Healing a Tattoo with Saniderm

Here’s a little story about Saniderm and how it changed my tattooed life forever.

I flew to Seattle a couple weeks ago to finish a sleeve with tattoo artist Tina Bafaro. As a burgeoning collector, I have a decent amount of ink. But—as any true collector knows—not nearly enough. For me, the ink is barely dry before I’m planning my next project; strategizing ways to explain why I need another tattoo to my husband. I enjoy all the aspects of tattoo collecting—meeting great artists, traveling, checking out new cities, and acquiring a new piece of art. I even (sort of) enjoy being tattooed… most of the time.

According to everyone who has tattooed me, I have “perfect” skin. Curious, I asked Tina when she commented on this very thing. According to her, perfect, tattooable skin is supple due to minimal sun exposure (I knew staying indoors my whole life as a dedicated bookworm would pay off!) It also has texture, few scars, and can take the ink well. Bursting with underserved pride, I briefly wondered if I should put this important “life skill” on my resume. But then, Tina went back to tattooing, and the bittersweet bite of the tattoo machine silenced my thoughts.

Want to know what I really suck at? Healing. I tattoo like a dream but heal like a nightmare.

I tend to my healing tattoo like a nervous mother or a jealous lover—always hovering, tending, and worrying if I’m doing everything right. Yet, no matter how carefully I tend to myself, I always end up a flaking (frequently scabbing) mess. The tattoo gods gave me tiny pores but punished me with excessive lymph and plasma. Ahhh, the cruelty of fate!

Healing with Saniderm

This time around, I tried something new—Saniderm.

Saniderm is essentially a medical-grade adhesive bandage that seals your tattoo. It prevents dirt, germs, and other nasties from collecting on it and causing trouble. According to the standard, you should remove your wrap after 4–8 hours and let it dry and heal naturally. You’re instructed to wash it periodically, avoid extended water exposure, and keep a very light film of artist-approved ointment on the tattoo for days to prevent scabbing. The healing process usually takes one to two weeks.

However, Saniderm works completely differently. Here’s how:

• Your first bandage lasts 8–24 hours and is removed when the buildup of lymph (that sticky clear fluid) breaks the seal.
• Apply a second Saniderm bandage after washing your tattoo thoroughly.
• Leave the second bandage on if you’re done seeping. If you’re an overachiever (like me) and continue to seep, take the bandage off in a day or two.
• After another wash, the final bandage goes on.

No need for ointments.

You don’t need to let it air dry.

You COMPLETELY cover it with Saniderm per their instructions on their website. And that’s it. Literally.

The Application Process

Tina applied my first bandage at the shop. That shit is a little tricky to work with, so it took us a while. Think cabinet liner paper with two backings and you can never quite find the little pull tab. My advice—test a little piece on your skin before getting tattooed to get a feel for it.

I slept all night with the bandage on. In the morning, there were squashy areas where I had seeped. I removed the wrap, washed the tattooed area, and put on a new bandage. By the second application, I had a better handle on how to use it. I flew home and applied the final bandage the next day (I had seeped enough to break the seal in a few spots). My tattoo was completed on a Thursday and I put on my final Saniderm bandage on Sunday.

Guess when I took it off?

Guess how long it took my tattoo to heal?

Tuesday. I took the bandage off Tuesday night and it. Was. Healed.

I took a side-by-side picture of my tattoo healing process (for comparison’s sake). The left picture is what my tattoo looked like immediately after removing the final Saniderm bandage. The right picture is what the non-Saniderm part of my tattoo looked like with my regular healing methods.

Like I mentioned before, I tend to flake and scab during tattoo healing. So, I treated the Saniderm-less part of my tattoo with great care. But, even though I followed care instructions to the letter and used an amazing healing ointment Tina gave me, the difference is pretty startling.

Even more exciting? I shortened my healing time to five days. My Sanderm-treated tattoo was completely healed, despite the slightly itchy “new skin” feel.

Even better? NO color loss. At all. So, needless to say, I am planning on healing with Saniderm for my next tattoo.

A Few Saniderm Tips for the Road

Here are some hard-won tips about Saniderm from my own experience.

1. Shave, shave, and shave again!!!

Tina was working around healed areas of my tattoo so when she shaved my arm, she did not shave the entire thing—only where she was working. Peeling Saniderm off hair—even minuscule arm hair like mine—is hateful. Shave the entire area you’re planning on wrapping, plus an inch all the way around the site. Smooth skin is happy skin.

2. Wash very thoroughly after those first two wraps.

When you’re still replacing wraps, wash all that sticky lymph off! Tina gave me a huge stack of surgical gauze. The surface of the gauze “grabs” the lymph and washes it off without hurting the new tattoo—magic. If you’re not lucky enough to have a source for surgical gauze, use your fingertips, grab some artist-approved soap, and gently scrub the lymph away—it’s what causes scabbing and color to pull out.

3. Dry before you wrap.

Before you apply your Saniderm, gently pat dry your skin and give it a few minutes to air dry—wetness can break the seal.

4. Practice before you apply!

It can be a little tricky to work with, so practice with a small section first (shave!!!)—you will thank me later.

5. Read ALL FAQs and product descriptions before you use it!

Don’t take some blogger’s word for it! Do your research and be sure Saniderm is right for you AND you understand how to use it correctly before you commit!

Then when you’re all done healing, enjoy your bright, vibrant tattoo!