These are just recommendations I have found to be helpful for myself. The best advice I can give is to be patient, don't panic and don't stress. If in doubt always go on antibiotics and always keep your tattoo clean and untouched by dirty hands. Hope you find these helpful happy healing!
Second skin, Opsite, Curimed or Similiar Application
- Wash tattoo thoroughly with clean hands and antibacterial soap. With paper towel dry the tattoo thoroughly.
- Cut the Opsite, Curimed or similar branded product to the desired length and shape, using multiple pieces overlapped at least one inch if needed. You should account for an extra inch on each side of the tattoo to cover un-tattooed, dry skin.
- Expose the sticky side by peeling off the backing and smooth over the tattoo pushing out any air bubbles.
- In the first 24 hours, there may be a build up of plasma under the film. This is completely normal.Take it off if leaking or if it has been on for up to two and a half days and either repeat or once you remove it, keep your tattoo clean and start using aftercare cream as needed, less is more.
- Removal advice
- Peel up an edge or corner. If this proves difficult, you can attach medical tape to the corner of the film to help lift it.
- Slowly pull the film off. Do not pull it straight up away from the skin. Instead, pull the film back and across the skin while holding your skin taut.
- You may experience some redness around the tattoo where it 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 an adverse reaction on the tattoo, discontinue use immediately.
Glad Wrap or Conventional Method
Dry Healing Tattoos
1. Your artist will bandage you when finished. Leave your bandage on for 1-2 hours. After removing the bandage, clean your tattoo using warm water and mild, antibacterial cleanser to rinse off the shiny coat which might have formed on the surface of your tattoo. Pat dry and leave it to air.
2. Keep the tattoo unwrapped throughout the day, and wrap it just before going to sleep for the first three nights only. You can use plastic wrap for rewrapping, making sure your new tattoo is completely dry before you rewrap. Rewrapping your tattoo during the first three days is important since your body tends to lose a lot of fluid or lymph in the initial days. This lymph oozes from your tattoo and sticks to your skin and sheets making your skin itchy on the following day. Rewrapping your tattoo during the first three nights will reduce skin irritation and promote quicker healing.
3. In the day time, apply a mild moisturizer (nothing with scent or additives) or a tattoo healing ointment to your tattoo. Keep lightly applying the ointment until your tattoo peels after three to seven days. Once your tattoo fully enters the peeling phase, stop applying the ointment. If bubbles form on your tattoo, it’s due to excess moisture – stop applying the ointment and let your tattoo dry and peel on its own.
4. Protect that baby! Don’t soak in the tub, pool, hot tub, ocean, lake, stream or keg of beer. Avoid direct sun exposure, dirt, anything you’d do to keep an open wound clean. Don’t scratch. Even if it feels like tiny demons dancing just under your skin.
Wrap Healing Tattoos
Less conventional than traditional dry healing, wrap healing is most often recommended for larger tattoos.
1. Leave your bandage on for at least three hours but no longer than 12. Clean your tattoo with mild antibacterial soap and water. Air dry the new tattoo for 15 minutes minimum, making sure it’s completely dry.
2. Wrap up the tattoo with a plastic wrap. Do not use any moisturizer, ointment or lotion.
3. Wash your new tattoo every four to six hours. Sweat is your enemy, and it’s hard not to sweat when you are wrapped like a microwaved baked potato. After washing, pat dry with a very clean cloth, then rewrap with fresh plastic. That’s the drill for at least three days, and up to five days.
4. Your new tattoo will start to peel within those three to five days, flaking like a sunburn. That’s when you know to stop wrapping. Treat the dry and itchy skin with a no-additive moisturizer, and no scratching! Your skin texture will return to normal as your tattoo heals.
Moisture rashes happen when there is too much moisture left on skin that’s wrapped. Ingrown hairs can also be uncomfortable during healing. The most important things with either healing method is to keep it clean, be consistent, and don’t be shy about contacting your tattoo artist with any questions. It’s a guarantee that however weird your question seems to you, someone has asked something weirder.
So how do you decide which healing method is better for you or a particular tattoo?
