enjoy your tattoo! Please notify your artist if you have an allergy to adhesives - if so, Derm Shield is NOT recommended for you.For some smaller tattoos, changing the Derm Shield that was placed the day of your appointment is not necessary and you may keep it on for 4 days.

After your tattoo is completed, your tattoo will be bandaged for your trip home. Leave the bandage on for one to three hours. When you take the bandage off, wash it with very warm water (as hot as is comfortable) and mild liquid hand soap (like Dr. Bronner’s, Dial or Softsoap, just no perfumed or exfoliating body washes). Pat it dry gently with a paper towel, and let it air dry the rest of the way (never scrub the tattoo with a towel or sponge). Then you will apply a very small amount of Aquaphor Ointment or plain, unscented skin lotion (I recommend Aveeno, Lubriderm, jergens ultra healing, or any of their generics) to the tattoo, just enough to lightly moisturize. Do not slather a big, thick coat of product over it; just enough for it to stay moist and flexible. If you are using Aquaphor, you can switch to a plain lotion after the first few days. Lotion is generally fine for everyone.

• Your first night sleeping, your artist might recommend you re-wrap the tattoo with plastic wrap (like Saran Wrap) to sleep without the tattoo sticking to your sheets. This is generally for larger or solid-color tattoos. If your artist did not recommend re-wrapping, just let the tattoo stay exposed to air overnight.

• Every day from then on, you will wash the tattoo in the morning and at night, and apply lotion 3 times a day or so, or whenever the tattoo feels dry or tight.

• Always wash your hands before touching the tattoo.

• DO NOT apply Vaseline, Neosporin, Bacitracin or any other medicated or perfumed product to your tattoo.

• After a few days, the tattoo will form a thin scab over it, and in about a week the scab will begin to flake off in the shower. DO NOT pick or scratch at the scab, just keep it clean and moist and the scabs will all fall off by themselves in about two weeks. Picking any of the scabs off will cause faded color and damage to the skin.

During healing do NOT:

• Wrap the tattoo after the first night (wearing breathable clothes over it is fine as long as they are not causing friction. (Keeping tattoos wrapped in plastic or bandages will stop air from getting to the tattoo, slow healing, and make gross stuff grow in there.)

• Submerge the tattoo in water. This means baths, pools and oceans. Regular showering is fine.

• Expose it to strong sunlight (Like outdoor activities or beach days. Walking to your car is fine)

• Shave over the tattoo (ouch!)

When all the scabs fall off and the skin feels smooth again to the touch, it is all healed and you can shave over it again, and swim and everything else. Sometimes after the scab falls off there is a secondary shiny, raised or waxy coat over the tattoo. This is just another healing layer of skin. Continue to moisturize it and it will smooth out by itself over time. If you have any questions about your tattoo while its healing you are always welcome to ]come by the shop and have me check it out, or email me with "AFTERCARE" in the subject line for an immediate response.  

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If something doesn't look perfect

 After your tattoo is finished healing, I'll do our best to make it right. Sometimes with excessive scabbing, or other unpredictable reactions during healing, your skin can reject some ink, leaving a "light spot" that is closer to your skin color in the tattoo (or a line might get thinner or lighter in one spot). This is common as its unlikely your body will accept every spot of pigment uniformly, so just contact me via email after your tattoo is finished healing with a photo to see if a small touch up is in order. Unless you were negligent during the care of your tattoo, touch-ups are very minor and quick, and guaranteed by me if you contact me about it within 3 months of getting the tattoo. Because older tattoos that have settled in fully and aged require more work to make uniform, I suggest coming in as soon as possible when it's healed, as touch ups are performed for a fee at my discretion after 3 months.

While I deal with the healing of tattoos often, I am not a doctor, and can only give guidelines on tattoo care, not medical advice. If your tattoo develops any type of rash or discharge during healing, do not hesitate to see a doctor.