Can You Use Nivea On A Tattoo?
Let’s be honest! Tattoos and taking care of them are expensive. While Nivea is a popular and affordable option, you might be confused about its performance. Can you use Nivea on a tattoo? Will it be safe?
Yes, you can use Nivea on your tattoo and it’s safe. It is cheap, portable, and widely available. but, be careful before buying. Always choose the one which has the least amount of petroleum in it. Also, it is advised not to overuse it because it might cause over-moisturization and allergic symptoms in people who are allergic to it.
Let’s go through the piece to know about the key ingredients in Nivea cream, how you should use it to moisturize a tattoo, and how often you should use it.
Can You Use Nivea On A Tattoo? Is It Safe?
Yes, you can use Nivea on your tattoo without any worry. The cream is widely available and cheap which makes it a very smart choice. It can keep your skin for up to 48 hours and prevents dry, flaky, and stretchy skin.
Moisturizing is a very important step in tattoo aftercare. Without moisturizing, your tattoo might lose its color and all your hard work will go into the brain. With Nivea, you can make sure that your tattoo stays hydrated and retains its colors.
The cream ensures maximum hydration for your skin and protects it from getting dried out. But, you have to be cautious while buying it. Avoid the ones with fragrance and are petroleum based. NIVEA Sensitive and Radiant Body is our pick as it doesn’t contain petroleum or fragrance.
What Ingredients Does Nivea Cream Have?
For tattoos, we recommend NIVEA Sensitive and Radiant Body. It contains no ingredients that can ruin your tattoo or cause harm to your skin.
A 500 mL bottle of Nivea sensitive and radiant body contains:
- Water,
- Glycerin
- Hydrogenated Coco-Glycerides
- C15-19 Alkane
- Glyceryl Stearate SE
- Isopropyl Palmitate
- Citric Acid
- Ethylhexylglycerin
- Panthenol
- Sunflower Seed Oil
- Sweet Almond Oil
- Petrolatum
- Carbomer
- Hydrolyzed Pearl
- Tocopheryl Acetate
- Soybean Oil
- Sodium Cetearyl Sulfate
- Phenoxyethanol
- Pantolactone
- Cetearyl Alcohol
- Sodium Hydroxide
- Sodium Citrate
- Glyceryl Stearate
Things to Consider While Using Nivea Cream for Tattoos
There are no apparent side-effects of Nivea cream. But, choosing the wrong product or overusing any Nivea cream can cause some skin problems.
Choose Unscented Nivea Lotion
Nivea produces a lot of lotions and creams. Not all of them are suited for use on a tattoo.
Scented products are always a big no-no. The companies introduce the scent to the cream by using chemicals that might react with the ink. It might cause your tattooed area to become swollen and infected with bacteria.
Don’t Overuse The Product
Quantity is not always best. Your tattoo needs air to breathe. Overusing the cream on your skin causes the area to develop a barrier that stops breathing. This makes the tattooed area a hotbed for bacteria to breed and make it infested.
Say ‘NO’ to Overmoisturization
Overmoisturation is a common problem with newbie tattoo-getters. It is closely connected with overuse.
When you moisturize very frequently, you stop the drying and absorbing process. This gives your skin a very sticky and wet appearance. Overmoisturizatin can cause your tattoo to lose its color and make it appear faded.
Avoid A Heavily Petroleum-based Cream
Almost all of Nivea’s products are petroleum-based. But, heavily petroleum-based products are bad for tattoos.
Petroleum-based creams are extremely thick and they don’t dry easily. This stops the tattoo from breathing and makes it distorted. It also clogs up your pores which results in blackheads, whiteheads, and pimples.
Take An Allergic Reaction Seriously
Some people might be allergic to the components, Nivea uses to make its product. The allergic reactions might present themselves as red and swollen skin. It also can make your skin wet, white, and leathery. Other reactions include itchiness, rash, and swelling.
Don’t underestimate any side-effect you face. Consult a doctor right after noticing anything unusual.
How Much Nivea Cream to Use on Tattoos and How Often?
Let’s talk about the amount. You cannot apply the lotion willy-nilly. You have to apply a specific amount of lotion/cream to ensure that the cream works.
Experts suggest using only a handful amount of cream on the tattoo. Using an excessive amount can result in overuse and over-moisturization which can ruin your tattoo.
After getting a tattoo, apply Nivea cream 3-4 times daily for 2-4 days. After that, you can reduce the dosage to 1-2 times for the next 2 weeks for the healing period. You can apply the cream after the healing process concludes. Then, you can apply it only once.
5 Alternatives to Nivea Cream to Moisturize Tattoos
Some may not like how Nivea feels on the skin or some might be allergic to it. For them, we have a list of 5 products that work like a charm.
Product Name | Unique Feature | Price Range | Where to Find |
Eucerin Original Healing Rich Body lotion | Doesn’t clog up the pores, ensures deep hydration, relatively cheaper than competitors | 11.18 USD | Click here |
CeraVe | Gentle on Skin, retain’s the skins, non-drying, treats eczema and itchy skin | 16.89 USD | Click here |
Lubridem | Moisturizes the skin for a day, provides instant relief, non-sticky | 9.82 USD | Click here |
Hustle Butter Deluxe Luxury Tattoo Care & Maintenance Cream | Vegan, Prevents sun damage, Hydrating formula, Creamy texture, Cruelty-free | 14.99 USD | Click here |
Ora’s Amazing Herbal Tattoo Salve | Mineral oil-free, Dye-free, Aloe-free, Gluten-free, Herbal fragrance, Easy to use | 17.47 USD | Click here |
Products with These Ingredients Should Be Avoided for Tattoos
While you can use a lot of over-the-counter products for tattoos, there are some you cannot use.
Tattoos are like an open wound in your body. The machine makes countless holes on your skin and the ink stays in them. The holes need air for them to heal. Products like petroleum jelly trap moisture and slow down the healing process. It also enacts a barrier that deflects air. This is harmful to your tattoo.
To ensure that your tattoo heals properly, avoid heavily petroleum-based creams/ lotions. Here is a list of heavily petroleum-based products:
- Vaseline
- Neosporin
- Aquaphor
- Bacitracin
- A+D Ointment
- Bepanthen
- Baby lotions
- Cold creams
Conclusion
By now, you should have a clear idea about whether you can use Nivea on your tattoo.
The answer is yes. You can safely use Nivea cream on your tattoo. It is cheap, easy to carry, and hydrates your skin deeply. But, be careful about how you use it. Overusing it might cause problems such as over-moisturization. It might also result in allergic symptoms. Check the ingredient list and consult an expert.
We hope we helped you to find the answer you need. Now, get inked up!