Tattoo Aftercare: the healing benefits of using SecondSkin

A healed color portrait tattoo using Second Skin bandage

Tattooing has developed in amazing ways over the past few decades, so too has our knowledge on how the skin reacts and deals with it. It's no secret that the application of a tattoo causes trauma to the skin which can be a hassle to take care of and heal properly. I've heard countless remedies for the best aftercare for a fresh tattoo over the twenty years I'v been applying them, some with more success than others, but most of them being negligible in creating a better healing experience. Honestly for the most part it's more of an issue of things not to do than some magic fix that will cause a perfect heal.

That is until now. a game changer has been hitting the market for tattoo aftercare known as Derm Bandages and most of CHicago's Best Tattoo artists have switched over.

What are Derm Bandages?

Derm Bandages are a medical grade, breathable*, adhesive barrier; basically a bandage you can leave on for several days. The brand I prefer to use is called Second Skin so I'll be referencing their website on this post. Check them out here https://secondskin.ink

First a bit more about what this stuff is. It's basically a thin medical grade barrier that adheres directly to your skin. It's breathable so it doesn't suffocate your fresh tattoo like plastic wrap or those meat package bandages of the past would. There's a bunch of different brands of this stuff on the market, I just prefer SecondSkin because of it's ease of application and how well it stays adhered over a long length of time, including in the shower. I haven't tried them all, so I'm sure there are some other brands that are just as good.

How to use Second Skin for better tattoo healing

The application happens after the tattoo is finished. I usually like to let the client chill out for ten to fifteen minutes after I'm done tattooing to give the tattoo a chance to calm down and finish bleeding. Wiping off any extra blood or plasma will help the bandage adhere better, as well as keep the buildup of additional plasma under the bandage to a minimum. I'll then apply the bandage in small to medium size strips over the entire tattoo, with a one to two inch additional barrier around it. Then.... that's it! Occasionally the client will like to replace the bandage the following day if over the first night it has collected so much plasma that the bandage is slipping off. This is fine, but be careful removing the first bandage, as the tattoo is fresh and tender. Also it's important to be aware that the adhesive of the bandage can fuse to the scab matrix your body is forming, so if it really stuck on I don't recommend removing it the following day unless necessary. Use lots of soft soap and running water. Work it off slow from a top corner, working your way down. Replace the bandage with a fresh one. I recommend leaving the final 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!). After the bandage is removed continue on with any further aftercare your tattooer recommends. See more of our best aftercare for a new tattoo here. I recommend a small amount of water based lotion 1-2 times a day until it stops looking shiny.

Using derm bandages has led to more consistent healing and color saturation in healed tattoo work

Improved Healing results for tattoos

Since I've started using these types of bandages, the healing results in my tattoos (especially the large scale multi colored biomechanical sleeves and bodysuits) have gone from solid most of the time to great all of the time. Color loss, even in areas where I've layered multiple passes, is little to nonexistent. Clients who constantly came back with poor heals have started to come back and not need touchups (I attribute this to the bandage being dummy proof, since the client can't mess with the tattoo while the bandage is on). It also serves as a protective barrier to help minimize the chances of infection, so I sleep a little better knowing that even though there's an added level of protection between that fresh tattoo and all the dog hair, dirty gym equipment, and little kids hands out there trying to mess up my world.

-Gifford

Updates and potential downsides of derm bandages as of 2025

I thought I'd add some updates to this blog as it's gotten a lot of traction since I first published it and I've now been using derm bandages for Over 7 years. First off, I'm still using them. They are my primary form of initial aftercare and what I wrap my clients with 95 percent of the time. Second, I am less brand specific than I used to be. I have found pros and cons to most of the brands but for the most part they are pretty similar in terms of final heal and issues they can cause. A couple years ago Second Skin came out with an improved matt finish version of their bandage which was more flexible to apply and seemed more comfortable to wear so I tend to like that now.

As for issues that have arisen, there are a few! First and most importantly, it is extremely important to be aware of any allergies to adhesives the client may have. This can cause major healing problems if they have an allergic reaction to the bandage. Each company uses their own adhesive so client reactions may not be the same across the board. A good practice is if you aren't sure if the client is going to be reactive, place a small test patch of the bandage on an area of skin not being tattooed at the beginning of the session and check to see if it develops any redness or other reactions before applying it to the fresh tattoo.

I have also found that on softer areas of skin, or where the skin is extra stretchy like the under arm/ inner thigh areas the bandage can leave some scarring if left on to long or applied in such a way that it causes some rubbing against the skin. Using a scissors to round the corners of the bandage in these areas appears to help but it is worth noting to the client and letting them know to take the bandage off early if they experience discomfort. So far any scarring seems to heal up eventually, though it has taken many months in a couple cases so is best to avoid if possible.

The only other issue is one of comfort. On larger sessions some clients prefer to not use it as so much of their body needs to be covered and it can cause extra discomfort for the duration it is left on. This is really more of a client preference so I just discuss the pros and cons and ultimately leave it up to them. I generally have stopped using it for large outline sessions unless there is significant skin trauma, and I am not so concerned with the healing or potential pigment loss in this initial session. That however is going to be specific as to how you tattoo and client preference as well.

*as for breathability, it is unclear if there is an actual gas exchange that happens when the bandage is applied. This may be more of an in theory than in practice type of thing. That being said, the results of using a derm bandage still seem to be noticeably better on a whole.