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I also forgot to add that my biggest concern is really the breathability and not creating an occlusive seal. I have heard that wrapping a fresh tattoo in saran wrap or a similar product cuts of the oxygen, makes a slimy mess and doesn't protect cusion-wise as much as a paper towel or gauze. Any suggestions on using this tatuderm versus older methods?

Tatu-derm is a brethable thin film - designed to be like skin, holes are small enough for vapor molecules but too small for solids to pass.
the medical grade adhesive sticks to dry skin. the new tattoo is moist and will not stick. the barrier is formed on the dry skin around the tattoo.
some reference Tatu-derm users - Jace Masula, Mike Toth, Mike Gutowski to name a few.

perfect especially for people that work in dirty environments - plumbers, welders, mechanics, farmers, daycare workers - when keeping the tattoo is difficult.

Tatu-derm keeps the tattoo clean and protects it from abrasion.

some people are alergic to adhesives. it won't hurt the tattoo. it may leave the skin a little red for a day, like sunburn, but it will recover quickly once the product is removed.

I came across tatu-derm at a convention a while back, and let me just say even thou it makes the cost of aftercare go up a little, it is well worth it between you and the clients. I've seen some great results come from using tatu-derm. Your body is naturally healing itself, protected from clothes rubbing against it and dirt or anything that could be bad for the tattoo, and cuts the healing time down greatly. I've seen some tats almost fully healed in just a few days. While the wrap is on, it reduces the swelling, redness, and any of the after pain you would generally have during the healing. One of the greatest products I've got for my clients! Also, doesn't hurt that the colors stay in alot brighter then with any other product out there!!!

Perhaps I used the product incorrectly but I felt that it pulled a good amount of ink out when you changed the film. How often should you change it and how long do you leave it on total?

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Hey.

I've never used this product but the application sounds logical, neither the optimum rate of epidermal cell migration nor the maximum new cell production of which the epidermis is capable is expressed during normal wound healing. The path of the migrating epidermal cells and damage to the superficial surface blood vessels causes an acute shortage of oxygen at the wound surface. The results of natural healing suggest that the epidermis can utilise more oxygen if it is made available, by switching from anaerobic to aerobic metabolism of carbohydrates which results in more rapid epidermal regeneration. Natures way of healing can be improved upon by using dressings that prevent scab formation and are oxygen permeable. However, If there is enough fluid build up underneath the dressing, I would suggest changing the dressing often, allowing a little time to pass before reapplying the second dressing, giving the skin an opportunity to recover from the lack of oxygen caused by the pooling of fluid, although the dressing is breathable, this would seem ineffective if the pooling is left under the dressing for too long.

Just a thought???

I'm going to give this a try though and post my results at a later time. thanks.
take care,

Stephen Stacey

Hey Steven Stacey,
How did you go back 2012 with using Tatuderm on your tattoos?

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Hey Carrie,

I have gathered a lot of knowledge on this product and others like it. I was at a convention and spoke with artist Randy Engelhard who has been using 3M Tegaderm for quite some time with amazing results. Tegaderm works on the same principles as the tatuderm. I have been using Tegaderm for quite some time and the results and science behind it is excellent. The company 3m that makes tegaderm has been using this sort of dressing long before it was considered for tattoo healing. and they now have added to their specs that this product works well with tattoos.
The science behind it is excellent. it is a non permeable barrier that does not allow contaminants to penetrate it, but it does breath and allow for oxygen to get to the wound. this was my original concern. it is also water resistant so you can get a shower with it on. the best way for a tattoo to heal in in a protected environment using it own natural body fluids. and this product does just that. it is basically a stick it and forget it sort of dressing. if you combine a product like redemption on the tattoo area before put it on, you will have a flawless heal, assuming that you did not over work the skin. The three things that cause the most problems with tattoo healing is Water,Air and excess plasma discharge. these three foes usually are the reason heavy scabs form and cause longer healing times. the tegaderm eliminates that problem because it protects against drying out, it repels water, and so the plasma does not get a chance to dry on the surface. with proper changing of the tegaderm, I have found that tattoos heal with in 5 to 7 day without any scabbing or loss of color. in my opinion it is a great product. also once you are done with the initial stage of healing, I recommend that you use redemption for the next month or so until the ink has had the proper time to settle...

Hope that helps

Take care.


Stephen Stacey