In a tattoo shop, a tattoo needle is used to create a form of new body skin design. This modification is permanent yet temporary if you are ready to suffer from its difficulty and pain. Once the tattoo is designed, the task is not over yet. It is much more than just creating a tattoo, which includes the tattoo aftercare process. Moreover, we will see when to start using lotion on tattoo.
A tattoo is a body art and is a commitment till the end. There are too many complications in removing a tattoo. Therefore, select a tattoo design that you won’t regret in future
Health experts declare tattoos as a proper wound, you called for openly. Therefore, to keep your health and body skin a priority, you will have to do proper aftercare as well.
1. When to Start Using Lotion on Tattoo?
When you go to a tattoo studio or a tattoo parlor, a tattoo artist uses tattoo ink to design a new tattoo and suggests some basic things to keep in mind. In the entire tattooing process, when the tattoo needle is placed on your skin to design a new tattoo, there can be excessive bleeding which can lead to mild trauma. Thus, keeping skin health a priority, let’s look at tattoo aftercare steps of when to begin applying lotion on a fresh tattoo.
1.1. Tattoo Aftercare
There are two different opinions of two different tattoo artists. There is one who recommends you, apply lotion as soon you wash, while there is one who recommends you, apply lotion on the tattooed area in one to two days.
Now here is the recommendation, whatever your tattoo artists instruct you, follow their instructions, especially for your first new tattoo. Most tattoo artists recommend using a layer of lotion twice a day to moisturize your tattoo. Remember not to apply lotion more than twice, once in the morning and once at night. If you are applying lotion more than twice during the tattoo healing process, it can go through bacterial growth or may lead to a skin infection.
For a few days, the tattooed skin may have a blushing appearance, the shades may also seem very sharp. The tattoo will occur slightly less bright as the natural healing process proceeds.
A person should avoid overwashing the tattoo during the first few weeks.
1.1.1. Steps and Rules for Washing Depending on the Environment.
- If you are sitting where the heat is more and you are sweating a lot, you should wash your tattooed area every few hours. Whereas if you are sitting in a cool environment with an air conditioner on, you can only wash a tattoo once a day. It is also advised to wash your tattoo skin with warm water and use your clean fingers.
- Do not scratch or rub the area to avoid any type of infection to arise.
In the second week, you will observe that your skin will feel very itchy, but you should completely avoid scratching. Use the lotion in the same way, it will heal the itchy ness faster and moisturize your tattoo.
Until the end of the third week, almost the upper skin layer of the tattoo heals and the inner part of the skin takes a little more tattoo healing time which is completely normal. But the chances of infection will become less once the upper layer is healed.
To know how and when to start using lotion on your new tattoo, there were many steps you had gone through. Now there are a few other steps during the tattoo process and the tattoo healing process. Let’s look at these steps part by part.
2. How the Tattoo Artist Bandage a Tattoo After Finishing the Design?
Once the fresh tattoo is designed perfectly they apply a thin layer of tattoo lotion to moisturize your tattoo. Once they apply jelly over it, a tattoo-covered bandage or plastic wrap is used to cover the tattoo.
Plastic wrap is covered for a few hours to cover a new tattoo from sunlight and the rubbing of your clothes.
3. When to Wash Your Fresh Tattoo?
After using plastic wrap for a few hours, you can gently pull it and wash your skin using warm water. After gently washing the area, you can use mild soap, to avoid any triggering allergic effects. Once you applied antibacterial soap wash it with lukewarm water again and dab it with a clean paper towel to make the tattoo dry.
Now once your tattoo is completely dry, apply tattoo lotion on your skin gently. You can leave your skin as it is and don’t cover it to moisturize your tattoo.
4. What is an Ink Allergy?
In the tattoo process, a tattoo artist will do an allergy test, to check the ink allergy, and apply a small amount of ink in the skin at the beginning. If the skin will have any reaction, that means there is an ink allergy and is not safe to use.
Ink allergy occurs because there are some chemical substances in the color of ink. This chemical substance can have allergic reactions in someone which will result in harm to the skin. Therefore, the tattoo artist will recommend you not use that ink for your tattoo.
5. What are the Tattoo Lotions for Aftercare?
Similar to other steps, whichever tattoo lotions or tattoo-specific creams your tattoo artist suggests, use that to heal your tattoo faster.
Here are some familiar and tattoo-specific lotions to use on your fresh tattoos.
5.1. Eucerin or Curel
This tattoo lotion is alcohol-free with no reaction. It also has glycerine content in it and soaks moisture from the air.
