You can leave the second skin on for 3-5 days (if you are replacing it, change it after 1-1.5 days).
Leaving it on for at least 3 days will give you the most benefits for the tattoo, to avoid scabbing, as well as friction irritation.
If you wish to take off the second skin, simply because you don’t like it or whatever the reason, you can take it off at any time it’s just a tattoo under there, use the “Without Second Skin” Directions.
It will collect all the blood, plasma, and extra ink that would normally form a scab. It’s all healing fluid and safe for the tattoo.
Do not submerge your new tattoo in water even with the second skin.
Keep your tattoo out of the sun until it’s fully healed and then after that use SPF to prevent fading.
Double check everyday that the bandage is still fully covering the tattoo, and that it is not giving you any irritation.
Check my extra tips down below if you have any questions about this, or you can reach out to me directly.
To take the bandage off I recommend doing it at the end of a shower because the warmth of the water softens the adhesive.
Peeling it off in a downward motion, going with the skin, is recommended.
Wash with antibacterial/unscented soap and water, something like Dial Gold.
I usually recommend Dial Gold hand soap, or anything like Dr. Bronner’s or a dedicated tattoo wash, as long as it is not bar soap.
Pat dry with a clean paper towel not your normal bath towel, because it could have bacteria.
If you are not replacing your bandage, follow the “Without Second Skin” directions until your tattoo is at least 2 weeks old.
If you are replacing your bandage, after your shower let the tattoo air dry for at least 15-20 minutes for better adhesion.
If you would like you can try using rubbing alcohol, not on the tattoo, but around the tattoo to help dry the skin out.
Do not put any lotions or ointments underneath the bandage.
When reapplying, smooth down the middle first and then outwards to the sides, to avoid air bubbles as you place it.
Make sure you take the paper backing off first.
Be sure that the bandage has at least 1 inch of an overhang around the tattoo.
While applying make sure if it’s on an arm or leg that the joint is slightly bent.
If you have someone who can help you, especially for trickier angles, that would be ideal. Make sure they have clean hands!
You can leave this bandage on for up to a week if you’re comfortable. I recommend trying to keep it on for at least another 4 days to get the most benefit.
Once the bandage comes off follow the “Without Second Skin” directions up until the tattoo is two weeks old.
With Second Skin
If the edges peel up on your second skin, that’s okay as long as the tattoo is still fully covered.
If it peels up and exposes the tattoo you’ll want to take the bandage off.
If the tattoo leaks at all, you’ll want to take the bandage off as it means the seal is broken.
Make sure you check every day for any irritation from the bandage. This could look a couple different ways.
You may notice irritation that looks pimply or like a rash.
If that happens I would remove the bandage and heal the tattoo like the “Without Second Skin” Directions
Most of the time you don’t have to do anything other than normal tattoo healing to also heal the irritation once the bandage is off. Anything extra could further affect the tattoo healing.
You might also experience redness around the edges of the bandage.
While some people say this is a sign of an allergy, I’ve often found that it happens when the skin is not free to move the way it wants to.
You may notice it more commonly near joints, where the skin is supposed to stretch.
If it concerns you, feel free to remove the bandage. I will frequently just peel my bandage back a little bit from that red mark, to relieve the skin from the irritation.
If a red ring is left for too long it could lead to some hyper-pigmentation.