How long do you leave second skin on a tattoo?

Follow what your artist told you on the day, because the two kinds of covering are completely different. A simple wrap comes off after two to five hours. An adhesive film such as second skin stays on for several days.

Two different things with the same name

People call both of them cling film or second skin, and the timings could not be further apart. Getting them the wrong way round is one of the most common aftercare mistakes we see.

A loose wrap, taped at the edges, is there to get you home. Two to five hours, then off.
An adhesive film sealed to the skin all the way round is a breathable dressing. Several days, and taking it off early does more harm than leaving it on.

The fluid underneath is meant to be there

Under an adhesive film you will see cloudy fluid, often tinged with ink, pooling over the tattoo within hours. That is plasma and it is exactly what should happen. It is not an infection and it does not mean the film has failed.

It alarms people every single time, which is why we say it before you leave.

When to take it off early

Only if the seal has broken and water or air is getting underneath, or if the skin around the edges is genuinely irritated rather than just marked. A film with a lifted edge is worse than no film.

Taking it off

In a warm shower, slowly, pulling it back against itself flat along the skin rather than up and away. Wash the tattoo with unscented soap afterwards and pat it dry.

If you are unsure at any point, message the studio. We would far rather answer than have you guess.