Best Tattoo Aftercare Bandage: Our Top Rated Pick
When you’ve invested in a new tattoo it’s important to take good care of it.
This will not only prevent infections, but also ensure your new piece looks as good as possible when it’s fully healed.
Tattoo aftercare is a much debated topic. With roughly 40% of all 26-40 year olds having a tattoo these days (a 2023 Pew survey found 41% of adults under 30 and 46% of those 30 to 49 have one), chances are your friends will all be recommending different techniques, depending on what worked for them.
The usual method is to keep the wrapping your tattoo artist applies on for as long as they recommend, often a few hours.
You then gently wash the tattoo with mild soap and water and apply a thin layer of the ointment or lotion your artist suggests, so it doesn't dry out.
This continues for a couple of weeks or more, until the skin is smooth and scab-free. Always follow your artist's specific aftercare instructions.
However, there are alternative ways to heal your new tattoo. One of them involves wrap healing with a good tattoo aftercare bandage.
What To Look For In A Bandage
An effective tattoo aftercare bandage should protect your tattoo from dirt, grime, and bacteria, without smothering your tattoo.
It should remove the need for the constant back and forth process of cleaning your tattoo when it weeps and applying a lotion to keep it from drying out.
A good bandage should also prevent you from being tempted to pick and scratch but also not smother your tattoo, allowing it to breathe.
Most importantly, it should be easy to use and keep the tattoo clean and protected while it heals.
Tatu-derm
Tatu-derm is our top pick for a tattoo aftercare bandage.
It's an adhesive film bandage designed to protect fresh ink from dirt and germs while it heals.
Tatu-derm aftercare bandages cover the tattoo so clothes, sheets and dirt don't touch the healing skin.
As well as protecting it from contamination, it also protects the abrasion from contact with surfaces such as clothes and bed sheets. It's water resistant, so you can shower with it on. Don't swim or soak a healing tattoo, even under a bandage.
To use Tatu-derm, attach the bandage to the dry area around your tattoo and completely cover it.
Keep the bandage on for 12-24 hours. During this time, fluid will build up under your bandage.
At this point, remove the bandage, clean the area and pat it down gently to make it dry. Then, apply another bandage.
Follow the package directions for how long to leave the second bandage on. The bandage protects the first stage of healing, but the skin still needs weeks to fully heal after it comes off.
Pros
- Tatu-Derm helps protect your tattoo from dirt and germs during the first days of healing.
- It's easy to use and cuts down on cleaning and lotion during the first days.
- It's breathable and water resistant, so you can shower with it on.
- As it covers the entire area of your tattoo, it reduces the temptation to scratch or pick at scabs.
- It’s a more cost-effective alternative to other tattoo aftercare bandage products on the market such as Sani-derm.
Cons
As everyone’s skin is different, so is the healing process.
Although in most cases two applications of Tatu-derm is enough, sometimes, the process will be different from that described in the instructions.
For instance, there may be a larger buildup of fluid in the first 12-24 hours than expected and you’ll be required to change your bandage sooner than expected.
This could result in a need to apply the bandage three times
Some people's skin also reacts to adhesive bandages. Remove it if you notice a rash or worsening redness.
See a clinician right away if you have spreading redness, swelling, pus, fever, chills or pain that gets worse. These can be signs of a tattoo infection.
That’s a Wrap…
So when you next get a tattoo, give Tatu-Derm a try.
It's an easy-to-use alternative for the first stage of healing. Check with your artist first, since some prefer their own aftercare method.
Good aftercare, including sun protection once it heals, helps preserve the quality, detail and vibrancy of your new tattoo.
Sources
- How many Americans have tattoos, why, and do they regret it?, Pew Research Center
- Tattoo Infection: Signs, Causes, Treatment & Prevention, Cleveland Clinic
- Think Before You Ink: Tattoo Safety, FDA
