Below are the care instructions copied directly from Saniderm's website: “After you apply the first Saniderm bandage, we recommend leaving it on your new tattoo for between 8 to 24 hours.
You can take a saniderm off at any time without pulling skin off or damaging your tattoo, if it did that, artists wouldn't use them. You can take it off now or wait until tomorrow, it's up to you.
You didn't screw up the ink. Unless you violently and angrily tore the saniderm off, you won't damage the tattoo by taking off the saniderm. Let it heal and if you're not happy with it you can always get a touch-up :)
You shouldnt keep saniderm on for 7 days. 3-4 days is the correct length of time. At this point if the tattoo isn't completely sealed in the saniderm then you should just remove it and care for it as usual. Keep it clean and your hair out of it if your hair is long.
After you leave the studio you will have been cleaned and bandaged; remove the bandage after 3-4 hours and clean the skin with mild soap and warm water.
DO NOT REMOVE BEFORE THE SIXTH DAY. Doing so will result in color loss and can require a touch up at an additional cost. It is harmful to the tattoo and to your health to leave a healing tattoo untreated. If your bandage peels up before the 6th day, carefully cut the excess off.
You can shower 3-4 hours after getting a tattoo, if you have a Saniderm bandage on, however, if you have a plastic wrap wait 24 hours to unwrap your tattoo and shower. In either case, shower in cold or lukewarm water and avoid prolonged soaking or submerging your tattoo in water for 3-4 weeks.
ACCELERATE THE TATTOO HEALING PROCESS – Saniderm tattoo care bandages help prevent scabbing, which means accelerated tattoo healing and less irritation. Less scabbing also means the risk of damaging your tattoo is greatly reduced.
You do not want to leave the build up for more than one day. Remove Saniderm when there is build up, clean and dry the tattooed area and re-apply.
Keep in mind that the tattoo may appear to be fully healed on the surface once you remove the last Saniderm bandage after 5 days. However, deeper layers of the skin will still be fully healing for up to 6 months.
definitely take it off, 48hrs is the recommended avg length that saniderm should stay on for anyways. remove it in the shower, dry it off with a new and clean sheet of paper towel, and leave it alone going forwards.
The Dos. The first night is often the most difficult. It undoubtedly still aches and continues to flow a decent amount of blood, plasma, and more ink. The best course of action is to leave any healing coverings, such as second skin or saniderm, on for the first night (or the first few if it stays put).
What if my Saniderm Comes off Early? It is okay if your Saniderm Bandage begins to peel off early. If this happens, remove the tattoo wrap and apply a new tattoo bandage as needed. For further information on this, check out our full article on using multiple bandages in succession!
Saniderm 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. In addition, we engineered Saniderm to be gas permeable so your skin can breathe and get all the oxygen it needs to heal perfectly.
* You cannot leave saniderm on your tattoo, if it is leaking. If bacteria can get out of your bandage, it can get in - leaving you susceptible to infection. You cannot Tape saniderm back on, this is not a sanitary way to re-attach your saniderm.
Saniderm Application
Once the adhesive side of the bandage is in place, remove the see-through second layer from the top side and smooth bandage over the tattoo. Keep the first applied bandage on for anywhere from 3-24 hours, depending on how much the wound is weeping. Replace within 24 hours.
If the adhesive bandage begins coming off, do not stick it back down, instead remove the plastic early. Additionally, the adhesive bandage will accrue body fluids and ink underneath, your tattoo is not falling out or staining your skin.
air bubbles are fine, it's when the saniderm starts leaking that there could be problems.
SANIDERM METHOD
After Saniderm is applied, leave it on for 3 - 5 days. You can work, exercise, and shower as you would normally, but do not submerge the Saniderm underwater. After you take off the bandage, wash with hypoallergenic soap and apply small amounts of unscented moisturizer.
Once your tattoo is dry, the skin around the area will begin to feel tight. This happens as your tattoo dries out, and it's a good indicator that it's time to apply moisturizer. Once again, we use and recommend Sanibalm for this. Rub it in gently until it's absorbed by the skin — be sure to apply a very thin layer.
Saniderm is a medical-grade, waterproof bandage, that allows you to shower anytime. Just be sure to leave the bandage on for the length of time as instructed by your artist. And remember, if you get your Saniderm wet, it's no big deal! Saniderm stays on skin even when wet.
"If there is some scabbing or flaking, we advise clients not to pick and to allow the scab or dry skin to come off on its own," says Otsuji. "Picking at your tattoo during the peeling stage can result in it appearing patchy, distorted, and dull once healed."