Can I take a shower with my SecondSkin on?
The second skin is breathable and can be showered in, but do not bath or swim with it on.
If you are using SecondSkin, it will stay on even when immersed in water so you're able to shower as normal. It is water resistant, however excessive exposure to water should be avoided because it could weaken the adhesion and require you to reapply a new piece.
SecondSkin™ is a medical-grade, transparent, adhesive barrier that protects new tattoos while they are healing. It is latex-free, waterproof, breathable, and hypoallergenic.
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).
If your artist uses a medical-grade, waterproof bandage, like Saniderm, you can shower anytime — as long as you keep the bandage on for the length of time the artist told you to.
It's normal to experience a buildup of fluid beneath the Saniderm. This fluid is primarily comprised of plasma and ink, and may be thick and dark in color; this is normal, and not a cause for concern.
Apply the new bandage and can be worn up to 6 days. Remove on the 7th day in hot shower, clean, pat dry and add daily moisturizer as part of daily routine. For best result, avoid moisture and heat. Skin will be incredibly sensitive to heat [heat rash] and sweat when second skin is in use.
Once you remove our SecondSkin™ bandage, keep your tattoo clean and start using our aftercare cream as needed.
Your tattoo is healing normally
Although it may look a bit alarming, a wet-looking tattoo signifies that your tattoo and skin are doing everything right to heal. When you're starting to notice that your tattoo is looking wet, it's best to help the healing process by using a tattoo-friendly moisturizing lotion.
As the week progresses, your tattoo will start to itch under the SecondSkin.
Which layer of skin is waterproof?
Epidermis contains proteins that make the skin waterproof and keeps it strong.
I recommend leaving the wrap on for 3-5 days. Really the first 48 hours are the most beneficial to the healing process, but as a rule of thumb the longer you can leave it on, the easier of a heal you'll have (no more than six days though!).
You can shower 3-4 hours after getting a tattoo, if you have a Saniderm bandage on, however, if you have a plastic wrap wait 24 hours to unwrap your tattoo and shower. In either case, shower in cold or lukewarm water and avoid prolonged soaking or submerging your tattoo in water for 3-4 weeks.
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. To remove second skin from your tattoo, it is best to hop in the shower.
While an air bubble under Saniderm is not necessarily “bad,” it will likely cause problems with adhesion further on down the line.
We recommend a good moisturizing regimen for this entire period. Showering while wearing Saniderm is fine, but it's best to keep the time spent in the shower to a minimum. Water may weaken the adhesive of the bandage, which allows for unwanted contaminants to enter the bandage, putting you at higher risk for infection.
If you're using saniderm, leave it on for 2-4 days. It's normal for there to be some ink and fluid buildup under the bandage, so if it looks “blurry”, don't panic! Saniderm is waterproof, so you can shower with it on without worrying about it.
If you do exercise or workout with Saniderm and experience zero to minimal sweating, you should at least take a shower and rinse off. If you notice any peeling of the bandage whatsoever, remove it. Additionally, if the sweating was excessive and you feel contaminants may have entered, you should remove it.
After four days, the best way to remove your saniderm is to slowly peel it off in the shower. It might be sore, so don't panic if it's tender. After the saniderm is removed, wash and moisturize your tattoo as usual using the directions below. Leave the bandage on for one to four hours.
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.
Is skin still sticky after second skin?
There's some leftover adhesive, how do I get it off? Massage some coconut oil (or our tattoo cream) into the area with clean hands. Let it sit for about a minute and then gently rub it off. If that doesn't do the trick, repeat the process.
If you've recently gotten a tattoo, but it appears blurry and smudged during and after the healing process, you may be experiencing tattoo blowout. “A blowout is when a tattoo expands below the skin layer when it hits fat [and] veins or when scarring occurs,” says Crys.
Yes, you can (and should!) shower with a new tattoo, as long as you don't completely soak it. Avoid swimming—whether in a pool, lake, or the ocean—and submerging your tattoo in a bath or hot tub for two to three weeks, though; this may cause serious damage.
The first seven days are a crucial time when it comes to healing tattoos. Because it's breathable and waterproof, SecondSkin™ can be left on during that period.
