Aftercare

Second Skin Aftercare

  • Leave the bandage on for 24-48 hours. You may take it off sooner if you would like and proceed with the normal aftercare routine (see instructions below).

  • You can shower with the bandage but avoid soaking it or submerging it in water (no swimming or baths). If water gets under the bandage, remove it immediately and continue with the normal aftercare routine.

  • Ink and plasma may come to the surface under the bandage and you may see some splotches. This is normal, however, if the bandage completely fills up with ink and is black, remove it and continue with the normal tattoo aftercare routine.

  • If you notice red bumps under or around your bandage, you may be having an allergic reaction to the adhesive or it may be pulling at your skin and irritating it. If this occurs, there is no need to panic! Remove the bandage and wash the tattoo and the irritation or marks should clear up in a few days.

  • If the bandage begins to peel up on the edges and the tattoo is exposed, do not reseal the bandage back down as you can trap bacteria under the bandage. Either cut off the edges that are peeling up or remove the bandage completely and continue with the normal aftercare routine.

  • When you are removing the second skin, I recommend doing so in the shower or under running water as this will help loosen the adhesive. Once you remove the bandage, lather a liquid, non-scented antibacterial soap (I recommend Dial Gold) in your hands and gently wash the whole tattoo. Make sure there is no excess ink, blood, or plasma on the skin. Let it air dry or pat dry with a clean paper towel. Do not rub it with a towel or anything rough!

  • Once your tattoo is dry, you can rub in a non-scented lotion or aftercare product. I recommend unscented lotions such as Aveeno’s baby lotion or Lubriderm. If you would like to invest in aftercare products specifically for tattoos, I recommend Hustle Butter, which is all natural and vegan. Avoid petroleum based products like Aquaphor and A&D as they tend to be too thick for fine line tattoos. Always use clean hands and make sure to rub it fully into the skin, do not leave any excess on the surface. If your tattoo stays too moist it can pull the ink out of your skin. DO NOT use anything medicated such as Neosporin, this can cause your skin to reject some of the ink.

  • Proceed with the normal aftercare routine until the tattoo is completely healed (typically 2-3 weeks).

Traditional Aftercare

  • Leave your wrap on for 1-2 hours at most.

  • After removing your wrap, wash your tattoo either in the shower or under running water. Lather a liquid, unscented antibacterial soap (I recommend Dial Gold) in your hands and gently wash the whole tattoo. Make sure there is no excess ink, blood, or plasma on the skin. Let it air dry or pat dry with a clean paper towel. Do not rub it with a towel or anything rough!

  • Once your tattoo is dry, you can rub in a non-scented lotion or aftercare product. I recommend unscented lotions such as Aveeno’s baby lotion or Lubriderm. If you would like to invest in aftercare products specifically for tattoos, I recommend Hustle Butter, which is all natural and vegan. Avoid petroleum based products like Aquaphor and A&D as they tend to be too thick for fine line tattoos. Always use clean hands and make sure to rub it fully into the skin, do not leave any excess on the surface. If your tattoo stays too moist it can pull the ink out of your skin. DO NOT use anything medicated such a Neosporin, this can cause your skin to reject some of the ink.

  • Repeat the washing and lotion routine 2-3 times a day until your tattoo is healed (usually 2-3 weeks)!

  • Do not soak your tattoo until your tattoo is healed. Showering is fine, but no swimming or baths for at least 2 weeks. This is especially important when in comes to swimming! Pools and natural bodies of water carry lots of bacteria and this can put you at risk for infection.

  • Avoid getting your tattoo dirty or contaminated while it is healing (i.e. pet hair, dirt, fragrances, and chemicals).

  • Do not scratch your tattoo when it becomes itchy as you can scratch out some of the ink! I recommend an ice pack wrapped in a clean towel to subdue itchiness.

  • Avoid direct sunlight and getting sunburnt while your tattoo heals. After your tattoo is healed, I highly recommend wearing sunscreen when exposing your tattoo to the sun for any extended period of time. UV exposure is one of the biggest contributing factors to pigment degradation, so anything to block that helps your tattoo’s longevity.

  • During the healing process, your tattoo will become dry and flaky. Do not pick at these flakes as it can pull ink out of your skin. If you notice your tattoo is not healing as expected, feel free to contact me with any questions you may have! If you think you may have an infection, please contact your doctor.