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.
A white cream lotion or moisturizer, preferably unscented, should be used! We recommend these fragrance-free, white cream lotions: Aveeno , Curel , and Eucerin .
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.
Bepanthen isn't suitable for tattoos because it contains many harsh chemical additives: Petrolatum. Lanolin and lanolin alcohol. Cetyl alcohol.
Is Bepanthen the best antiseptic ointment to use? Bepathen is a popular antiseptic ointment choice. However, other antiseptic ointments include Savlon and Soov. Any of the three can be used on new ink once gently cleaned with a combination of antimicrobial soap and lukewarm water.
While advice might vary per artist, we highly advise against dry healing your new tattoo. Those who prefer dry healing are often concerned that lotions and creams will cause reactions in the healing process, and prefer to keep things as natural as possible.
Because of its moisturizing properties and vitamins that are good for your skin, coconut oil is ultimately more than safe to apply to your tattoo. It's a natural, inexpensive way to heal your tattoo and keep it looking healthy and vibrant for years to come.
You should start moisturizing your new tattoo right away and not stop for some time. Love says there's an immediate need to keep a new tattoo moisturized: Moisturizing helps to prevent scabbing and promote healing. "During the healing process, you should moisturize your tattoo three to six times a day," Ladna says.
Aloe vera is great for tattoo care. Finding tattoo care products that include aloe vera as an ingredient like ours can be key to the health of your art. Aloe vera can help ensure the area is soothed and protected, ease discomfort and irritation, and keep your tattoo moisturized while letting it breathe.
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.
Saniglide is the tattoo care cream preferred by artists. This is the perfect salve to use during the tattoo process for soothing and lubrication.
Days 2 to 3
Over the next couple of days, you may notice that your tattoo looks dull and cloudy. No need to panic or start thinking about a touch-up. This happens as your skin heals and new skin starts to form. Excess ink and plasma may still ooze from your skin during this time.
In a word: yes. It's definitely possible to over-moisturise a tattoo. An over-moisturised tattoo can lead to a whole host of issues, including breakouts, soggy scabs, and even infection.
Do keep it moist, but let it breathe. Then, cover your whole tattoo with a thin layer of ointment or another approved product (see the list below for more options). If your tattoo is in an area that isn't covered by clothing, leave it uncovered to let your skin breathe and facilitate healing.
After getting a tattoo, you should moisturize it daily for at least 10 to 14 days. Respecting these timeframes is absolutely crucial because, if your skin dries out, you are likely to get very disappointing results.
- Wash your tattoo in warm water every day, and apply a thin layer of Bepanthen cream 2-3 times per day. Continue for at least 2 weeks or until fully healed.
We would not recommend using creams such as Bepanthen or Sudocrem. These are really only suitable for surface treatments – they're for nappy rash, not tattoos!
A general moisturizer e.g Bepanthen can be applied to aid healing (only after those first 3 days.) Change your cling film three times a day, for the first three days.
-Ointment such as Bepanthen first aid, or a tattoo specific aftercare product such as supreme crème. (Do not use anything with aloe in it, antiseptic/iodine ointment, Lubriderm, Chapstick, Vaseline or haemorrhoid cream).