Can I Put Lotion On A Healing Tattoo

Just as style and price vary from tattoo shop to tattoo shop, so do their aftercare instructions for complete tattoo healing.

Every artist has had different experiences and therefore, a different opinion on what is best for their clients in caring for a fresh tattoo.

However, all can agree that good aftercare is crucial for the outcome of the ink long after the final .

Each body is unique and reacts differently to the process of , creating further discrepancies in different choices or the recommendation from each artist. In general, however, artists can agree on the steps required: leave the on for a certain amount of time, gently wash the tattoo, pat it dry thoroughly and with a special like Hustle Butter Deluxe .

Though each step of the aftercare is important, the trickiest for tattoo artists to agree on is tattoo moisturizer. From when a client should start moisturizing to how many times a day a tattoo should be moisturized, you can get a different answer from every artist you visit.

Frustrating as this is, there is a reason for this. The discrepancy stems from the potential issues that could follow from over or under moisturizing.

How Can I Ruin my New Tattoo?

How Often Should You Put Lotion On A New Tattoo

The following are the most common causes for the ruination of a new tattoo :

Doing nothing. It's amazing how common it is that people don't do any tattoo aftercare once the antiseptic bandage applied by the tattoo artist is removed and the excess ink is wiped away
Sunlight. Sunlight. Direct exposure to sunlight while the tattoo heals can be detrimental – it can cause and an to the tattoo ink. Make sure if you're getting inked during a vacation that you don't roll into the tattoo shop sunburnt, and if possible, wait till you're just about to journey home to get it
Water. You can get your tattoo wet – washing gently with is recommended – but don't soak in water of any type until the tattoo heals in full
Over-treating the tattoo . Applying too much , or is equally as damaging as doing nothing
Touching, picking, scratching, and rubbing your tattoo or surrounding skin because it's itchy and flaking during healing

If you under moisturize, the skin cracks and breaks, resulting in skin irritation, scabbing, and peeling. The skin then becomes itchy, tempting you to scratch it or pull off the peeling skin, which could potentially mess up your tattoo. If you peel the skin and don't let it slough off naturally, you can pull ink out of your tattoo. Scratching can also achieve this.

Though it is normal for tattoos to scab and the skin to break and peel, there is some more extensive scabbing that can be extremely painful.

All the discomfort and risk can be avoided simply by moisturizing. However, over moisturizing can cause problems as well.

Over during can lead to clogged pores break outs in the that can ruin your tattoo. Over can also cause oozing and discomfort. A tattoo is an open wound, and like any open wound drying out and minor scabbing is part of the and should not lead you to over . Apply your in a for best protection.

The Solution

When To Put Lotion On A New Tattoo

The key to moisturizing is balance. Put on a barely there thin layer of lotion or ointment after every time you wash your tattoo in warm water, and it should heal nicely and more comfortably.

How to Clean your Tattoo

In general, the first time you wash your tattoo with a will be right after you remove your . Depending on what the tattoo artist used to you (cling film or Dermalize ), you will either remove the after the first two to six hours, or after a day.

A freshly inked tattoos should be cleaned 3 times a day with mild soap and begin after the bandage is removed.

The cleaning process -and any other aftercare steps you choose- should last through the entire and process, for dry skin, hardy, and types.

Wash hands thoroughly
Apply foam cleanser, or to newly tattooed area with
Gently rub cleanser into tattoo and surrounding area
Gently wipe off remaining cleanser with a clean paper towel
Pat dry excess (don't rub)
Wait a few minutes before going on to the next step of your aftercare process

Soaps

A range of different soaps are good options to use in tattoo aftercare and it's your choice to use a product or combination. Some are specific to tattoos, while others are versatile for everyday use.

The best tattoo wash and soaps are most often:

Artificial fragrance free and mild soap
Antimicrobial, antiseptic and antibacterial
Deep cleansing soap for sensitive skin
Versatile for everyday use without harsh ingredients
Paraben free

Whether it's liquid, lotion, spray foam, bar, or ointment, it's in your new tattoo's best interest for you to actively utilize the products available and keep your healing tattoo in the best, most healthy shape possible.

Lotions

There are a wide array of different lotions and ointments you can use to moisturize your tattoo. Your artist will likely recommend a specific lotion that they have found to be beneficial for most of their clients. If you don't feel like shelling out a lot of cash for a fancy tattoo specific lotion, it is important that you at least get a non-scented lotion.

If you are interested in buying lotions specifically meant for healing tattoos, there are many well-reviewed products. Many people have found Hustle Butter Deluxe to have great outcomes in a comfortable healing process. There is also Ora's Amazing Herbal Tattoo Salve and Tattoo Goo Aftercare Salve.

If you are interested more in ointments than lotions, A&D Ointment has been comforting people with new tattoos for some time now. However, if you choose to use ointments, you must be careful to not over use it.

Too much can smother the tattoo and draw ink out. However, it does create a seal to protect the tattoo from germs and bacteria that can infect and ruin it. It may be best to use ointment the first few days, and switch to lotion afterwards.

How Often to Moisturize

Generally, a tattoo artist will tell you to wash your tattoo two to three times a day. You should moisturize after each washing. Though it may seem odd, timing when you wash and moisturize your tattoo can be very important.

You should generally wash your tattoo in the morning. Sleeping dehydrates your body, so when you wake up the tattooed skin can feel particularly uncomfortable, so moisturizing early can be beneficial.

It is also important to clean and moisturize before you go to sleep at night. This can help counteract morning dryness, and in general it is important that you go to bed with a clean tattoo.

You can also moisturize midday. Your tattoo may dry out from the morning and to keep you comfortable it can help to throw in an extra bout of moisturizing. However, you have to clean your tattoo again before adding any more moisturizer. A second layer of moisturizer can clog pores, trap in dirt, and cause infection.

You should continue this regime for at least two weeks or until your tattoo is fully healed.

Dealing with Itching and Scabbing

If you are experiencing intense itching, there are a few things you can do to relieve it. Try gently slapping your tattoo. It sounds quite silly, but it often works. You can also take an antihistamine such as GoodSense All Day Allergy to relieve the itching.

As a last resort, apply some hydrocortisone cream like this 1% cream from Basic Care to your tattoo. Hydrocortisone shouldn't be used frequently or on a long-term basis. Limit your use of it, only using it when the itchiness is unbearable. If your itchiness is mildly annoying, try one of the other suggestions mentioned above instead.

A does not necessarily mean you've done anything wrong. Some people's tattoos will no matter what is done for .

If there's , keep the scabs moisturized, and don't pick at them. Within two weeks, your scabs will begin to fall off by themselves. If you try to rush the process by picking at your scabs, it can affect your , leaving light spots on your where the scabs were. As tempting as it is to pick your off every time, leave them alone.

After your Tattoo Peels

When your tattoo is done peeling, you won't have to worry about flakes of skin falling off your body anymore. Your tattoo will look shiny. However, this does not mean that the healing process is over.

A tattoo takes at least six weeks to heal.

Did you enjoy these insights into care and treatment for a ? For more information on the for a click on the links below: