Sharpie on Tegaderm

Nurses General Nursing

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Specializes in 15 years in ICU, 22 years in PACU.

My workmate is desperate to know if a Sharpie/Magic Marker bleeds through a Tegaderm/Opsite and leaves marks on the skin.

Immediate respones are, of course, appreciated but anything is better than the response from the "Sharpie Lady" who kept my workmate on hold for 10 minutes then said, "I don't think so."

I need some cold hard facts from the trenches and if you end up with a smiley face on your arm from experimenting chalk it up to EBP.

Thank you all in advance. I will appreciate any and all respones, I mean it!

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Specializes in critical care.

I've never seen it happen, however, if that is not definite enough for her, grab some medical tape and write on that instead, and place it on a part of the tegaderm that doesn't hide what you need to see.

Totally loving that she called Sharpie. Oh, for the OCD of nurses.

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Specializes in Medical-Surgical/Float Pool/Stepdown.

Well, we are told not to write in sharpie/pen on IVF bags because they are permeable.

how about slap a tagaderm on your derrière and some sharpie ink and see what happens after a few days/showers :shy:

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Specializes in critical care.
Well, we are told not to write in sharpie/pen on IVF bags because they are permeable.

how about slap a tagaderm on your derrière and some sharpie ink and see what happens after a few days/showers :shy:

Do it! Share the results with us! (Pics or it didn't happen.)

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From a medical legal perspective the tegaderm company are the ones who can answer the question, not the sharpie company.

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Specializes in Neuro ICU and Med Surg.

I honestly doesn't think it will bleed through, but I would just not do it to be safe. Just get a piece of medical tape and place it where you can't occlude what you need to see.

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Specializes in Oncology.

I have various forms of tegaderm at home and various forms of sharpie. I promise to experiment when I get home.

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Specializes in 15 years in ICU, 22 years in PACU.
I have various forms of tegaderm at home and various forms of sharpie. I promise to experiment when I get home.

We are counting on you Blondy.

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Specializes in 15 years in ICU, 22 years in PACU.

Thanks for all replies. The question is under review. You may stay tuned or not. Life goes on.

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Specializes in Infusion Nursing, Home Health Infusion.

There was actually a study done on this and I just read it...let me see if I can find it and I will repost the info.

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Specializes in Surgical, quality,management.
From a medical legal perspective the tegaderm company are the ones who can answer the question, not the sharpie company.

Exactly.

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I would think the issue wouldn't be bleed through (99 44/100% sure it won't) but infection control. You would have to dispose of the sharpie afterward. Like, right then and there after. You don't want ID on your case.

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