Second skin is a clear medical grade adhesive bandage that acts as a breathable layer for the skin, protecting the area from infection and damage during the healing process. Second skin allows the blood's plasma to help in healing the tattoo.
While you're wearing the second-skin, you might notice the surface underneath accumulating slight moisture, which can make the tattoo look blurry. This is plasma building up from your skin and pulling up micro fragments of ink – it's a completely normal part of the healing process.
Saniderm doesn't actually stick to the tattoo. It sticks to the skin around and inside of the tattoo where there's no ink. Taking it off shouldn't damage the tattoo. Also, I would be surprised if your tattoo is scabbing. It usually won't scab under the saniderm...at least none of mine have scabbed.
5-7 days is what most brands of second skin recommend. I'm surprised people are told to remove them after 2-3 days only...
You might see discharges appearing and your tattoo might look “smudged“ under second skin. It is totally normal.
Second Skin protects your skin from friction and provides a waterproof, protective barrier that prevents contamination. This barrier also allows you to do anything you need while your tattoo is healing, from work to sleeping without a mess on your bed sheets. Your artist may recommend you wear this for 1-5 days.
As mentioned, the second skin is waterproof so you can shower without worrying about your tattoo. Once the 3 to 5 days have passed, it's time to remove the film! If it proves to be difficult to remove, you can lightly apply warm water to the area as you pull it off (e.g. in the shower).
If you have a healing layer like second skin or saniderm over your tattoo, the best option is to keep it on for the first night (or the first few if it stays put). If your artist wrapped the tattoo in cling film, it may still stay on well for the first night.
Carefully wash your tattoo area three times a day with soap and water, and gently pat it dry. Keep applying a moisturizer or ointment after you clean your tattoo to keep it moist. After 5 days, you can switch from an antibiotic ointment to a gentle fragrance-free body lotion.
While laser is definitely the best method of removing tattoo ink, certain pigments used in cosmetic tattoos don't respond well to laser treatment. The ingredients in these pigments can be very different from those used in conventional ink, and laser treatment could change the color of some rather than lightening them.
Second skin basically acts as a makeshift scab, but it's even better than a scab your body would create. It creates and maintains a moist environment for your skin to heal, and acts as a barrier to bacteria while still allowing the vapour barrier to pass through it.
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.
SANDIDERM / TEGADERM / TATTOODERM / SECOND SKIN:
Leave the film on for 3 - 5 days (however many days the artist recommended). During this time, the tattoo may look blurry due to excess blood and/or plasma that may leave the skin.
There is no need to worry about Saniderm negatively affecting your ink at all. In fact, customers report that their tattoos retain more of the vibrant color of fresh ink after using Saniderm, compared to tattoos that have healed by other methods.
The original tattoo bandage - and still the best! SecondSkin™ is a medical-grade, transparent, adhesive barrier that protects new tattoos. It is latex-free, waterproof, breathable, and hypoallergenic.
Provided the wearer does not have an allergy to adhesives, second skin is arguably the greatest game-changer in the tattoo industry, making the healing process faster, safer and more efficient!
Sleeping directly on the new tattoo
Pressure can cause irritation and disrupt the healing process.
If your tattoo is bandaged with Saniderm (Second Skin), you should keep the bandage on for 3-4 days. During this time, it is normal to see some fluid build up beneath the bandage. (If the bandage begins to leak, you must remove the bandage and follow the standard aftercare instructions listed below).
To remove the second skin—while in the shower, slowly peel/roll the second skin off. This will be uncomfortable but will not damage your tattoo.
Blowout occurs when the ink extends beyond the intended boundaries of the design, resulting in prominent spots. More often than not, this situation arises due to poor execution of the tattoo.
Wash the tattoo thoroughly, rinse, and pat dry. Do not apply lotion or ointment before applying the next round of SecondSkin. Cut SecondSkin to the desired length and shape. You should account for an extra inch or two on each side of the tattoo to come into contact with un-tattooed, dry skin.
Natural migration of pigment in the skin is manifested by: lines become visually wider; a small (about a millimeter) shadow may appear near the tattoo lines; there will be less empty space between the lines.
Delicate Skin Areas
Certain areas of the body, like wrists, ankles, fingers, and toes, are more prone to blowouts due to their thin skin. Aging skin as well as clients with skin trauma/more delicate skin, can also increase the risk of a blowout.