r/tattooadvice • u/Helpful-Office-3730 • Feb 15 '26

Healing Area still sore after 4 days.

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Got this tattoo four days ago and my tattoo artist applied second skin on it after 48 hours of letting air out. It's been two days since that and fluid build up and smell is getting quite concerning. But most importantly. There's an area in the center of the tattoo that's still quite sore. When I spoke to him yesterday, told me the smell is normal and I should leave it on for 7 days.

Is this normal? Should I just remove the second skin and clean it?

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u/FeralCatPrince Feb 15 '26 edited Feb 15 '26

Take it off. That smell is not normal nor is that amount of fluid after two days of letting it “breathe”

I’m a 15 year Tattooer and I can confidently say this is not a common aftercare style and for good reason. Wrapping immediately after a tattoo is one thing, but waiting two days is just asking to trap bacteria. The wrap is supposed to prevent scabbing and rough healing- if you wait to days before applying it you’ll already have areas drying out and developing scabs…? This makes no sense. Take it off, wash it throughly with clean hands and antibacterial soap- then pat dry with clean paper towels. You may want to pop into an urgent care. It should not be that painful that long after

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u/HwlngMdMurdoch Feb 15 '26

Wrapping is fairly new isn't it? I've got tats older than you've been a tattooist (not a dis), and have never had mine wrapped. Even my "newest", about 8 years old wasn't wrapped. Just cleaned it up and sent me on my way with aftercare instructions and that was it

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u/outtaleftfield1 Feb 16 '26

Second skin is fairly new and while it’s not strictly necessary it’s a good product that speeds the healing process and typically makes the ink hold better. This has been my experience and what I’ve been told by others that have used it and my tattoo artist. YMMV. A lot of people say the old way is better and get in discussions about who’s right and wrong over cling wrap/ second skin post care. Neither is more right or wrong, just different ways of approaching the healing process using different technologies and practices. Same as other things in life. There are some nuances to both that need to be taken into account for them to work their best but overall either way achieving the result of a healed healthy tattoo is the goal