The fluid that gets trapped between the skin and the layer of Second Skin is a mixture of Blood, Plasma and Ink. The Second Skin is anti-bacterial, so it also provides protection against external contaminants entering the broken skin, reducing scabbing and risks of infection.
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.
But, scabbing is normally caused by oozing plasma that dries into a crust before it can be washed off. Saniderm prevents that plasma from drying, so you don't get scabs forming under it.
You should not have second skin on at all. It does not help healing. It prolongs the time frame. Your tattoo needs to dry more than second skin will allow. Not bone dry but it should not be wet like it is with a second skin applied.
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.
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.
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).
Aftercare for normal healing without Second Skin:
Leave bandage on for a minimum of 3 hours. After removing the bandage, clean tattoo gently with unscented soap and warm water. Rinse well and pat dry with paper towel. Do not re-bandage.
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.
Is It Better To Use Wet Healing Techniques for a Tattoo? Research suggests that wet healing is superior to dry healing for almost every kind of wound, including a tattoo. Dry skin has a hard time regenerating itself because it gets scabby and crusty and pulls away from itself (ouch).
If you want to stop scabs from forming on your skin, always wash your hands before touching your tattoo. You want to use an antibacterial foam or soap to clean the tattooed area. In some cases, scabs can be the result of long tattoo sessions.
Alternatively, if the fluid that collected beneath your Saniderm has dried out or has become itchy or uncomfortable, it is perfectly okay to remove the bandage and begin washing/caring for your tattoo -- even if this happens before the 3-5 day mark!
Healing occurs in stages, starting with redness and light scabbing (Days 1-7), followed by peeling and scab shedding (Weeks 2-4). In the final maintenance phase, the skin will continue to heal, and the tattoo will regain its vibrancy.
If your tattoo IS scabbing underneath Saniderm, as long as there are no signs of infection or contamination, we recommend leaving the bandage on. Removing Saniderm from a scabbing tattoo may pull the scabs off prematurely, disturbing the ink and resulting in color and detail loss.
Second Skin (also known as Tegaderm, Saniderm or Derma-Shield) is a breathable, waterproof, germ-proof barrier that covers your new tattoo. The bandage will protect your tattoo from contamination while also keeping any excess ink, or fluids from getting on clothes and sheets.
Tattoos tend to peel without any ink underneath as they heal normally. In rare cases, they can have missing ink due to an artist's error. Peeling tattoos with missing ink aren't usually anything to worry about. It's normal for a tattoo to peel and lose a little bit of ink as your skin heals.
Not only is the second skin tattoo covering amazing and helps to prevent scabbing, the tattoo cream is great!
Once this stage occurs, the peeling skin will cling to the film itself. 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.
No need to worry if your second skin is peeling off early - jump in the shower and warm water (never hot water straight after being tattooed) will relax and soften the adhesive, allowing you to remove it with ease.
Applying a second skin to a new tattoo often leads to common problems like wrinkles, peeling, and incorrect coverage, which can affect how well your tattoo heals. If not done right, the dressing might not protect the tattoo properly, or it could trap too much moisture, leading to irritation or even infection.
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).
TAKE GOOD CARE OF IT IN THE BEGINNING AND IT WILL LOOK BEAUTIFUL FOR LIFE. Leave the second skin on for 3-4 days. You will notice some ink/blood oozing underneath the bandage; it is NORMAL.
Wear clean, soft, loose clothing over your new tattoo. - Do not re-bandage your tattoo unless… a) you need to protect it from dust, dirt or smoke… b) to prevent excessive rubbing on your clothes or… c) to provide a physical barrier to sunlight.
Your artist may recommend you wear this for 1-5 days. There are many benefits to second skin. The major benefit being, it allows your body's own plasma to help heal the tattoo. Once you remove the second skin, your tattoo will be further along on the healing process.