gauze vs plastic wrap over a tattoo

[Riyko]

I got to thinking the other day, all the tattoo's i've had done in the states the artists has wrapped with plastic wrap, but the tattoo i got up in Canada the artist put some gauze on after she finished with the tattoo. It made me wonder what is better to put on a tattoo would it be gauze because it allows the tattoo to breath and can absorb the blood or is plastic wrap because it suffocates in a sense the tattoo. I preferred the gauze because compared to plastic wrap i didn't notice the gauze, but the plastic wrap irritated my skin so much i've always taken them off right after getting the tattoo because i hated the sweaty, suffocating feeling.

So, I wanted to know your opinions about putting gauze over a tattoo after it's done vs putting plastic wrap over a tattoo? What would you prefer having over a tattoo?

psst: i wasn't sure if this went here or the tattoo after care section so i just put it here (to be on the safe side)

[dirbab]

I don't know what's better for the actual tattoo, but I've had both and that gauze shit is wayy more comfortable than saran wrap.

[JeffK]

I've had both here in the US. The "gauze" I had wasn't REALLY gauze, it was more of an ABD pad with a plastic outer side. Anyway, whatever they put I leave it on while I sleep and don't open the bastard till the morning to clean and toss the old dressing.

Here's how I look at it: Either way is fine. I don't think the absorbant pad is going to suck out any ink. It's just soaking up sweat and plasma and blood, ANY ink would be oozing out anyway with the plasma and other fluids. The plastic wrap, same, it's uncomfortable maybe but it'll keep your sheets clean and be a barrier for the giant open wound you just paid for. When the plastic wrap was used, the dudes always taped a folded paper towel to the bottom rim to catch any dripping ooze.

Taking either off right after exposes the tattoo to a world of bacteria, even if you're cleaning the thing. SO I say leave it on, let what's there be there, in the morning toss the crap and never re-wrap. I know some people re-wrap for sleep. I don't like creating a moist/body temp environment on my giant open wound for bacteria to have an orgy in. THAT'S ME. I've done the re-wrap and it's never done anything one way or the other but cost me plastic wrap.

So blah blah blah, I don't think it REALLY matters and it's a personal thing.

[HaydenRose]

So blah blah blah, I don't think it REALLY matters and it's a personal thing.

Yup. I've had the bandages, saran wrap/bandage mix, and saran wrap only. I always keep it on overnight and haven't had any issues either way. I still cringe though when I see an artist reach for saran wrap, just because it's so uncomfortable IMO.

[Killercook76]

i think the initial saran wrap is just to get you home and from there you can decide what works best for you. If you think about it the pores from a fresh tattoo is saturated with ink, blood, plasma, and ointment . So suffocating it with plastic wrap isn't going to hurt it.. Then again I'm no professional.. ahahaha!

[petes67bird]

I have always had gauze used on me. I honestly have never seen saran wrap used.

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[Mark Bee]

I'm down with gauze. I've only had saran wrap once, and I wasn't thrilled with it. It wasn't too, too bad, but I prefer the gauze.

[Kahlan]

I totally cringe when I see the plastic wrap. Just feel like it doesn't look professional, and there's no proper barrier for a fresh tattoo.

Not only is it keeping your tattoo clean, and absorbing the bacteria that goes with it...when you take it off, the cleaning is that much easier than saran wrap cause everything dries and sticks to your skin/tattoo..

I find it absolutely gross.

[Kahlan]

Ok? Which part didn't you understand...I guess I didn't explain it properly.

[Killercook76]

Tegaderm by 3m is the best!!

[Kahlan]

Oh I see. When you remove the plastic wrap or pad, you have to clean that area. So I basically find it's less messy when you have a pad instead of the plastic wrap. With the plastic wrap it's just collecting blood and all that shit in their. All that stuff ends up drying on your skin/tattoo over that few hours it's bandaged... I don't know I just don't like. :P

Hope that clears it. lol

[Graeme]

I feel that unless I was a tattooer and was looking at buying the different products available, who cares, I'll take whatever the shop gives me. Lately it's been Saran Wrap and it's been fine. It isn't super comfortable, but I can't imagine that wrapping an arm in bandages would be any better.

