Boa Tattoo Gallery

Tattoo aftercare

Enjoy your new ink. Follow these steps and the care plan your artist gave you.

720-776-9213 · aftercare.boatattoogallery.com

Recovery Derm Shield

Keep the initial dressing on for about 24 hours, adjusting for drainage and your artist's instructions. Some blood and fluid underneath is expected.
Wash your hands before touching the area. Peel the film slowly back over itself, rather than lifting upward. Gently wash and fully dry the skin before replacing it.
A fresh second dressing can remain for several days. Boa's usual second-dressing schedule is 3–5 days. Follow your artist's plan; never keep any individual piece on longer than seven days.
When applying fresh film, cover the tattoo with a 1–2 inch border. Smooth outward without stretching. Keep lotion off the skin before application.
If the dressing leaks or the tattoo is exposed, remove it and contact your artist about continued care. Do not patch or reuse a removed dressing.
Stop using the adhesive if irritation or an allergic reaction develops; seek medical care for a severe reaction. Do not apply film over an infected wound.

With clean hands, gently wash with mild, fragrance-free soap and lukewarm water. Rinse and pat dry with a clean disposable towel. Do not scrub.
Keep the tattoo clean. Once you are finished using the film, apply a small amount of fragrance-free lotion as needed for dryness. Avoid heavy layers.
Let peeling skin and scabs come away naturally. Do not pick, scratch, shave or exfoliate the healing area. Wear clean, loose clothing and keep bedding clean.
Shower gently, but avoid swimming, hot tubs and soaking until healed. Avoid friction, heavy sweating and direct sun while healing. Once healed, protect the tattoo with broad-spectrum SPF 30 or higher.

First few days: mild tenderness, localized redness, swelling and a little clear or blood-tinged drainage can occur. These should gradually improve.
Around days 4–14: itching, flaking and light scabbing may develop. Do not pull off peeling skin.
About 2–4 weeks: initial healing is typical, but timing varies with tattoo size, placement and your health. Deeper healing takes longer. A tattoo looking better does not mean it is ready for soaking or friction.

Temporary soreness, redness, mild swelling, itch and peeling may occur. Ink or dressing adhesive can also cause a rash or allergic reaction. Infection and scarring are possible complications.
Contact Boa for routine dressing and aftercare questions. Contact a clinician for a persistent rash or healing that is not improving; do not assume a worsening reaction is normal.

Seek prompt medical care for spreading or worsening redness, increasing pain, pus, open sores, fever or chills. Do not wait for a reply from the studio if infection is suspected.
Call 911 for trouble breathing, chest tightness, faintness or severe swelling associated with a reaction.