According to experts, it is not advisable to use saran wrap on a new tattoo. "Plastic wrap or Saran wrap creates an occlusive layer over the tattoo," explains Camp. "While helpful to protect the tattoo from infection, a thick layer of plastic wrap prevents the exchange of oxygen and can affect wound healing."
Wait Before Swimming: Ideally, avoid swimming for at least 2-4 weeks after getting your tattoo, as the skin needs time to heal. Cover the Tattoo: If you must swim, cover the tattoo with a waterproof bandage or plastic wrap. Ensure it is secure and fully sealed to prevent water from seeping in.
It's definitely not ideal. Fresh tattoos are open wounds on your body, and you really need to allow your skin the opportunity to breathe and temperature regulate. Saran wrap will trap moisture and potentially promote infection.
Pick up some tegaderm from cvs or Walgreens. Layer it very well covering the tattoo. Tegaderm is water proof this will help keep it dry. Just don't submerge it for long period of time. This advice is only if you need to swim. Error on caution and keep it out of the water.
Use lukewarm or cold water, and keep the tattoo from heavy shower flow, instead opting to gently rinse the area of your tattoo. Make sure the bandage is secured to your skin before you expose it to water pressure from the shower.
With this method, the tattoo is kept completely covered with plastic wrap 24 hours a day, usually for 48-72 hours. It is important to wash the tattoo every 4-6 hours or after any period of sweating, letting it completely air-dry afterwards, and applying a new piece of plastic wrap each time.
Some tattoo artists recommend using a light coating of Vaseline before showering to protect from the onslaught of water. However, getting a new tattoo wet for a quick shower is okay, as long as you aren't soaking in a bath, swimming, or spending more than 10 minutes in the shower.
Saniderm is a medical-grade, waterproof tattoo bandage that is breathable and used like a “second skin” to heal your tattoo.
Nexcare Max Hold Bandages
We think these bandages are a game-changer for anyone leading an active lifestyle, especially swimmers who need reliable wound protection.
Many artists recommend never using saran wrap on a new tattoo. Using saran wrap on a fresh wound is a health hazard (despite this method being used for decades). Products like Saniderm or Dermshield are breathable, flexible, and can be worn in the shower.
Since oxygen itself plays a huge role in allowing the skin to heal properly, covering a new tattoo in plastic wrap or smothering it in petroleum-based products that limit oxygen supply can further complicate the healing process.
We recommend Aquaphor as the healing ointment for your tattoo. Apply a small amount to the tattoo, and rub it in thoroughly, as if you were applying lotion.
Salt and chlorine are both particularly harmful as they can pull ink from fresh tattoos and cause them to heal blurred or patchy.
Avoid water for the first two weeks. Moisturize regularly. Avoid tight-fitting clothing around your tattooed area for the first two weeks. Avoid sun exposure whenever possible with UV-blocking sunscreen and UPF clothing, like our men's sun protective tees or our women's UPF 50+ shirts.
It is generally not recommended to submerge a new tattoo in water, including taking a bath, for at least 2-3 weeks after getting the tattoo. This is because a new tattoo is essentially an open wound that needs time to heal and seal.
Apply a waterproof bandage to cover your ink while in water: "If it isn't possible to wait until the tattoo is fully healed before swimming, then use a waterproof dressing such as Saniderm and limit the amount of time in the water and with the dressing on as much as possible," Dr. King says.
You should wait at least 2-4 weeks before swimming after getting a tattoo. This allows your skin to heal properly and reduces the risk of infection or damage to the tattoo. How to cover a tattoo for swimming? To protect your tattoo while swimming, you can use a waterproof tattoo cover.
If water gets under the bandage, remove it immediately and continue with the normal aftercare routine. Ink and plasma may come to the surface under the bandage and you may see some splotches or what appears to be double lines.
Eaves recommends allowing your new tattoo anywhere between two weeks to a month to fully heal before shaving (you can find his tattoo aftercare tips here) — this means no scabbing, peeling or shininess on or around the site of the tattoo. Once your tattoo is fully healed, however, shave as your heart desires.
According to experts, it is not advisable to use saran wrap on a new tattoo. "Plastic wrap or Saran wrap creates an occlusive layer over the tattoo," explains Camp. "While helpful to protect the tattoo from infection, a thick layer of plastic wrap prevents the exchange of oxygen and can affect wound healing."
Unfortunately, there's no way to control what your body does while you sleep, but keeping your new tattoo covered during the night will help mitigate the risk of causing any injuries by scratching it.
A: Tattoo ink bleeding, often referred to as a blowout, does not go away on its own. This occurs when the ink spreads into the surrounding tissue, causing a blurred or smudged appearance.