Regular Removal Aftercare: What to Do in the First 48 Hours
By Urban Hue and Tattoo | August 9, 2026
Sioux Falls, SD (Marion Road near 57th Street South)
The most important rule after Regular Removal is simple: protect the area and don’t mess with it. Keep it clean, keep the bandage on for the first 24 to 48 hours, and resist the urge to pick, scrub, or “check on it” every five minutes. We’re big on explaining the process clearly, and that doesn’t stop when your appointment ends. Our Regular Removal service uses the Tattoo Vanish method, includes numbing for comfort, and your aftercare is what helps your skin settle down so you get the best fade possible.
First 24 to 48 hours: bandage, gentle wash, and calm skin
Right after your Regular Removal session, we generally recommend keeping the bandage on for 24 to 48 hours. That bandage is doing real work. It protects against friction from clothing and keeps everyday dust and bacteria off the area.
Quick rule: If it’s clean and covered, you’re usually doing it right. Most aftercare problems start when people overdo it.
When the bandage comes off
Once you remove the bandage, wash gently twice a day with mild soap and water. Use your fingertips, not a washcloth or scrubber. Pat dry with a clean paper towel or a clean, soft towel. Rubbing is one of the easiest ways to irritate fresh skin.
Then apply a thin layer of non-scented ointment, or use sterile saline spray if that’s what we recommended for you. Thin means your skin can breathe. If it looks shiny and slick all day, that’s usually too much.
What to skip right away
- No hot tubs, pools, or lake water. This is a big one for Sioux Falls summers.
- Hold off on heavy sweating and intense workouts for 48 to 72 hours, or until we OK it.
- Skip fragrance-heavy lotions or body sprays on the area. Simple and boring wins here.
Days 3 to 7: scabs, itching, and the stuff that can mess up results
The first week is where people get tempted to “help” the healing. Don’t. Your job is still gentle cleaning, light moisture, and protection. Scabbing can happen, and some itching is common as the skin settles.
If you pick scabs or pop blisters, you’re not just slowing healing. You can create extra irritation, prolong redness, and risk scarring. Keep your hands off it. If the area feels tight or dry, use a small amount of non-scented ointment instead of layering product over product.
Sioux Falls weather note: Summer sun plus humidity can mean more sweat, and winter air can mean more dryness. Either way, your skin does better when you keep the routine consistent and keep the area covered.
Sun and clothing are bigger deals than most people think
Keep the treated area out of direct sun until it’s fully healed. That means physical coverage first. Once it’s healed, use SPF 30+ to reduce pigment changes. Also watch friction. Tight waistbands, bra straps, or athletic gear can rub and keep the area angry. If you’re commuting through the Marion Road and I-229 area and you’re in work clothes all day, let us know where the tattoo sits so we can talk through how to protect it.
The “less is more” product routine (so you don’t over-moisturize)
After Regular Removal, we’re aiming for calm, clean skin. That’s it. A lot of irritation we see comes from people using too many products because they want to speed things up.
Cleansing
Mild soap + lukewarm water, twice daily. No exfoliating acids, no scrubs, no “detox” washes on the area.
Moisture
A thin layer of non-scented ointment, only as needed. If the area looks soggy or stays shiny, back off.
Protection
Loose, breathable clothing and no sun exposure until healed. After that, SPF 30+ helps protect the skin tone in the area.
And yes, aftercare applies the same if you’re coming in from Brandon, Tea, Hartford, Harrisburg, Crooks, or anywhere nearby. You shouldn’t need a complicated routine or extra trips just to keep your result on track.
When to reach out to our Sioux Falls team (and when it’s normal healing)
A little redness, tenderness, and mild itching can be part of normal healing. But we want you to reach out if something feels off. We’d rather answer a quick question than have you stress about it at home.
- Reach out right away if you see heavy blistering, spreading redness, increased pain, fever, or drainage that worries you.
- If you’re unsure about working out, sweating at work, or covering the area with a uniform, let us know and we’ll talk you through a practical plan.
People stick with us because we explain things clearly and keep it real. As one of our regulars put it:
“I love the way she explains every process to whatever it is she is doing for me.”
one of our regulars
Need a refresher before your appointment? We keep things easy to follow, especially if you’re squeezing this in between family schedules or shift work near Empire Mall.
You can also read our tattoo removal guide on Marion Road to get a feel for how we approach removal and planning your next steps.
A quick note on timing, follow-ups, and staying on schedule
Regular Removal appointments are 60 minutes, and pricing starts at $100. We use numbing for comfort and we’ll send you home with clear aftercare so you’re not guessing. If you’re driving in from the Marion Road and I-229 side of Sioux Falls, it’s an easy in-and-out location, and we can usually make evening and weekend slots work well for busy households.
If you have questions at any point in the healing window, call or email us. A small adjustment early on can save you a lot of frustration later.
Find us:
Urban Hue and Tattoo | 1809 S Marion Rd Unit 102, Sioux Falls, SD 57106
Call: +16052541160 | Email: cbstudio21@gmail.com
