What NOT to do? DON'T re-bandage your tattoo, rub, scratch or pick at your new tattoo. DON'T apply alcohol, Neosporin, Vaseline, or petroleum jelly (they can trap dirt and germs and cause infection).
As for what's fantastic, board-certified dermatologist Dr. Elliot Love, M.D., recommends using tattoo aftercare products with all-natural ingredients. Think the usual moisturizing suspects: vitamin E, beeswax, and hydrating olive, sunflower, and coconut oil.
Once your tattoo is fully healed (after three to six months), you can use petroleum-based ointments or Vaseline to help relieve dry skin. Just remember to ensure the skin is clean and completely dry before applying any of these types of gels, so you don't trap in moisture and possibly bacteria.
We recommend these fragrance-free, white cream lotions: Aveeno , Curel , and Eucerin . Be warned: your favorite fragranced lotion is not a good option for moisturizing your tattoo – this can cause an excruciating burning sensation when applied to the tattoo, which is essentially an open wound.
Aquaphor Advanced Therapy Healing Ointment
"Aquaphor absorbs the skin's natural wound exudates, keeping the wound moist to help promote healing," says Matt Marcus, the owner of Three Kings Tattoo in Williamsburg, Brooklyn.
Bepanthen is by far one of the most highly recommended tattoo aftercare products and is the go-to ointment for most tattoo artists and studios. Typically used as nappy rash ointment, Bepanthen has been around for a long time, and its gentle formula is used to treat babies with irritated skin.
Because they can clog pores and prevent the tattoo from breathing and healing properly, bepanthen and vaseline are not advised for use after a tattoo. Bepanthen is a heavy, thick cream that can be too thick to apply on tattoos but is intended for use on diaper rash and other skin irritations.
Here's what someone should avoid when it comes to tattoo aftercare: Soaps and moisturizers with any fragrances or harsh chemicals. Even if a product does not normally irritate the skin, it may irritate the tattooed area. Picking at scabs, as this can cause scar tissue to form.
In lieu of applying a tattoo lotion after your tattoo is completed, try a thin layer of Vaseline® Healing Jelly. The triple-purified white petrolatum can protect skin by creating a sealing barrier, locking in moisture which can help your skin's natural recovery process.
Coconut oil offers many health benefits that aid in the healing process of a tattoo. For example, coconut oil is made up of a number of nutrients that are natural antiseptics, meaning they can help keep the skin safe from microbial infections—a big potential risk with tattoos.
With amazing cooling effects and nourishing properties, your vulnerable-to-infection ink will thank you for using aloe vera. It is an all natural product that yields amazing results. So, yes, aloe vera is good for tattoos.
2-6 Days After Your New Tattoo
Now you'll start to notice that your tattoo looks a bit dull, perhaps even have a 'cloudy-looking' appearance. It may also look red, swollen and still ooze blood, plasma, lymphatic fluid and ink. Not to worry! This is normal.
You may also see redness, swelling, and some mild bleeding. DAYS 3-14 (or until healed): After the first 2-3 days, your tattoo should begin to feel dry and tight.
Should I moisturize my tattoo the first night? You should only concern yourself with keeping your tattoo clean and protected with a bandage during the first night. Wait until your skin becomes dry to start moisturizing.
Too much balm can be problematic, as skin needs to breathe while healing, but what happens if you don't put any on at all? Without moisturiser, there's a risk that healing skin will get very dry, tight and itchy, and itchy skin that you can't scratch - that in fact you shouldn't touch at all - is not much fun!
As soon as the film is off, it's time to moisturize. I recommend unscented moisturizers like QV-Cream or Cetaphil. Cream your tattoo about three times a day for at least week or until you think it's fully healed.
However, for now, wet healing a tattoo seems to be the most effective process, especially for areas where the wound may form a scab or tear. Although wet healing is riskier than dry healing as it creates the perfect environment for bacteria, it is still a better approach to jointed tattooed areas.
However, despite those healing properties, you never want to put it on a fresh tattoo. Vaseline does not allow the skin to breathe. Due to its occlusive agents, it will clog skin pores. Clogged pores can result in prolonged wound healing, acne, and breakouts.
Allow It to Breathe
Clothing can get in the way and actually prohibit the healing process. Give the tattoo some time to come into contact with the air rather than spend all of its time under cover.
Bepanthen's designed as an anti-rash treatment for babies. This may indicate that it'll be useful for treating sensitive skin, but it's not! Bepanthen isn't suitable for tattoos because it contains many harsh chemical additives: Petrolatum.
The formula with Pro-vitamin B5 creates a waterproof and breathable protective layer that provides the moisture level needed to help the skin to regenerate from within and to stabilise the natural skin barrier function.
Bepanthen Tattoo Aftercare Ointment is dermatologically tested to help heal and protect tattoos. It contains Pro-vitamin B5 which helps to keep your tattooed skin moisturised and protected. The breathable protective layer provides the moisture level needed to help the skin to regenerate from within.