Can you saran wrap a tattoo

Another alternative is a Saniderm bandage which you can find on Amazon for a great price Click here. These have become more popular in recent years, as they significantly speed up the healing time of new tattoos. Saniderm bandages are clear, so that you can still show off your ink, but they are made to allow the tattoo to breathe, so they are a much safer alternative to saran wrap.

Some tattoo shops provide them as part of getting inked. They only need to be worn for days and then your tattoo should be healed. Everyone will have a different experience with the healing process. Sometimes it can even vary from tattoo to tattoo on the same person.

Your tattoo artist might have suggestions, too! Make sure that no matter what you choose, you take good care of your tattoo and give it proper time to heal. Purpose of the Wrap A tattoo is an open wound. Are There Alternatives?

They also eliminate the need for washing and moisturizing your tattoo 3 or more times each day. We use cookies on our website to give you the most relevant experience by remembering your preferences and repeat visits.

Do not sell my personal information. Cookie Settings Accept. Manage consent. Close Privacy Overview This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Out of these, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website.

We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. All normal activities involving water, sun exposure, or dirty environments can usually be resumed after one week. Only apply ointment for as long as it takes for your tattoo to peel, usually days. When the peeling begins, the outermost layer of tattooed skin will flake like a sunburn.

At all costs avoid picking at the cracked and flaking skin. When the tattoo has fully entered the peeling phase you should not apply any more ointment. The area will become dry and itchy, and a good quality, fragrance-free lotion can now be used until the skin returns to its normal texture.

If bubbles form on the surface of the fresh tattoo, stop applying ointment, letting it dry and peel on its own. This bubbling is caused by moisture getting trapped in your tattoo, usually from soaking or too much ointment, and could lead to scabbing. If scabs develop, they can remove the color beneath them if prematurely removed. The scab will eventually fall off on its own, and the tattoo should be fine if no deep cracks have formed. This is the less conventional method, and tends to work well for larger tattoos, as well as tattoos in awkward areas that will be covered with clothing, as this can cause irritation.

If you find that your tattoos have healed poorly in the past, this method may be an effective alternative. Remove your bandage after hours, and clean it with mild soap and warm water as in Method 1. After washing, gently pat it dry with a clean cloth or paper towel, then allow it to air dry for 15 minutes. When the tattoo is dry to the touch, cover it completely with a new piece of plastic wrap, using small pieces of tape as needed to hold it in place.

Do not use any healing ointment or moisturizer, only plastic wrap over your cleaned and dried skin. With this method, the tattoo is kept completely covered with plastic wrap 24 hours a day, for as long as it takes to peel—usually 3 to 5 days. It is also reliant on a couple of factors, including your tattoos' location and whether it is easily exposed to germs, or if you have a condition that may cause you to heal at a slower than average speed.

Knowing how long you should keep your tattoo wrapped includes knowing whether to keep it wrapped while sleeping. As we've spoken before, if using regenerative tattoo film there's no discussion: the answer is yes, we should keep our tattoo wrapped at night. Many tattoo artists believe that sleeping with a freshly inked tattoo may be uncomfortable and put you at an elevated risk of infection , which is why they recommend putting on a fresh wrapping before bed for the first night only.

It's important to understand that keeping your tattoo wrapped hinders the healing process by restricting air from reaching the tattoo, therefore we should let it breath as much as possible.

Some artists argue that consistently wrapping your tattoo promotes germs and bacterial growth on the healing skin. This contention is why it is imperative to listen to the guidance of your tattoo artists. And, if it is a particular concern, inform your artist. During the first two days after getting tattooed, your skin will secrete both plasma and blood. This is a completely normal part of the healing process, but these fluids can cause itching and possibly cause the skin to stick to your bedding.

Leaving the bandage on may seem like a sound way to ensure that your tattoo is safe from infection and other forms of potential harm. However, this theory is a bit misguided. Leaving the bandage on for too long can actually result in infection. This is why it is crucial to regularly change the dressing if you keep your tattoo wrapped for an extended period of time. If the wrapping becomes compromised or there is an abundance of blood or plasma inside the wrapping, it may be necessary to change it more frequently.

Keeping your wrapping on for too long without changing it or giving your skin time to breathe can have adverse effects. Even though the reasons for tattoo wrapping are completely valid and helpful, the notion of tattoo wrapping is still one of the most debated topics in the tattoo community. Nor do you want to transfer bacteria and germs to the tattoo and cause an infection. Under certain legislation, the majority of countries require a new tattoo to be wrapped in a sterile bandage to prevent infection, so keep that in mind as well.

However, some of the benefits also include;. Cling film is seethrough, and when covered, it keeps the blood and excess ink more tamed and not as excessive and messy and it would usually be without the cling film.

Plus, the tattoo would be visible, and partially protected from external infections. The practice continued in the decades to come, but nowadays, cling film wrapping is not as popular as it was before. There is a heated discussion about whether tattooists should wrap tattoos with plastic wraps, but that depends on the tattoo artist and their preferred methods. The time you should keep your tattoo wrapped with cling film also depends on what your tattoo artist thinks is appropriate.

Some tattoo artists recommend you keep the tattoo wrapped between 2 and 4 hours , others recommend you keep the tattoo wrapped overnight. However, this is a bit more complicated.

For example, if your tattoo is fresh and heavily bleeding, you should take off the cling film and wash the tattoo. Each tattoo situation is unique and the aftercare depends on the type of the tattoo, size, and placement, as well as the preferences and practices of the particular tattoo artists. Some tattoo artists will say that you can use cling film or plastic foil to re-wrap your new tattoo.

However, this is also highly debatable. Cling film should be used as a last resort, due to the possible issues with hygiene and cling film potentially not being sterile or causing infection.