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.
He and Bhanusali both recommend Aquaphor for this. “Aquaphor has the added benefit of anti-inflammatory effects, which can make the tattoo healing process more speedy and less itchy,” Kuo says. “It absorbs the skin's natural moisture, which keeps the tattoo fresh and promotes healing.”
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.
Petroleum-based ointments
A&D ointment (yes, the kind used for diaper rash) is a cheap and popular choice for new tattoo aftercare. This ointment is also called Bepanthen. Aquaphor Advanced Healing Ointment is another hydrating and anti-inflammatory option. Good old petroleum jelly (aka Vaseline) also works well.
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.
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.
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.
During these first few days, it is normal for your tattoo to feel sore and tender. 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.
Use Bio-Oil: As a post-tattoo treatment. Once your tattoo has fully healed, you're often left with a big dry patch of skin. Enter Bio Oil, which helps to nourish and hydrate the affected area.
Some tattoo artists recommend waiting between 24-48 hours before applying moisturizer, though others recommend doing so as soon as the first wash. A person with a fresh tattoo should follow their tattoo artist's instructions on when to start using moisturizer.
Bepanthen Tattoo Aftercare Ointment helps heal and protect your tattooed skin. 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.
You'll want to keep the tattoo wrapped for at least the first night because it will take a while for it to settle down and stop leaking. You don't want an open wound like that touching your bed sheets, getting blood everywhere, or dirt and dust getting into the wound itself.
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.
Eucalyptus Essential Oil For Tattoo
Cineole (also known as eucalyptol), which has anti-inflammatory, antibacterial, and analgesic qualities and is occasionally used to help with wound healing and pains, is a potentially useful component in Eucalyptus essential oil.
Best overall product for preserving and protecting tattoos
Four of our experts suggest using coconut oil daily to keep your tattooed skin hydrated and healthy. “I apply a thin layer of cold-pressed organic coconut oil on my whole body after showering every morning,” says Berlin-based blackwork specialist Julim Rosa.
Tea Tree oil can potentially throw off your skin's PH balance and negatively affect the skins moisture barrier, leaving your tattoos looking dull and faded.
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.
Ans: Yes. You can put olive oil on a tattoo. It has no side effects and doesn't harm the skin. The oil makes your skin smoother and calms any pain on the tattoo surface.
After 5 days, a tattoo should be healing well, but it may still look a little red and swollen. The area may also be slightly itchy and flaky as the skin begins to peel. This is a normal part of the healing process and is caused by the top layer of skin sloughing off as new skin forms underneath.
Week 1. After a few days, the tattoo should begin to feel less sore and red. A person may notice their tattoo appears duller than it did initially. This appearance is not a cause for concern but a sign that the tattoo is healing.