How long tattoo covered

The use of plastic foil is been common practice still is in the tattoo community for many years. It was a practical and effective way to keep your tattoo protected from bacteria the first hours after leaving the studio.

Not so long ago, the industry evolved for the better, and new products specifically designed for tattoo care were introduced. And that's when the first regenerative tattoo films came into the picture. Instructions: Your tattoo artist or yourself will put it on the tattooed area, then keep it on for up to 5 days. Read also: Protective tattoo film vs cling film: pros and cons.

Depending which type of product tattoo film or plastic foil , your tattoo may require a wrapping for more than one day. 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. Scabs will start to form.

When you wash, you might notice some ink running into the sink. Keep washing your tattoo once or twice a day. Let them come off naturally. Otherwise, you could pull out the ink and leave scars. At this point, your skin may feel very itchy. Gently rub on a fragrance-free and alcohol-free moisturizer several times a day to relieve the itch.

If your tattoo is still red and swollen at this point, you might have an infection. Go back to your tattoo artist or see a doctor.

In this last stage of healing, most of the big flakes will be gone and the scabs should be going away. You might still see some dead skin, but it should eventually clear up too. The tattooed area might still look dry and dull.

Keep moisturizing until the skin looks hydrated again. It may take 3 to 4 months for the lower layers to completely heal. By the end of your third month, the tattoo should look as bright and vivid as the artist intended.

Use a mild, fragrance-free soap or a specially formulated tattoo cleanser to clean the area. Your tattoo artist can recommend a tattoo-specific cleanser. The American Academy of Dermatology says that petroleum-based products can cause the ink to fade. Because Vaseline is nonporous watertight , you can apply it to your tattoo before you step into the shower so that it can protect the area from getting sprayed with water. After about 2 days, you can switch to a regular moisturizer.

Some products that you can buy online include:. When properly cared for, your tattoo can be as brilliant as one of these inspiring breast cancer tattoos. Polynesian people, such as Samoans , have long used coconut oil on their tattoos. They apply it after the tattoo is completed or when it heals. Wrapping your tattoo in cling film or plastic wrap is believed to have developed from the '60s and '70s Biker gatherings.

Freshly tattooed Bikers were brazenly ripping off their bandages repeatedly, showing off their new tattoos, blood and ink oozing everywhere. The "cling film" legend goes like this: one of those bike enthusiasts decided to wrap his new tattoo in see-through plastic, so he could show all his mates without taking off its cover. It worked. His mates could now see his new tattoo, and he didn't flick blood and ooze around.

This was at a time and age where concerns and knowledge about blood-borne viruses such as HIV and hepatitis were uncommon. Whether this journey back into Biker history has any merit, the message itself does: You need to protect your freshly inked tattoo from external infections for best results.

Covering your tattoo causes a lot of heated discussion from within the tattoo community, but there is a benefit to covering your healing tattoo to protect it from the environment. The real questions are:. A critical step for a naturally healing tattoo is air-drying it out.

Only expose your fresh tattoo to a clean environment like your bathroom rather than the garage. Once the top layer of a tattoo has dried out and flaked off, it will reveal your tattoo underneath. A quick reference for when you should wrap your tattoo and when you should leave your new tattoo to air-dry. Your tattoo artist should wrap your fresh tattoo with cling film before you leave the studio.

Laws in many countries specify that a freshly completed tattoo must be covered entirely with a sterile bandage that is securely taped down with medical adhesive tape. When you are asleep. While you are sleeping you might lay on your tattoo, or let the bed linen lay on your tattoo. This is an opportunity for bacteria, dust or fluff to enter the new tattoo, possibly causing an infection.

Wrapping your tattoo will also protect it from being accidentally scratched while you're asleep. Choose clothing that is not too tight and irritating. Sleeves or cuffs with elastic can easily catch on edges of skin and scabs, ripping them off. If you must wear a certain clothing item that could rub or irritate your new tattoo, wrap your tattoo with a hygienic bandage for protection.

A clean bandage is the best protection for your tattoo when in a crowd, or playing a contact sport. Any knocks or hits directly to your tattoo can cause damage. You are best to try to avoid these activities. When using it from the very start of the healing process, this lotion will help to decrease tattoo healing times and work towards eliminating any lingering dryness and scabbing.

However — it is generally advisable to wait for at least a couple of hours after leaving the studio before taking the wrapping off. Another reason for the wrapping is to help prevent direct contact between anything that you may accidentally rub up against or knock into — especially if the tattoo is on a very exposed area of your body, such as on the forearm, shoulder or foot.

These knocks and bumps can not only be painful, but they can also aid in the transfer of germs and bacteria to the area if you come into contact with anything unsanitary. Finally, some people prefer to sleep in their wrapping for the first night , and some artists recommend this too. At the end of the day, you should trust the advice that your own specific tattoo artist gives you, as they know you and your tattoo better than anybody else.