Saniderm or Saran Wrap, which is better?

Hello! At Speakeasy Tattoo in Los Angeles California I am learning all about the best practices to use for the best healed tattoos. Is Saniderm or Saran wrap better? It most definitely depends on your situation. 

Saniderm is great for small tattoos that contain the tattoo and reduce the risk of infection. “Saniderm is a bandage barrier that helps protect your tattoo from dirt, friction, and bacteria, while being breathable enough to allow healing oxygen in, while also keeping essential moisture from escaping. After your artist finishes your tattoo, they are going to get you all cleaned up. Once you get a good look and a pic to post on the gram, they will cover the tattoo in some way. Some artists put on some healing ointment and a bandage of some sort and send you on your way, but the newer method is using a Saniderm bandage. These bandages look like plastic wrap and can be cut to specifically fit your new tat. Some artists will put an ointment and this bandage, and others will just put the bandage. Both methods are fine — it’s mostly a judge-in-the-moment kind of thing.”(hush anesthetic) Sanaderm is a great method for healing, however the use of Saniderm can trap an excess of sweat if you’ve been in an environment that made you sweat. This would introduce new bacteria to the new healing tattoo. In this case it is best to take the saniderm off and let the tattoo heal naturally. If you are going to sweat remove and saniderm and keep that tattoo clean with an unscented gentle soap. 

Saran wrap is great for covering a large tattoo and allows the wearer to be able to keep it clean and create its own protective layer. “Your first night sleeping, your artist might recommend you re-wrap the tattoo with plastic wrap (like Saran Wrap) to sleep without the tattoo sticking to your sheets. This is generally for larger or solid-color tattoos. If your artist did not recommend re-wrapping, just let the tattoo stay exposed to air overnight” (brilliancetattoo). 

Personally I prefer the saran wrap method because I like to be able to keep my tattoos clean and dry. However if I had something like a wedding the next day and don’t want my tattoo to touch anything that could get it infected, I would prefer to use saniderm. 

Regardless of which method you use and prefer it is important to remember to never swim before your tattoo is fully healed, keep it clean, keep it covered, and enjoy your living art.