Option 2: DermShield (Second Skin)

Step 1: Leave the bandage on for 2-5 days.  Do not go over 5 days.  If it falls off, or has to come off early, that’s totally okay.  There are 3 common instances where I’d take it off before the fifth day.  If it starts leaking, if foreign liquid gets into the bandage, or if it begins to peel and expose fresh ink to the air.  Slight peeling or fraying around the edges of the bandage is okay - but if it peels further and exposes fresh ink to the air, remove it as soon as you can.

Step 2: When removing, do so under running water.  It could really hurt and damage the skin if peeled off dry.  You’ll likely be okay if you peel it off dry, but why risk it?  And besides, ouch.  

Step 3: Soap up the area with unscented, antibacterial pump soap.  Unscented because scented soaps could irritate the skin and cause unnecessary discomfort. 

Step 4: Rinse the area of all soap and pat dry with a clean paper towel or let it air dry.  Do your best to avoid direct contact with bath towels.  You can only do so much in that regard, but they could also have bacteria on them.  Do your best. 

Step 5: Apply a thin sheen of moisturizer.  I will supply you with Viatmin A/D ointment at the end of each session if you want it.  It is the most readily available across common stores and does a good job at maintaining an appropriate amount of moisture for an extended period of time.  

• Repeat steps 3-5 for about a week after the second skin is removed.  If it lasted the full 5 days, you’ll notice that it may be pretty much healed.  But if you had to take it off early, or if it fell off by itself early (which is common) then I’d repeat steps 3-5 for 2 weeks.  To give an example, I had a client reach out 1 day after our session and they said the second skin fell off overnight.  I told them to refer to steps 3-5, run through those steps once in the morning then once more before bed, and repeat that for 2 weeks.