Your skin may itch or burn because of a lack of moisture in the area, so it may feel impossible to ignore the urge to scratch. Larger areas of your skin may get extremely dry, scabbing more deeply and cracking open over large swathes that can affect how your tattoo looks when the healing process is done.
You may experience some redness around the tattoo where Second Skin/Saniderm was applied to the un-tattooed skin. This is also completely normal and may occur with any type of medical adhesive. If you do develop any adverse reaction, discontinue use immediately.
“There are 'second skin' products like Saniderm, which you leave on for four to five days, and usually with those products tattoos scab less. But some artists still like to wrap tattoos with traditional bandages or plastic wrap and in that case, your tattoo might scab a little bit more.”
Skin is a waterproof, flexible, but tough protective covering for your body. Normally the surface is smooth, punctuated only with hair and pores for sweat. A cross-section of skin shows the major parts.
Your skin is Water proof. not 100% due to cuts or scrapes on the skin as well as orifices that would absorb water.
Nearly every hair follicle is attached to a sebaceous (say: sih-BAY-shus) gland, which is sometimes called an oil gland. These sebaceous glands produce oil, which makes the hair shiny and a bit waterproof.
What happens if Saniderm comes off early?
What if my Saniderm Comes off Early? It is okay if your Saniderm Bandage begins to peel off early. If this happens, remove the tattoo wrap and apply a new tattoo bandage as needed. For further information on this, check out our full article on using multiple bandages in succession!
Yes, it is definitely possible to overwash your tattoo.
If you overwash your tattoo, this can lead to you accidentally washing away your body's beneficial bacteria, which will then prevent your tattoo from healing properly.
After the initial healing period (usually about two weeks), you can start showering with lukewarm water for five to 10 minutes at a time. Just be sure to pat your tattoo dry afterward. And while you're at it, avoid using harsh soaps or exfoliating scrubbers, which can also damage your skin.
The healing tattoo should never stay submerged in water. Therefore, limit yourself to only short showers until the tattoo has finished peeling. It's also important that a fresh tattoo be protected from the sun and dirty environments, as it's still an open wound at this time.
You'll want to keep the tattoo wrapped for at least the first night because it will take a while for it to settle down and stop leaking. You don't want an open wound like that touching your bed sheets, getting blood everywhere, or dirt and dust getting into the wound itself.
Don't be afraid to really wash your tattoo thoroughly, or you won't get the vaseline off. Use mild soap like Dove, Ivory or Dawn dishwashing liquid. It's best to avoid very hot water.
Avoid sleeping directly on your new tattoo, at least the first 4 days. The goal is to try your best not to put any pressure on your tattoo and to keep it from touching anything, at least as much as possible. A healing tattoo needs lots of fresh air and oxygen, so try not to smother it while sleeping.
Working Out After Getting a New Tattoo
As a general rule, it's recommended to wait 2-3 days before any high intensity training. Then, it's recommended to wait slowly with light exercise programs until the new tattoo is completely healed (2-3 weeks after getting the tattoo).
Waterproof. We love that second skins are deemed waterproof since it gives you that extra layer of confidence your skin is protected from water, which can delay healing. You can shower with it in place, but you should avoid soaking the area in the tub or swimming for at least two weeks after getting a new tattoo.
It is important to keep your tattoo clean and covered with a second skin until the tattoo is completely healed. Depending on how quickly your body heals, it can take anywhere from two to six weeks for a new tattoo to heal. During this time, you should change the second skin every three to four days.
What to do after removing SecondSkin?
Whether or not you change your bandage, leave it on for an additional three to six days. Once you remove our SecondSkin™ bandage, keep your tattoo clean and start using our aftercare cream as needed.
A person should avoid submerging the tattoo in water or getting the tattoo wet during the first 3–6 weeks, except for when washing it. A person can continue using the washing technique above throughout the first week when needed.
Leave the Saniderm bandage on for 3-5 days.
During this time your tattoo will start to look different under the Saniderm. Lines might appear blurred or colors might look darker. This is your body's healing fluid obscuring the view of the tattoo and will come off with the Saniderm.
