Pat dry with a clean, single-use paper towel; do not rub with towel. Apply a thin layer of antibiotic ointment such as Bacitracin™ Zinc Oxide ointment,
After using ointment for a new tattoo, you should wait until your tattoo has completely healed before switching to lotion. This typically takes about 2-3 weeks (1).
Only apply ointment for as long as it takes for your tattoo to peel, usually 3-7 days. When the peeling begins, the tattooed skin will flake like a sunburn. At all costs avoid picking at the cracked and flaking skin. When the tattoo has fully entered the peeling phase you should NOT apply any more ointment.
You should really only use it for the first 3 days, and then dry heal, and only apply lotion once after several days to remove excess dead skin. When you keep your tattoo totally hydrated (after the initial healing process) it just prolongs the inevitable process of your body forcing out the rejected ink and skin.
If you don't put ointment on a new tattoo, several things may happen: Drying Out: The tattooed skin can dry out, leading to increased itching and discomfort. This may cause you to scratch the area, which can damage the tattoo.
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.
Benefits of Dry Healing
Natural Healing Process Dry healing allows the body to use its natural healing mechanisms, which can result in a more vibrant and detailed tattoo. Simplified Routine Without the need for multiple applications of ointments or creams, the aftercare routine becomes simpler and less time-consuming.
After 3 or 4 days of using the Aquaphor ointment, you may notice small specks of color come off as you rub the ointment in. This is healing skin, and an indicator that you should stop using the Aquaphor as often.
"If there is some scabbing or flaking, we advise clients not to pick and to allow the scab or dry skin to come off on its own," says Otsuji. "Picking at your tattoo during the peeling stage can result in it appearing patchy, distorted, and dull once healed."
You can shower 3-4 hours after getting a tattoo, if you have a Saniderm bandage on, however, if you have a plastic wrap wait 24 hours to unwrap your tattoo and shower. In either case, shower in cold or lukewarm water and avoid prolonged soaking or submerging your tattoo in water for 3-4 weeks.
Your first night sleeping, your artist might recommend you re-wrap the tattoo with plastic wrap (like Saran Wrap) to sleep without the tattoo sticking to your sheets. This is generally for larger or solid-color tattoos. If your artist did not recommend re-wrapping, just let the tattoo stay exposed to air overnight.
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!
Do not use any healing ointment or moisturizer, only plastic wrap over your cleaned and dried skin. With this method, the tattoo is kept completely covered with plastic wrap 24 hours a day, for as long as it takes to peel—usually 3 to 5 days.
What's The Problem with Over-Moisturising Tattoos? 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.
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.
Do I have to wash my tattoo every time I put lotion on it? In general, moisturizing your skin after washing it each time will help prevent the tattoo from drying out, so it heals faster. You will, however, want to avoid over-moisturizing your tattoo.
Use the Aquaphor for the first 2-3 days then switch to a regular FRAGRANCE-FREE lotion such as Lubriderm, or any other fragrance-free brand. 5. Fresh tattoos sometimes “weep” during the first couple of days, meaning that plasma and ink form a thin moist coating on the skin. This can be DABBED with a clean paper towel.
After your tattoo has started peeling, you can stop washing it daily and begin moisturizing with thin layers of lotion or coconut oil until it is fully healed. During the second week of healing, your tattoo will continue to flake and may become itchy.
Simply keep your skin moist with Aquaphor Healing Ointment. Re-apply as frequently as needed to maintain a continuous layer on your skin. Do not shower until the day after treatment. When showering, do not allow soaps and hair products to come into contact with the treated area.
Others will tell you that antibacterial ointment is a major "no-no." And the old-school artists advise against using any ointments or lotions at all, saying they may be vehicles for bacteria and can cause infection and scabbing.
This reaction is not usually a cause for concern, as it is just the excess fluid and ink from the tattoo process. After washing, a person should pat the skin with a clean paper towel and allow it to air-dry for up to an hour.