Aftercare for a “Second Skin” or Ahesive Style Bandage

  • -Leave your adhesive bandage on for about 48 - 72 hours after receiving your tattoo (remove sooner if your skin appears to be increasingly red or irritated, or if you know you are sensitive to adhesives)

    I’d suggest not to leave it on longer than three days.

    -Within the first 12 hours of receiving your tattoo, you’ll likely notice some pooling of ink, blood and plasma below the bandage. This is normal! But if the bandage begins to leak, take off immediately and proceed to bandage removal.

    -After 36 hours, some of the pooling ink, blood and plasma may begin to dry under the bandage and look kinda crusty. This is normal! But it’s probably approaching the time to take off the bandage.

    -Do not submerge your tattoo and avoid getting overly sweaty while wearing the bandage.

  • -I recommend taking this off with clean dry hands, or at the end of a hot shower.

    -Peel bandage off (along the hair grain) in a downward direction, close to the skin, like a command strip. Do not pull outwards away from your skin. (It may feel like pulling tape off of a sunburn.) Take nice deep breaths as you pull it off, or sit down on a bench in your shower area if possible.

    -Once bandage is removed, gently wash with water diluted unscented soap and ensure all soap is rinsed completely off. I recommend Dr. Bronner’s unscented castile soap. Avoid direct water pressure and instead, splash water gently onto skin.

    -Pat dry with a paper towel (I like to leave some prepared pieces ready before I get in the shower) and let air dry for 10 minutes.

  • -Apply a thin layer of lotion on your tattoo as needed. I recommend unscented “white” lotion (Lubriderm, Cerave, etc.)

    Do not over-moisturize or apply one tick layer of lotion, it’s better to use thin layers throughout the day rather than one thick layer.

    Please, do NOT use aquaphor or any petroleum based products! These products won’t allow the skin to breathe properly and will prolong the healing of your tattoo.

  • -Until the tattoo is healed, avoid prolonged sun exposure, avoid getting overly sweaty, avoid submerging your tattoo entirely in water (i.e. bath, pool, ocean, etc.), and avoid tight clothing on the area that was tattooed. 

    -During this time, your tattoo may appear dry, flaky, itchy, red, etc. Remember this is a fresh wound and to treat it with care! If you have any questions or concerns, please contact me.

    -Do not wear any sunscreen until the tattoo is completely healed.

 Aftercare for A Black Meatpacker Bandage

WHEN SHOULD I USE A BLACK BANDAGE AND WHEN SHOULD I USE A SECOND SKIN BANDAGE?

At our appointment, we will talk about your history with skin sensitivities and past tattoo experiences, and together we will make a choice for what bandage works for you. I suggest using a black bandage if you have ever experienced redness or irritation when using products such as adhesive bandages, or have skin conditions which may effect the healing of your tattoo.

  • -Take off adhesive bandage 2-4 hours after receiving your tattoo (or the next day, if it’s an evening session)

    -With clean hands, remove the bandage and gently wash with water diluted unscented soap and ensure all soap is rinsed completely off. I recommend Dr. Bronner’s unscented castile soap.

    -Pat dry with a paper towel (I like to leave some prepared pieces ready before I get in the shower) and let air dry for 10 minutes.

  • -After removing your bandage and for the next three days, wash your tattoo 1-2 times per day with water diluted unscented soap and ensure all soap is rinsed completely off, pat dry with paper towels, let air dry, and moisturize with your preferred unscented lotion for at least two weeks after receiving the tattoo. I like to keep a little bag with a bottle of soap and lotion and some clean paper towels with me during this time to apply as needed if I’m not going to be at home.

    -Please be cautious of over-moisturizing. We want the tattoo scab to flake off as naturally as it would a normal scab. Over-moisturizing doesn’t allow the scab to form correctly and may result in a duller looking and less contrasty tattoo.

    Do not over-moisturize or apply one tick layer of lotion, it’s better to use thin layers throughout the day rather than one thick layer.

    Please, do NOT use aquaphor or any petroleum based products! These products won’t allow the skin to breathe properly and will prolong the healing of your tattoo.

  • -Until the tattoo is healed, avoid prolonged sun exposure, avoid getting overly sweaty, avoid submerging your tattoo entirely in water (i.e. bath, pool, ocean, etc.), and avoid tight clothing on the area that was tattooed. 

    -During this time, your tattoo may appear dry, flaky, itchy, red, etc. Remember this is a fresh wound and to treat it with care! If you have any questions or concerns, please contact me.

    -Do not wear any sunscreen until the tattoo is completely healed.