Tattoo cream: the importance of protecting a new tattoo
After getting a tattoo it can be easy to overlook or forget your artist’s advice, especially if you’re excited or nervous! But if you don’t care for the health of your ink, it can lose colour or fade more quickly, and in extreme cases the skin can become irritated, damaged or infected.
A tattoo lasts for life, and by looking after your tattooed skin you can better help the design to stay well defined for longer and the skin healthy and hydrated.
A great and easy way to look after your tattooed skin is by using a specially formulated tattoo cream to protect it. This can help to keep your tattooed skin hydrated and preserve the colour of your tattoo.
We’ve put together our guide on tattoo cream, the tattoo healing period, how to apply tattoo cream and which tattoo cream to choose so you can make the most of your new ink.
Tattoo healing period
The healing period after getting a new tattoo is very important to making sure it maintains that fresh tattoo definition and colour. This means following your artist’s aftercare advice as well as having good hygiene practices. As a tattoo is technically an open wound, you need to protect it from getting infected.
You should also be careful to keep your new tattoo out of the sun, as sunlight can damage it. You should not put sunscreen on fresh tattoos, as it can clog the pores and make healing harder, but once it’s healed you should always remember to cover it up or apply sunscreen when you go outside in the summer. This is especially important if your ink is somewhere that sees a lot of sun, like your hands or face.
If you’re a gym bunny or a fitness buff, you should also give it at least a few days before you get back to working out. Gym equipment can harbour germs that can easily get into your new tattoo, and sweating a lot could interrupt the healing process.
Functions of tattoo cream
A tattoo cream may contain special ingredients such as provitamin B5 that helps aid the skins natural recovery process. It can also help to soothe discomfort like itching and tightness by keeping the skin hydrated.
Your tattoo artist will advise you how they want you to use tattoo cream, when they think you’ll need to use it and also what sort they recommend.
How to apply tattoo cream
It’s important to know how to properly apply tattoo cream to take care of sensitive tattooed skin and keep it hydrated.
Lots of tattoo artists use different aftercare methods, so you should always talk to your artist to see which method they’re following. Once the tattoo is finished, they will probably wrap it in clingfilm, but they might also place a gauze patch over it or use a self-adhesive transparent wrap.
Your artist will tell you how long to keep your tattoo wrapped for. Typically, a wrap will be kept on for no more than five hours. After this time, you should wash your hands, remove the wrap, then carefully wash the tattooed skin with warm water and a mild, unscented, hypoallergenic soap. You should then pat it dry.
You should leave your tattoo uncovered so you can get some air to your skin. You can re-wrap it with clean clingfilm and tape if you’re covering the area or going to bed. This helps to avoid rubbing, scratching and irritation from clothing as well as keeping bacteria out.
Your artist will advise you on how long to keep your tattoo wrapped, depending on the size and placement of your tattoo. Once this period is over, you should start applying a tattoo cream daily, or whenever your skin feels dry or tight. You should avoid submerging it in water like swimming or taking a bath, and always wash and pat dry your tattooed skin before applying the cream with clean hands.
Which tattoo cream to choose
With lots of tattoo creams and more generic moisturisers on the market, you might be struggling to choose which one is best for you. You can find them in moisturising or beauty aisles.
When you’re looking for a cream, you should find one that…
- Helps to keep your tattoo looking good. A good tattoo cream can help your tattooed skin look and feel good for years to come.
- Soothes irritation. A tattoo cream should soothe the irritation that can come from sensitive tattooed skin.
- Moisturises. Hydration can help to keep your tattooed skin looking good, so find a cream that keeps moisture locked into the skin.
- Aids natural skin regeneration. Try looking for a product that contains specific ingredients such as provitamin B5 that aids natural skin recovery, and does not contain ingredients that can cause irritation, such as perfumes and fragrances, dyes or alcohol.
- Is breathable. The cream should create a breathable layer to help skin regeneration.
- Is easy to apply. Tattoo cream should be easy to apply. Think about what sort of format is best for you and your skin – would you benefit from a lotion, balm, ointment, salve or gel?
- Is suitable for tattooed skin. Try to find a cream that has been dermatologically tested for tattooed or sensitive skin.
When it comes to looking after your tattooed skin, you want to choose a cream that will leave it looking and feeling good years after its been done. Remember to always follow your artist’s advice, and to reach out to them if you’re ever worried about the healing process or think you might need a touch-up.
Whatever the design or location of your ink, Bepanthen Tattoo helps keep your skin looking healthy and feeling good. It contains Provitamin B5 that helps support sensitive skin's natural regeneration process and has been dermatologically tested on tattooed skin.