When To Start Using Lotion On Tattoo?
Tattoo aftercare is always a tricky business. Using lotion helps you to lessen the dryness of your skin. But, using a lotion too soon on your fresh tattoo can be harmful as it may damage the healing process. So, when to start using lotion on tattoo?
Once your tattoo begins to dry, only then should you begin putting lotion in it. In most cases, you can use a lotion on the tattoo a few days or a week after getting the tattoo. Be careful to use antibacterial soap to clean and dry your tattoo, and choose a suitable moisturizer to keep it healthy.
Read the whole article as it covers all your questions regarding putting lotion on a tattoo and we give you our best tattoo lotion recommendation.
When To Start Using Lotion On Tattoo?
Wait a couple of days to a week after getting a tattoo and then start using a lotion on it.
It’s tempting to remove the bandage, wash your tattoo, and apply moisturizer after getting home from the parlor, but you shouldn’t. After three days, when washing your tattoo no longer causes it to fade, you may begin moisturizing it.
Weeping is a natural process that helps speed up the healing of tattoos by forcing out excess ink, plasma, and blood. About three days of this crying phase is normal. Do not apply lotion to your tattoo until after the first few days have passed. So that it may recover properly, it requires space to breathe.
Best Time To Put Lotion On Tattoo
Applying lotion to your tattoo at least three times daily (in the morning, afternoon, and evening) is the standard recommendation. The healing time for your tattoo will be reduced if you don’t take proper care of it and instead let it dry out. Please refer to the following while making your application:
Morning
The morning will reveal your tattoo, tight and dry. The reason for this is that your body loses water as you sleep. Therefore, it is essential to put on some lotion first thing in the morning.
After you get out of the shower in the morning, wash your tattoo and pat it dry before applying lotion. In a flash, calm will return to the region.
Afternoon
Your tattoo will start to dry up again as the day progresses. This calls for a second round of lotioning the affected region.
But before using the ointment, clean the tattoo well each time. To prevent skin pores from becoming clogged, avoid applying fresh creams on top of the old. As a result, the likelihood of infection rises.
Night
Before you go to bed, make sure your tattoo is clean, pat it dry, and then apply some moisturizer to the region. Even when you sleep, your tattoo will continue to get the proper amount of hydration thanks to this.
Things To Keep In Mind While Using Lotion On Tattoo
The skin around a fresh tattoo requires special care, so don’t use any old lotion. Before you go ahead and apply a coating to your ink, there are a few things you need to keep in mind.
Identify Dry Skin
When cleaning your tattoo and nothing comes off, including gunk (plasma), ink, or blood, it is probably beginning to dry. Also, if the skin surrounding the tattoo feels tight or like it could break if you tug on it, then it’s probably ready to be moisturized.
Peeling, scabbing, and cracked tattoos are also indicators of dry skin.
Avoid Overusing Of Lotion
Do not make your tattooed skin soaked with too much lotion, no matter how dry it seems.
Any product you use on your skin should be absorbed quickly; if you see a white film after applying moisturizer, remove part of it. Underneath the salves and cream, your tattoo still needs air.
Be Careful Of The Product
We see tattoo websites all the time that don’t take the time to warn people about what they’re putting on their skin.
During the moisturizing stage, you should use products that are non-comedogenic, which means they won’t clog your pores, don’t have any scent, and don’t have any harmful ingredients.
Before putting anything on a new tattoo, we also suggest doing a patch test. If your skin reacts to a new product, it could change the way your ink looks or, worse, give you an infection.
Do Not Pick Up On Scabs
Picking at scabs, no matter how tempting, is bad for you. It’s important not to pick at the scabs since this might lead to an infection in the new tattoo. It’s not only harmful to your health; it might also ruin your expensive artwork in the process.
Additionally, during the scabbing phase, you should not wear tight clothes that rub against the tattoo, since this might cause the peeling skin to come off too soon. You need to be more careful now, and if you start to feel itchy, some lotion will help.
Should I Switch to Tattoo Dry Healing?
You can step into this process as dry healing can bring out the best result if you can follow the instructions properly.
A fraction of tattoo enthusiasts chooses the “dry” method of tattoo recovery. It’s best to let your tattoo air dry without any moisturizer at all. Although this is one of the most painful techniques to heal a tattoo, many tattoo purists insist that the end result is of the highest quality possible.
