Over-moisturising can lead to inflamed tattoos and potentially infection. Excess moisture can clog your skin's pores which prevents it from breathing, something that's important for your skin to heal. This can lead to breakouts on the skin that can damage the tattoo.
There is such a thing as too much yes - you'll either smother it or take the scabbing off too early. If you do put it on more frequently make sure it's only a thin layer and that you've massages it in thoroughly. If the skin still looks wet/shiny it's either too much or needs rubbed in a bit more.
A good sign is if you start to see a rash, pimples, or the tattoo is bubbling from trapped moisture. Also, when putting lotion/moisturizer on, if your skin is looking shiny or wet, then you are over moisturizing. You only need a thin layer and you can pat, don't rub, away excess with a clean paper towel.
Over moisturizing your tattoo can damage it by causing ink to lift out, prolong the healing process, and cause clogged pores (which like I mentioned above, can cause damage to your tattoo when it's healing fresh like this).
A thin layer is strongly suggested, too much aquaphor can pull out the ink and damage the quality of the tattoo, which results in a higher chance the tattoo will need a touch-up.
It's very important to moisturize your skin, but applying too much moisturizer can have a negative effect. If you use too much moisturizer over time, it can make your skin lazy, which can encourage your skin to produce less moisture on its own.
Over moisturizing your new ink can occur from excessive moisturizing or if the tattoo hasn't properly dried after getting wet, causing the water to get trapped between the ink and the moisturizing lotion. When this happens, gooey scabs of fluid can develop, causing aesthetic changes to your design.
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.
Wet Healing Is the Way To Go
It's just as effective for tattoos as it is for injuries. If you let your tattoo dry out during the healing process, you may end up doing more harm than good. Make sure you stay on top of the aftercare process for about six weeks after your session.
Tattoo cracking is when your whole tattoo gets dry, and the top layer begins to crack. It can look like the parched ground in the desert heat, the pattern of a turtle shell, or alligator skin.
Over-the-Counter Treatments. Over-the-counter (OTC) treatments such as benzoyl peroxide or salicylic acid-based creams can help reduce inflammation and kill bacteria. However, it's crucial to select products specifically formulated for tattooed skin to avoid any adverse effects.
If scabs develop, they can remove the color beneath them if prematurely removed. It's important that they're allowed to dry out completely, and not get waterlogged at any time. The scab will eventually fall off on its own, and the tattoo should be fine if no deep cracks have formed.
If you've recently gotten a tattoo, but it appears blurry and smudged during and after the healing process, you may be experiencing tattoo blowout. "A blowout is when a tattoo expands below the skin layer when it hits fat [and] veins or when scarring occurs," says Crys.
Over-moisturizing your tattoo can delay healing, increase the chances of infection, and cause your tattoo to fade or blur. If you've over-moisturized your tattoo, remove the excess moisturizer. Gently pat the area with a clean towel, and then wait for the rest of the lotion to absorb naturally.
In the event of over-moisturising your skin for a period of time, you could notice your skin becoming bumpy, clogged pores, breakouts, and even dry spots.
The Final Takeaway
If you notice your tattoo is oozing or leaking a clear fluid, rest assured that this is nothing to be concerned about. This is just plasma discharge that is a normal part of the body's healing process and will likely harden into a scab as the wound closes.
It is important not to use any scented creams or lotions. Harsh chemicals can irritate the wound and damage the tattooed skin. A person should also avoid using sunscreen on a tattoo until it is fully healed, as this can clog the pores and trap bacteria.
While there's no definitive rule of thumb for how much body lotion to use, we generally recommend aiming for slightly more than a silver dollar-sized dollop for your entire body (you can always add more if needed).
Ans) The rule states that you should apply your moisturizer within 3 minutes of bathing. This helps seal maximum moisture into your skin.
Another reason Dr Obagi is against moisturiser: He believes that if you use it daily over time, it can change your skin's natural balance of water, lipids, and proteins. The result? Your body will stop delivering the skin's normal, natural method of hydration from within.