4.28.2021

How to take care of a cool tattoo

Repair your skin and keep this ink for a long time.
A curved arm with a heart tattoo with makeup stains and a green and yellow background
Photo courtesy of Getty Images / Photo illustration by Gabe Conte

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Keeping track of tattoos is one of the most important parts of the whole coloring process, possibly right after you've chosen what to keep on your body all the time. New York dermatologist Dr. Dhaval Bhanusali talking not about the bush around , "tattoos cause trauma to the skin, so it is very important then to maintain the wounds immediately right," he says.

Bhanusali, who advises the tattoo experts at Ephemeral Tattoo in Brooklyn, who have specialized in ink for a year, says the first step is to listen to your tattoo artist. "It's not uncommon for different tattoo artists to recommend different follow-up options for their work," he adds. This is because different artists use different methods and may also be able to offer specific advice on the size and position of your tattoo. However, there are general products that help cleanse, heal, and revitalize the skin while maintaining the shine of the tattoo over the long term. We have the following summary along with a timeline for how to use them.

Bhanusali adds that in the days after a tattoo is applied, it is normal for the wound to cross and also for some drainage to come out of the wound (including serous fluid or superficial tattoo ink). If this happens, don't worry and keep following your tattoo artist's restoration tips, as well as the following tattoo restoration and maintenance tips from Carl Kuo, owner of Mission Ink Tattoo. And piercing in San Francisco.


Immediate care and recovery

Your tattoo artist may have a specific way of healing wounds. At Mission Ink, for example, many artists use the transparent Tegaderm bandage, which is placed directly on the wound and protects it from infection and friction so that it can heal properly. Again, follow your tattoo artist's instructions as they know best what will work under the current conditions.

However, here are two products that you will likely want to have on hand during the immediate aftercare phase of the tattoo.

1. Gentle cleaner

Use a mild cleanser every day while the wounds heal. This will help neutralize bacteria before you apply ointment and lotion.

LA Bruket Tattoo Cleaner contains neutralizing tea tree oil and soothing aloe vera and lavender oils.

LA Bruket Tattoo Cleaner

2. Healing ointment

"The first step in taking care of your tattoo is to apply a general healing ointment or a specific tattoo ointment or butter for about five days," says Kuo.

He and Bhanusali recommend Aquaphor for this. "Aquaphor has the added benefit of anti-inflammatory effects, which can help the tattoo heal faster and make it less itchy," says Kuo. "It absorbs the skin's natural moisture, keeping the tattoo fresh and promoting healing."

Aquaphor healing ointment

Kuo and dermatologists agree on one product that should be avoided: petroleum jelly (like petroleum jelly). Kuo says it can trap moisture, dirt, and bacteria underneath it and is usually too thick, preventing the tattoo from breathing.


5 days later

After the initial phase of the bandage and ointment healing, there are still products to be applied to your tattoo to encourage proper and effective healing.

1. Unscented lotion

The lightest option is an odorless lotion. (The artificial scent is irritating to the skin and topical products are best avoided, especially when applied directly to healing wounds or sensitive areas.) "The lotion has a creamy and smooth consistency, that's why. to breathe. The best are all natural, including ingredients like olive or coconut oil. Kuo prefers Lubriderm as an inexpensive generic option. Dr. Bronner's also has an inexpensive line of oil-infused lotions (whose fragrances come only from essential oils and not from man-made sources).

Lubriderm fragrance-free body lotion

Dr. Bronner's hand and body lotion

2. Body butter

Kuo also likes butter as a thicker alternative to lotion (after 5 days of healing ointment). But "when you go with butter, the important thing is that you only apply a thin layer," he says. "This allows the skin to absorb oxygen and prevent infections."

Buttah body butter

3. Tattoo balms and ointments

Tattoo balms and ointments are often of a wax quality so it is easy to apply a light layer to the skin. "They contain nourishing and regenerating antifungal agents and butter. They relieve swelling, relieve irritation and, in turn, aid the healing process, "says Kuo.

EiR tattoo balm


Long term care

According to Kuo, there is a general consensus that "less is more" is a way of preserving ink color over time. "Avoid prolonged exposure to water (especially chlorinated pool water) and excessive exposure to the sun, as ultraviolet light can cause discoloration," he says.

An example where "more is more" would be SPF for the same reason. Always apply SPF to your tattoo before you go out and reapply frequently. A high FPS is also a good idea: 50 or more. And if you get very fussy, the general consensus among doctors is to choose a mineral / physical sunscreen (containing zinc oxide or titanium dioxide) instead of a chemical sunscreen as these are generally less irritating to the skin.

Sun Bum SPF 50 Mineral Stick Sun Protection

It also means considering a tattoo lightening balm. "It will improve the shine of the skin and the tattoo," he says, but warns that it should only be used on fully healed tattoos.

INK Illuminating Tattoo Balm


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