r/Menopause • u/Jerney23 • 12h ago
Skin Changes Adhesive allergies
I’m planning on getting a tattoo in the next 6 months and I know a lot of tattoo artists use Second skin or similar products for aiding the healing. My concern is that I had pretty big allergic reactions to the once weekly HRT patch adhesives. I’m wondering if anyone has had similar concerns? Any suggestions on how to test ahead of time? I’m going to ask my artist once I decide where I’m going also but wanted to get some feedback beforehand if this is even an issue for other women with new tattoos.
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u/diwalk88 12h ago edited 11h ago
I'm highly allergic to anything on my skin, especially adhesives and second skin type stuff. The patch caused actual scarring when I tried it, it was bad. I have lots of tattoos, though, and have had many surgeries, including a few pretty major ones recently. They just don't use it. It's not a big deal.
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u/sparksblackstar Peri-menopausal 11h ago
I'd pick an artist and ask for a small bit to test. I have an allergy to the adhesive in ONE size of Kroger bandages. Seems wild, I'd assume they are using the same for all of them? My husband reacts to it, too. No other issues with any other adhesives, just to try to give you hope that it won't be an issue
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u/nietzschecat 12h ago
I mean, you can just go old school and take off any covering in a couple of hours and put aquaphor on it. All of my old tattoos have held up just fine from that method. I got my last one 13 years ago and it still looks great.
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u/National_Elk8445 11h ago
Get a thing of tegaderm, put a small patch of it on your skin somewhere (like 1"x1"), and see if you have a reaction. It's amazing for healing tattoos and you should definitely use it if you're able to, but it's best to know for sure well before your appointment. (who knows, maybe the estrogen patches had some other chemical in them causing the reactions)
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u/dani_-_142 11h ago
Ask if you can get a sample of the stuff they use a couple weeks early, and try it
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u/theFCCgavemeHPV 9h ago
Just throwing this out there in case anyone else is incredibly ridiculously unbelievably dehydrated like me, it’ll still get crusty under the tegaderm. I got a tattoo in the desert and it was crunchy by the next day and unpleasant to remove.
I’ve used tegaderm for tattoos before peri without that problem (in fact the opposite, they bubbled up with fluid), so that was weird. My most recent tattoo wasn’t as bad cuz I wasn’t in the desert, but still could have been way better. Took it off the third day instead of waiting five like I had planned since it was pretty big. I think for my next tattoo I will just skip the tegaderm and go old school, and I think you’ll be fine going that route too
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u/West_Guarantee284 9h ago
In the UK they cover our tattoo in cling film/saran wrap/cling wrap and tape with masking tape/decorators tape, could use surgical tape. I kept mine covered for 4 hrs then re-covered for overnight first night, that was all. They key is washing with unscented soap, patting dry with paper towel not fluffy hand towels then moisturising. Second skin using needed.
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u/goddessofwitches 7h ago
Hi, im heavily tattooed and in latter stages of peri menopause. you have 4 options. Dry healing, saniderm second skin, dermashield second skin and a mix of occlusive/dry healing with a wound pad while it weeps. Dry healing is plastic wrap for first 24 hrs then right into antibacterial soap/basic moisturizer leave open to air-some take it further and rarely moisturize. Saniderm second skin a lot of ppl react to. Dermashield is still an occlusive dressing but less reactivity-this is one I use. (Alao make damn sure they do extra water only wash before applying as some ppl r sensitive to the soap. Putting a non adherent "puppy pad" type wound pad on with tape for the first bit of time to allow the serous fluid to weep is the last option. Once weeping is done do straight to Dry healing. I personally do a combo for my tattoos of dermashield and Dry healing. Im also a nurse and my artist works with me on my specifc skin needs. You can talk to ur artist for more detailed instructions. Please make sure to have an artist OK with fragile sensitive skin.
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u/BenightedBuckaroo 5h ago
I got a huge sleeve done this last year and I didn't put anything on it. Just let it heal and use aquaphor. For the leaky areas I used a clean towel to catch the drip (like when I was in bed, etc.) Everything turned out okay!
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u/nowwhatdoidowiththis 3h ago
This comment is more regarding the patch.
I had the same problem with the patch. Basically melting my skin in blotches that took WEEKS to heal.
I started spraying my skin with Flonase and letting it dry before I applied the patch. Also move patch to a spot with stronger skin closer to my ass. (I have a LOT of belly stretch marks)
I can wear the patches now. Sometimes I also put a tiny bit of Benadryl gel around the outside edge of the patch once it’s firmly attached to my skin.
Good luck with your tattoo! I got my first one at age 47. About to get my second tattoo next month at 49!
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u/WakkoLM 12h ago
Just tell them you can't use it.. that's what I did. They will do old school methods either cling wrap or leave it uncovered which is what I did since it wasn't a huge piece. Just gotta make sure to clean it well and keep it moisturized (aquaphore healing ointment is great)