AFTERCARE ROUTINES

How it works:

• Second skin is a medical-grade, plastic barrier that is stuck to your skin and protects it during the healing process.
• It allows your body’s plasma to help heal the tattoo, as well as keeping it moist and protected.

What to do:

• Leave it on for 5 days. Its typically finished healing if its on for this amount of time. Which is a great luxury, compared to the usual 10-14days aftercare routine.
• Make sure its airtight! It has to be airtight if you keep it on for 5 days. Its not a problem if it rolls up on the corners, as long as its airtight around the actual tattooed area. Airbubbles under the plastic is also not a problem. You will notice some liquid underneath which makes it look like the tattoo is ruined. Dont worry, its just on the top of the skin.
• Taking it off BEFORE 5 days: If the plastic opens so the tattooed area gets air, you have to take it off! This also applies if the liquid underneith is leaking out of the plastic somewhere. At this point, it does not help to tape it with an extra piece! If this happens before 5 days have passed, you need to use traditional aftercare routines. Just follow the instructions explained under “Bandage” for how to take it off, and how to care for the tattoo!
• How to take it off: 
  1. After 5 days, the best thing is to take it off with some lukewarm water running over it.
  2. Then just peel it off carefully, and clean away the excess fluids by massaging the tattooed area with some soap.
  3. After its clean, dry it by tapping on the tattooed area with a clean towel.
  4. If it starts to get some dry skin, that means its not completely healed yet. Sometimes it takes longer, because everyone is different. If this is the case, just moisturize it once a day, untill it stops having dry skin. The wound is closed, so you dont have do use a neutral cream at this point.
• Other Routines: Remember to follow the “Other Routines” written below, which applies no matter how the tattoo was covered. Other than that, you dont have to clean it, or do anything else with the tattoo.

What you need:

• Neutral Soap (Soap made for Tattoos, Green Soap, ect)
• Neutral Moisturizing Cream (Cream made for Tattoos, Bepanthen, ect)

First Day:

1. Leave the bandage on for 3-5 hours. Its ok if you leave it on for a bit longer, but dont leave it on over night! Its only meant to protect the wound the first couple of hours. If its on for too long, the heat and moisture creates the perfect environment for bacteria.
2. Take it off with some lukewarm water running over it. Not warm water! Jump in the shower if its a large tattoo.
3. Clean away the excess fluids with neutral soap by massaging the tattooed area.
4. Use a clean towel to dry the tattoo. Dry it by tapping on the tattooed area with a clean towel, not a used one! Then let it air dry for a couple minutes.
5. Moisturize it with a neutral cream, after its completely dry.
6. Have clean bed sheets from Day One! Used bedsheets is also a place you can get infections from.

First 2 weeks:

• Cleaning and moisturizing! It takes 10-14 days for the wound to close, and the scab to fall off. During this time you should clean it once a day, and moisturize 3-4 times, depending on how it looks. The point is just to keep it moist, so dont overdo it. Clean your hands before applying moisturizer.
• Let the Scab fall of naturally. It can be real tempting to pull the scabs off, especially when its just a couple pieces left. But if you do you can pull out ink and ruin the tattoo. It will fall off little by little when you clean it daily, so just be patient.
• Look out for infections! Infections can come from alot of places. Everything from dirty clothes/bedsheets/towels, to a dog licking your wound. Early signs of infection is redness and soreness around the tattooed area, and an uneven scab that produces a yellow fluid. If you have any suspicion of infection, contact me before you contact a doctor! I can evaluate if its actually an infection or not, and give you proper advice on how to deal with it

Next 1-3 months:

• Less Moisturizing. Since the wound is closed, there is no longer any risk of infections. However, the tattoo will stil settle during the next 1-3 months. All you need to do is moisturize it once a day, untill it calms down properly. Precisely how long it takes depends on the person and placement of the tattoo.
• Other Routines. Remember to follow the “Other Routines” written below, which applies no matter how the tattoo was covered.