Well, unlike the multiple choice quiz above, it’s not always a simple answer. No matter how few or many tattoos you already have, there are a lot of variables: your skin condition in general, what your immune system is up to at the moment, your age, how much melanin you naturally have, the location of the new tattoo, your daily activity and routines…
The best answer is that your new tattoo is a collaboration. Work closely with your artist (it doesn’t get too much closer than permanently transforming your skin, now does it?) to achieve the best possible design, placement, execution and healing. You may start one healing method and need to switch. You may finish one method that works for you 100% of the time. The key is to listen to your body and don't stress.
Advice taken from
secondskin.ink/instructions/
www.inkedmag.com/inked-answers-dry-healing-vs-wrap-healing-new-tattoo/
Dry Healing Tattoos
1. Your artist will bandage you when finished. Leave your bandage on for 1-2 hours. After removing the bandage, clean your tattoo using warm water and mild, antibacterial cleanser to rinse off the shiny coat which might have formed on the surface of your tattoo. Pat dry and leave it to air.
2. Keep the tattoo unwrapped throughout the day, and wrap it just before going to sleep for the first three nights only. You can use plastic wrap for rewrapping, making sure your new tattoo is completely dry before you rewrap. Rewrapping your tattoo during the first three days is important since your body tends to lose a lot of fluid or lymph in the initial days. This lymph oozes from your tattoo and sticks to your skin and sheets making your skin itchy on the following day. Rewrapping your tattoo during the first three nights will reduce skin irritation and promote quicker healing.
3. In the day time, apply a mild moisturizer (nothing with scent or additives) or a tattoo healing ointment to your tattoo. Keep lightly applying the ointment until your tattoo peels after three to seven days. Once your tattoo fully enters the peeling phase, stop applying the ointment. If bubbles form on your tattoo, it’s due to excess moisture – stop applying the ointment and let your tattoo dry and peel on its own.
4. Protect that baby! Don’t soak in the tub, pool, hot tub, ocean, lake, stream or keg of beer. Avoid direct sun exposure, dirt, anything you’d do to keep an open wound clean. Don’t scratch. Even if it feels like tiny demons dancing just under your skin.
Wrap Healing Tattoos
Less conventional than traditional dry healing, wrap healing is most often recommended for larger tattoos.
1. Leave your bandage on for at least three hours but no longer than 12. Clean your tattoo with mild antibacterial soap and water. Air dry the new tattoo for 15 minutes minimum, making sure it’s completely dry.
2. Wrap up the tattoo with a plastic wrap. Do not use any moisturizer, ointment or lotion.
3. Wash your new tattoo every four to six hours. Sweat is your enemy, and it’s hard not to sweat when you are wrapped like a microwaved baked potato. After washing, pat dry with a very clean cloth, then rewrap with fresh plastic. That’s the drill for at least three days, and up to five days.
4. Your new tattoo will start to peel within those three to five days, flaking like a sunburn. That’s when you know to stop wrapping. Treat the dry and itchy skin with a no-additive moisturizer, and no scratching! Your skin texture will return to normal as your tattoo heals.
Moisture rashes happen when there is too much moisture left on skin that’s wrapped. Ingrown hairs can also be uncomfortable during healing. The most important things with either healing method is to keep it clean, be consistent, and don’t be shy about contacting your tattoo artist with any questions. It’s a guarantee that however weird your question seems to you, someone has asked something weirder.
So how do you decide which healing method is better for you or a particular tattoo?
Well, unlike the multiple choice quiz above, it’s not always a simple answer. No matter how few or many tattoos you already have, there are a lot of variables: your skin condition in general, what your immune system is up to at the moment, your age, how much melanin you naturally have, the location of the new tattoo, your daily activity and routines…
The best answer is that your new tattoo is a collaboration. Work closely with your artist (it doesn’t get too much closer than permanently transforming your skin, now does it?) to achieve the best possible design, placement, execution and healing. You may start one healing method and need to switch. You may finish one method that works for you 100% of the time. The key is to listen to your body and don't stress.
Advice taken from
secondskin.ink/instructions/
www.inkedmag.com/inked-answers-dry-healing-vs-wrap-healing-new-tattoo/