You may be in trouble when you combine the natural effects of plasma with the minor ink-pulling capacity of petrolatum and mineral oil. This can cause a tattoo to fade prematurely. There hasn't been an official study on how much ink (if any) Aquaphor can remove or fade from a tattoo.
Aquaphor is heavy and petroleum based, can clog your pores and make healing a tattoo worse or cause ink loss.
Ointment is unnecessary and not often recommended for tattoos. People use too much and use it too often which is harmful. It prolongs the healing process by keeping the tattoo moist and inhibiting airflow. A tattoo should never have a wet look which is what ointments do.
Eucerin Aquaphor Repairing Ointment should only be used on re-epithelialized skin (i.e. once new tissue has formed) and not on open, wet or bleeding wounds. Ask your Dermatologist for advice on how long you should wait after treatment before using the product.
I find that Aquaphor is too thick for this stage of aftercare and may clog the pores of your skin, increasing the risk of irritation and slowing the healing process. If you like Aquaphor for aftercare, please only use a very thin layer and switch to a regular lotion after a few days.
There hasn't been an official study on how much ink (if any) Aquaphor can remove or fade from a tattoo. In the interest of fairness, plenty of tattoo artists claim that they've never experienced ink loss in their clients that use Aquaphor.
Stinging, burning, irritation, dryness, or redness at the application site may occur. Acne, unusual hair growth, small red bumps on the skin (folliculitis), skin thinning/discoloration, or stretch marks may also occur. If any of these effects last or get worse, tell your doctor or pharmacist promptly.
Vaseline is also made from petroleum jelly, which means it's also not a suitable alternative for a healthy tattoo aftercare routine. Just like Aquaphor, it traps moisture and bacteria, leading to infections and scarring.
Irritation: Though rare, petrolatum can cause skin irritation in some individuals. Discontinue use if irritation occurs. Clogged pores: The thick ointment can lead to clogged pores and acne in acne-prone skin. Maceration: Applying too much Aquaphor can make skin overly moist, causing tissue damage.
Here's some of the things you may want to avoid saying or asking: “Can you go any faster?” – If you want a crappy tattoo, maybe. “If I don't like it, can I get a refund?” – No, sorry. You pre-approved the art before they started.
Carefully wash your tattoo area three times a day with soap and water, and gently pat it dry. Keep applying a moisturizer or ointment after you clean your tattoo to keep it moist. After 5 days, you can switch from an antibiotic ointment to a gentle fragrance-free body lotion.
The downside of black and grey tattoos is that they can be harder to heal than color tattoos, so if you have sensitive skin, this might not be the best option for you.
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.
The thick petroleum in anti-bacterial ointments can cut off oxygen and suffocate the healing wound. This can also draw the ink from the tattoo to the surface of the skin, causing color to fade. If using Saniderm, you don't need to apply anything to your tattoo before applying the bandage.
We recommend Aquaphor as the healing ointment for your tattoo. Apply a small amount to the tattoo, and rub it in thoroughly, as if you were applying lotion. It should not shine or feel sticky! If it does, you are using too much ointment!
But the formulations are a bit different: Vaseline is pure petroleum jelly while Aquaphor contains petroleum jelly plus some other ingredients like lanolin, glycerin, bisabolol, mineral oil, and panthenol. In terms of feel, Vaseline is a bit heavier and greasier, whereas Aquaphor is a bit lighter and easier to spread.
Check the label for directions about any areas or types of skin where you should not apply the product (such as on the face, any areas of broken/chapped/cut/irritated/scraped skin, or on a recently shaved area of the skin).
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.
Both Paul and Shuliar recommend Aquaphor healing ointment for tattoo aftercare because it's unscented and designed to create a protective healing barrier while allowing oxygen to pass through.
And though you can use both for wound care, neither Vaseline nor Aquaphor is a substitute for a visit to the doctor. “Both can trap bacteria if used on broken or infected skin,” Dr. Paul warns.
What are the benefits of Aquaphor? "Aquaphor protects and heals dry or irritated skin by providing a protective barrier to lock in moisture and promote healing," shares Murphy-Rose. Water from your skin evaporates into the air through a process known as transepidermal water loss, which causes dry skin.