Can You Over-Moisturise a Tattoo? 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.
Over-moisturizing your tattoo can lead to delayed healing. Moisturizer helps to keep the skin hydrated and promote healing, but too much moisturizer can create a barrier that prevents the skin from breathing and healing. This can lead to prolonged healing times and increase the risk of infection.
Don't go overboard: "The most important thing to remember during tattoo aftercare is to always keep a balance in hydration," says Ladna. "Moisturize your tattoo, but don't overdo it. A thin layer of cream is enough, and it's better to apply it more frequently in thin layers."
It is generally accepted that, on average it's recommended to moisturize the area around 2-3 times a day. It's very important to listen to your body and adapt the process to it. Proper moisturizing forms a thin membrane to protect your tattoo, helps generate new skin cells, and heals your tattoo.
Although the tattoo shouldn't be overly scabbed or too dry (the less peeling and scabbing, the better), a little bit is just part of the healing process.
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.
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.
You should moisturize your clean tattoo 3 – 6 times per day, for roughly two weeks (though proper skincare is always important, and most tattoo enthusiasts moisturize their tattoos daily for life!). A white cream lotion or moisturizer, preferably unscented, should be used!
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.
Signs of an Overworked Tattoo
A Change in Appearance - If the tattoo looks faded, pale, cloudy, blurry, or heavily distorted, this could be a sign of overworked skin. This may also appear as ink distortion and blurring. During a tattoo, ink needs to be deposited in your dermis so the pigment stays put.
Yes. Washing any part of your body too much can lead the skin to be dry and to crack, especially when using antibacterial soap. Your new tattoo is healing, so avoid over-washing and apply fragrance-free, tattoo-approved moisturizer if that tattoo looks dry or the skin feels uncomfortably dry and itchy.
Until the surface of the tattoo is healed (at a minimum of two to three weeks), wash the area gently 2-3 times per day. After cleaning the tattoo during this two to three week period, gently apply a thin coat of a lotion-based care product. We recommend After Inked tattoo moisturizer and aftercare lotion.
Be sure to pat the area dry with a clean paper towel or cloth. Apply a thin layer of ointment or lotion to the tattooed area to keep it moisturised and promote healing. Avoid using too much ointment, as this can trap bacteria and prevent the wound from breathing.
After a week, the redness and swelling should have subsided. At this point, the skin should begin to scab and flake. The itchiness may persist, but the tattoo should gradually appear more vibrant as it continues to heal.
Whatever type of moisturizer you would normally use on your skin should work well; just remember to apply it every day.”
Do not rub. - Apply a thin layer of Bepanthen cream. - 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.
If your artist did not recommend re-wrapping, just let the tattoo stay exposed to air overnight. Every day from then on, you will wash the tattoo in the morning and at night, and apply lotion 3 times a day or so, or whenever the tattoo feels dry or tight. Always wash your hands before touching the tattoo.
Let your tattoo air dry. You can pat the tattoo gently with a clean paper towel, but you must let the tattoo dry, uncovered, for 15 to 20 minutes after each cleaning. Any extra moisture trapped by immediately covering the tattoo is an invitation for bacteria to multiply.
When you over moisturize your tattoo, you can actually delay the healing process. Excess moisture in the skin creates the perfect environment for bacteria and germ growth, so one of the key signs is irritated, inflamed skin. Another key sign of over moisturizing is clogged skin.
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.
If you're wondering which is the best way to care for your new tattoo, we strongly recommend wet healing over dry healing.
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.
If black or colored ink is flaking off and the color under the flake is different, that is normal. Expect more. If you miss a few chances to wash it or moisturize it, don't worry. Your body is completely capable of healing it without any help.
After you leave the studio, wait five hours before washing your tattoo. Let the excess ink ooze out, and let those blood clots form. After that, you can wash every morning and every evening. So about twice daily (plus a wash whenever you feel like your tattoo has been in a dirty situation).