Even after dry healing, tattoos still need to be cleaned. The same method described before applies here. Using an antibacterial, fragrance-free soap and a fresh towel.
Your tattoo will probably burn, itch, and perhaps hurt while you dry-heal it. If you want to let it air dry, resist the temptation to scratch your tattoo while it heals. Plus, you’ll feel an annoying itch.
Many tattoo aftercare treatments include vitamins and minerals that are beneficial to healthy skin but harmful to a healing wound, which is why some tattoo enthusiasts advocate air drying. It is possible for the active components in the lotion to deform the tattoo or cause infection if they get into the new tattoo.
When you cure your tattoo the dry way, you never have to worry about the lotion causing any irritation, infection, or warping. Because, you know, there’s no lotion to worry about anymore.
When to Switch From Aquaphor To Tattoo Lotion?
For the first three to four days, Aquaphor is recommended over lotion because of its superior moisturizing, protective, and healing characteristics. When dealing with a fresh cut or scrape, you want to utilize whichever substance would hasten its recovery the most.
After three to four days of using Aquaphor, you should transition to lotion.
The tattoo on your body is trying to tell you something. You will be able to determine whether it is healing correctly, just like any other wound.
Even when you apply the Aquaphor, you may see little bits of pigment or scabs coming off as you wash. This is very normal and usually means that you may transition from using a saline solution to using lotion on your tattoo.
How long it takes for your tattoo to fully heal depends on your skin. Your tattoo will heal at a different pace than others, so keep an eye on it.
A few more words about Aquaphor…
- It’s true that Aquaphor is a family of skincare products, but in the tattoo community, we recommend using Aquaphor Healing Ointment.
- The active ingredient in Aquaphor Healing Ointment is petroleum jelly. It has 41% petroleum jelly plus a bunch of other good stuff that helps wounds heal, such as lanolin alcohol, bisabolol, mineral oil, glycerin, and panthenol.
- Aquaphor’s supplemental chemicals accelerate the tattoo’s recovery time.
- Aquaphor is great for protecting tattoos while yet letting them breathe. In addition, its anti-inflammatory characteristics promote speedy recovery after injury.
3 Best Tattoo Lotions For Tattooed Skin
Lots of different creams and ointments may be used as aftercare. But you must be careful to only choose unscented and natural items. Here is a list of the best tattoo aftercare creams to use –
Lubriderm Daily Moisture Hydrating Body and Hand Lotion
One of the finest tattoo aftercare treatments is using Lubriderm Daily Moisture Hydrating Body and Hand Lotion. Twenty-four hours after application, your tattoo will still be soft and supple.
Vitamin B5 and soybean extract are the main ingredients; they promote rapid healing of tattooed skin. In addition, it has no synthetic flavors and no oily aftertaste.
Tattoo Goo Renew Enhancing Lotion SPF 30
Tattoo Goo’s sunscreen is a great outdoor product, but it’s not good for long periods of time in strong sunlight. It has olive oil and vitamins in it.
And it is known to help the body heal. It actually makes older tattoos look brighter and more colorful. It’s not too harsh on the skin, so you can use it every day. It can be bought online.
Urban ReLeaf Tattoo Skin Silk
Urban ReLeaf TATTOO SKIN SILK is made with natural remedies like tea tree oil, raw shea butter, lavender, and rosemary. All of the essential oils that are in Skin Silk are antimicrobial on their own.
It is easy on the skin and helps relieve pain and itching. This lotion is good for people with sensitive skin because it doesn’t have lanolin or petroleum in it. This moisturizer for after-tattoo care can be bought online.
| Product | Speciality | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Lubriderm Tattoo Daily Care Water-Based Lotion | One of the best solution, promises rapid healing | Around 9 Dollars |
| Tattoo Goo Renew Enhancing Lotion SPF 30 | Makes older tattoo look brighter, best for outdoor | Around 7 Dollars |
| Urban ReLeaf Tattoo Skin Silk | It is good for sensitive skin | Around 16 dollars |
Read More: Tattoo Aftercare Cream’s Alternative
Final Words
So, after all of this is said and done, you will know the importance of knowing the best time to put lotion on a new tattoo. To answer your question, when to start using lotion on tattoo?
You may start rubbing lotion into your tattoo after it has begun to dry. This often happens during the first few days after getting a tattoo. Carefully wash and pat dry your tattoo with antibacterial soap and use an appropriate moisturizer to maintain it in good condition.
