In the past some tattoo artists advised their clients to use petroleum jelly or thick ointments for the first few days of healing, followed lotion to keep the skin moisturized, protected, and to prevent color fading. True these jellies and lotions are relatively cheap and available at your local drugstore. However, almost all of these lotions contain ingredients that have recently been proven to be more harmful than beneficial for tattoo health.Now, more than ever, tattoo enthusiasts have educated themselves to how important it is to properly care for a new tattoo. And more than ever, they are looking for natural alternatives that can safely heal and preserve their art.
Here are 5 tips for tattoo aftercare:
1. Gently cleanse, stay out of the sun, and away from heat. During the healing and aftercare process, which may take from several days up to a couple of weeks, gently cleanse the tattoo daily with fragrance-free, anti-bacterial body soap and lukewarm water. For the first few days, no sun, swimming, sweating, or dirt. Keep your tattoo dry and clean. For the first 24 hours, icing the tattoo can also be helpful. This will help reduce inflammation and also help with the pain.
2. Use only oil or oil-based ointment for first 3 days. Most old fashioned tattoo remedies are thick and occlude the pores, in effect suffocating the wound while it’s healing. For immediate tattoo aftercare, look for a light, oil-based product that allows the skin to “breathe.” Earthly Body's Tattoo Tonic Miracle Oil is perfect for this. Tea tree oil has anti-inflammatory anti- fungal, anti-bacterial, and anti-viral properties. Using tea tree oil combined with Tattoo Tonic's hemp seed oil will provide rich omega 3, 6, and 9 fatty acids. These oils will lightly moisturize, protect, and heal the skin without causing irritation or color loss..
3. Avoid the "crusties." For the first day, your tattoo will seep a clear liquid called plasma. Try not to let this crust on your skin, but if it does, gently wash it off with warm water.
4. After the tattoo is healed, THEN you begin moisturizing with a good unscented, dye-free lotion. Keeping the skin hydrated during the peeling process and long after will help with itchiness, flakiness, and preserving the richness of your tattoo color. Try to stay away from lotions that contain lanolins or petroleums. Instead use a lotion that is rich in fatty acids for free- radical protection and non-greasy hydration. Hemp seed lotions are the best for this. Hemp seed oil is rich in omega 3, 6, and 9 and it is easily absorbed into the skin. Hemp contains anti- inflammatory and anti-aging properties that are healthy and non-irritating to the skinContinue to use Tattoo Tonic Miracle Lotion long after your tattoo is healed and enjoy longer, truer tattoo color and skin health.
5. Watch the ingredients. Lanolin, for example, which comes from sheep's wool, causes allergic reactions in a lot of people. Some tattoo aftercare also contain products such as beeswax or petrolatum, and mineral oils which can clog pores, or may contain contaminants. These ingredients are widely popular in over-the-counter creams and lotions because they are cheap and easy to manufacture. The lanolin and mineral oil found in these lotions cause excessive seeping, clogging, scabbing, scarring and color loss. Stay away from products that contain mineral oil, propylene glycol, or parabens. It is also best to use lotion that is free of dyes and fragrance to keep any potential skin irritants to a minimum. That’s why Earthly Body’s Tattoo Tonic Miracle Lotion was formulated without artificial colors or fragrance.