[slayer9019]

Since I always rush home to take it off right away anyways I could care less.

[JAllen]

plastic wrap is cheap at the grocery store, sterile bandages from a medical supply place cost more. like @daveborjes said, it's just to get you home. usually because some local health dept requires you to leave with something on it. it's not for healing the tattoo up. so whatevers on it, take it off when you get somewhere to wash it up and do your first aftercare ritual.

[deadsp0t]

Since I always rush home to take it off right away anyways I could care less.

plastic wrap is cheap at the grocery store' date=' sterile bandages from a medical supply place cost more. like @daveborjes said, it's just to get you home. usually because some local health dept requires you to leave with something on it. it's not for healing the tattoo up. so whatevers on it, take it off when you get somewhere to wash it up and do your first aftercare ritual.[/quote']

This, simple as that and no real need to recover unless like stated you have to wear heavy clothes.

Even when I had the color done on my larger piece I didn't cover at night, ink/blood on the sheets was never a major issue.. The lotion had more negative affect on my sheets then the blood or ink.

[NotExpected85]

I had saran wrap, but if i could of chose it would of been gauze

[cltattooing]

I've had both, and they both suck. Whatever.

[GrayCatLove]

Plastic wrap will trap in bacteria.

Gauze will stick unless you do wet to damp... Change before it dries out and you damage the tattoo. Don't use dirty tap water, but sterile normal saline.

[Gregor]

I wet heal all of my tattoos with cling film and a long as you change it regularly and keep clean theres no issues . Im shit at dry healing cos I bleed like fuck so scabbing is inevitable .

[bigbilz]

Im not sure how it works in other states; but here in Kentucky USA gauze is the only acceptable wrap. Plastic wrap is strictly forbidden. I prefer the gauze anyways, its cleaner on the customer if they have to travel great distances like they do here.

[Dave Sobel]

Neither one is ideal really. Although plastic wrap has certain advantages. Unlike gauze, plastic won't stick to the bandage and either leave behind particles of cotton( which can cause infection) or pull out a chunk of your brand new tattoo leaving it spotty and opening it up to infection. The best things for bandages are either plastic coated pads that absorb blood and plasma, or the thin breathable films used for burn patients. The pads only get left on for a couple hours to allow the skin to seal itself, whereas the films get left on overnight, and then get reapplied.

I got to thinking the other day, all the tattoo's i've had done in the states the artists has wrapped with plastic wrap, but the tattoo i got up in Canada the artist put some gauze on after she finished with the tattoo. It made me wonder what is better to put on a tattoo would it be gauze because it allows the tattoo to breath and can absorb the blood or is plastic wrap because it suffocates in a sense the tattoo. I preferred the gauze because compared to plastic wrap i didn't notice the gauze, but the plastic wrap irritated my skin so much i've always taken them off right after getting the tattoo because i hated the sweaty, suffocating feeling.

So, I wanted to know your opinions about putting gauze over a tattoo after it's done vs putting plastic wrap over a tattoo? What would you prefer having over a tattoo?

psst: i wasn't sure if this went here or the tattoo after care section so i just put it here (to be on the safe side)

[TigerBlue77]

What about the new ink health.com bandages and wraps?

[bigdrummerboy]

I wet heal all of my tattoos with cling film and a long as you change it regularly and keep clean theres no issues . Im shit at dry healing cos I bleed like fuck so scabbing is inevitable .

I scab pretty easily too. What is your healing method exactly? I always thought that if you scab easily dry heal is the best...

[Bigboy67]

I use these when I cover my new work... Cheap, nonstick sterile bandages. Slap a few on with a little tape...

[Killercook76]

tegaderm is the best wet healing method! Actually best any kind of healing I found so far! Heals smoother and no rough scaly scabs.