5.2. Coconut Oil
This oil is largely used in ancient times and this is mostly included in Ayurvedic medicine in India. This is not only good for treating wounds but also good for dry skin.
It moisturizes your fresh wound faster and is generally safe for delicate or sensitive skin.
5.3. Tattoo Goo
Tattoo Goo is specifically used for tattoo skin. It improves healing as well as keeps itchy ness far. It is a decent option for tattoo lotion because it moisturizes your skin well.
5.4. Cocoa Butter
Cocoa butter is also one of the best options for moisturizing and healing process of tattoo skin.
Fragrance-free creams are not suggested to apply on your skin. It is recommended to not use any fragrance cream on your tattooed area. There can be chemicals in that product that will infect your skin if used without any advice. Therefore, use fragrance-free lotions.
Sunscreens are also said to avoid until your wound is fully healed. Remember sunscreen does not make your tattoo hydrated.
6. What Not to Do During the Healing Process?
Tattoo aftercare is so necessary to heal your wound which the tattoo needle caused. Therefore here are some steps you should avoid during the healing process for tattoo care.
- Do not use soaps and moisturizers which contain any fragrances or intense harsh chemicals. Use antibacterial soap and recommended moisturizing lotion instead. The product can irritate the skin and even cause an infection.
- If you pull at scabs, it can form a scar in the area.
- If by any chance your skin in that area is itchy, avoid scratching or rubbing it. Scratching and rubbing will cause the skin to form a scar. Scratching will also start peeling skin tattoo
- Do not use sunscreen on your skin even if you are going out in sun heat. Sunscreen can irritate the part of the skin where the tattoo is designed.
- Avoid swimming during the healing process of the tattoo.
7. Tips You Should Keep in Mind for Tattoo Aftercare:
Tip 1: Do not over-moisturize
This is the most important and influential part to keep in mind, to only use suitable lotion. Only a very thin layer of lotion is required to keep your skin hydrated and wound free.
Tip 2: Keep your tattoed part clean
Wash your tattoo once or twice a day. Also, make sure not to overwash your skin. Keep your skin clean and apply a thin layer of lotion.
Tip 3: Neither sun nor water
Do not keep your skin in too much brightness of the sun. Also, stay away from swimming pools to avoid any type of skin reaction later.
7.1. Over Moisturising: How to Fix it?
When you use too much lotion, you will feel irritated skin and scabs may appear. The tattooed area may look reddish and the ink will look blurry. You need not worry though because here you will find steps to fix your issue of excess lotion on your tattoo.
- Take a soft cotton wet towel and gently remove the over-moisturisation from the skin. Do not scratch any scab because that will make it worse, so be careful.
- Additionally, you can also try the hairdryer and blow the air, but make sure you keep a safe distance from the skin and set it at a low level.
Final Words
Your tattoo aftercare routine is very necessary so keep all the things in mind in the healing process to heal the wound faster. Tattoo care is not a difficult task, you should only make sure to avoid anything that is not required. Your body and health should be your preference so do not implement something harmful to your skin as mentioned.
The most crucial part if you are going to have a tattoo is to select tattoo artists who are not only professional but also experienced. If this is kept in mind your tattoo, you won’t face any critical hurdles.
Now here are something more than just aftercare. This adds your skincare doctor for any unnecessary product you used on any infection that is caused.
If you will not treat your skin properly it can further cause bacterial infection. In that case, it is important to contact your doctor for the treatment process.
FAQs
Q1. What type of clothes one should wear to avoid any skin allergy?
To avoid any skin issues, it is better to wear loose clothes like an oversized t-shirt or an oversized hoodie. Do not wear anything tight because tight clothes can not only make your wound worse but also will change your design.
Q2. How long does my tattoo take to heal after applying lotion on my tattoo?
The upper layer of your skin takes about two to three weeks whereas the inner layer of your skin takes about three to four months.
Q3. How to shower with a new tattoo?
Many can’t live without a morning shower. So let’s look at the steps to shower with a new tattoo.
- Use lukewarm water to shower.
- Do not put direct water on the tattoo part
- Clean your tattoo delicately and do not shower for a long time.
- Dry it carefully and gently.
Q4. Is it okay to apply Vaseline to my tattoo?
NO!
Vaseline on a tattoo is a complete no. If you will apply Vaseline on a tattoo, dirt will be formed which will cause your skin to get infected. Therefore, avoid using Vaseline on a tattooed part of your skin.
Shifali is a creator with a journalist’s pov,
Shifali is a reader and writer with professional reading and writing skills.
Shifali loves travelling and she writes travel and lifestyle blogs.
