Tea tree essential oil's anti-inflammatory properties reduce swelling, redness, and irritation at tattoo sites. This may be quite beneficial, especially later in the healing process when itchy scabs develop. Applying tea tree essential oil regularly can help to diminish itching and, as a result, the desire to scratch.
You can also use tea tree oil to make an antibacterial wash for your tattoo. All you need to do is wet a clean towel or some paper towel, add a few drops of tea tree oil directly onto the cloth, and carefully dab it onto your tattooed area (do not rub). Pat the area dry when you are complete.
Tea tree oil is a natural antibiotic. Research shows that this essential oil can kill bacteria that may infect tattoos, like Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus.
Essential oils are an excellent choice for tattoo aftercare because they are a natural substance that promotes healing without the use of additional chemicals, colorants, or scents. This could result in an infection in a tattoo that is healing.
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.
Never use petroleum based products A+D Ointment, Bepanthen, Aquaphor, Vaseline, Bacitracin, and Neosporin on your tattoos. These 6 products have a purpose, and it's not tattoo aftercare or tattoo healing.
Only use Bio-Oil® if your tattoo is fully healed, there should be no broken skin, scabs, wounds or peeling skin. Bio-Oil® will not fade the colours in your tattoo, and it can be used on tattoos that have scarring. However, you should always speak to your tattoo artist for aftercare and healing advice.
Oil-Based Remover
The best oil-based products for this method are baby oil and coconut oil, but you can just as easily use olive oil if that's all you've got. Just as Wilcoxen noted, removing a temporary tattoo with this method is easy.
Final Verdict. When it comes to the very best products for healing tattoos, we're giving top honors to the classic Aquaphor Healing Ointment. Highly recommended by many tattoo artists, it absorbs the skin's natural moisture while creating a protective (but breathable) barrier over your new ink.
So what product should you use? You may have heard some rumours that Bepanthen shouldn't be used on new tattoos, but this absolutely isn't the case. 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.
However, we also recommend coconut oil and certain brands of tattoo healing creams such as Hustle Butter, but please do not use Bepanthen, as the ingredients have changed and its no longer beneficial for the tattoo healing process.
You can also use baby oil for tattoos that are still healing and peeling. Gently massage over and around the tattooed area to provide the affected skin additional hydration.
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.
Young or old, most tattoos can benefit from coconut oil. Its benefits make it a great natural way to care for your ink. Don't apply it immediately, but after some washing, help that tattoo heal well with coconut oil based products. Keep it looking good by applying even as that tattoo ages.
Another homemade tattoo removing solution is made up of honey, aloe vera gel, salt, and yogurt. Combine these ingredients to make a thick paste and apply it four times a day over your unwanted tattoo. This solution works faster than plain aloe vera, and by using this method, you will have clear skin in no time.
There's a reason coconut oil is so highly recommended for new tattoos: It's loaded with skin-soothing acids and vitamins, which work to heal and moisturize your ink ASAP. This balm-like formula from Kopari makes it easy to cover your tattoo without, you know, dipping your hand into a jar of coconut oil.
The added eucalyptus oil soothes the tattooed skin and provides a pleasant coolness, especially during the healing phase.
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). DON'T apply a heavy coat of lotion (remember the skin must breathe in order to heal).
Use Water-Based Lotions
The AAD states that petroleum-based products, like petroleum jelly itself, can actually cause your tattoo ink to fade. Look for a water-based moisturizer or cream instead to hydrate your tattooed skin when it's in need of moisture.
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.