Skin deep - Skin Types + Tattoo Aftercare
Your skin type, the aftercare you choose, and why it matters!
You take a deep breath.
You hear your tattoo artist reach for their soap bottle, douse a paper towel and give your tattoo that final, refreshing ( or hellish, depending) wipe.
As they declare your piece to be finished and give you the go-ahead to check it out in the mirror, you start to think of the next steps.
I’ve got to pay…then I need to remember to ask how I’m supposed to heal this…
After the photos, your artist hands you a small pamphlet and a packette of aftercare ointment - or maybe they give you a few recommendations, and send you on your way.
But how do you know that the ointment you’re getting is appropriate for your skin?
If you’re someone who battles things like acne, rosacea, sensitivity, oiliness/dryness, this can be a tricky thing to navigate in your day-to-day skincare routine. Adding in a healing tattoo can be nerve-wracking!
Most artists aren’t going to ask what your skin type is. The fact is, most people aren’t really considering skin care as part of the tattooing process. This is why it’s important for you, the client, to know what your skin needs and how best to help it through the healing process!
So why should we care about skincare for tattoos?
Our skin is a massive organ. It covers your whole body and acts as your body’s first line of defense. As your newly tattooed skin recovers , it’s important to not further aggravate the skin.
Paying attention to what you’re using on your skin in general is important - our skin absorbs what goes on it, breathes in environmental stressors ( such as pollution) and reflects our internal state (think stress acne).
Tattoos are in INVESTMENT - We spend a lot of money on them, so we should invest an equal amount of care into taking care of our tattooed skin.
Getting to the point…..
Below are recommendations I have compiled from Dermatologists, Estheticians, and my own 4 years of experience in the beauty industry. This should not be taken as medical advice, and you should always do your own research on these topics prior to selecting a product. I have linked my sources as well as reputable articles for your review throughout the post. This is NOT a sponsored blog post, and I am not getting paid by any of the mentioned companies.
Things Everyone should avoid…
Fragrance - most parfumes are distilled in alcohol, which is a drying agent and can cause contact dermatitis in people with sensitive skin. According to the National Library of Medicine, it has been determined that allergic contact dermatitis from scented lotion may in some cases cause scarring and premature fading of new tattoos. Fragrance can be harmful for ALL skin types, not just sensitive skin. - this article is very helpful in explaining why.
Petroleum - Petroleum products like Vaseline or Aquaphor work by sealing moisture onto the skin. This might be helpful for super dry areas of (healed) skin, but for a healing wound like a tattoo, it’s a recipe for disaster! This article from Healthline goes more in-depth, but the overall idea is that is suffocates your new ink, which causes your skin to push out the ink in an effort to get some air. Petroleum products also increase your risk for infection.
Stick with an OINTMENT over a LOTION - I will DIE on this hill. Lotions tend to have a higher water content, which may not be suitable for a tattoo that has any scabbing occurring; whereas ointments typically have a lower water content, and higher oil content, making them ideal for healing minor wounds ( like your tattoo). Ointments also tend to stay on the surface of the skin a bit longer, optimizing the absorption of moisture. Healthline yet again explains this VERY well in this article.
Oily/ Acne Prone Skin…
Everyone’s acne is different. Please make sure that if you are suffering with severe acne, that you consult a licensed professional, such as a dermatologist.
I would make sure you are keeping the tattoo area cleansed - give that new tattoo a wash every day for that first week, followed by aftercare ointment.
The biggest things to avoid for Oily or Acne prone skin is anything that is going to add oil or be too clogging. Gels and lightweight ointments are the best way to go!
Try Mad Rabbit’s Tattoo Soothing Gel or Hustle Butter Deluxe. I recommend Mad Rabbit’s Tattoo Soothing Gel if your skin tends to get irritated or more red after a tattoo, and Hustle Butter if your skin tends to flake quite a bit during the healing process.
Do not pop, purge or mess with any acne that occurs in your fresh tattoo, and do not apply any acne medications to the healing tattoo ( this includes benzoyl peroxide, salycilic acid/bha, retinol, or niacinimide)
Dry Skin…
Dry skin can be a tricky one - how to balance giving the tattoo enough moisture to heal properly, without overdoing it? The trick is to start helping the skin even before you get tattooed!
If you battle dry skin, the BEST thing you can do for your healing tattoo is to moisturize the area in the weeks leading up to your tattoo. This will result in your skin being more bouncy, hydrated and easier to tattoo. Think of moisturizing ahead of time as putting coins in the piggy bank - the moisture your skin has to draw on even before the healing process makes your skin’s job a whole lot easier.
As for product, I still will always vouch for using a lightweight product, but applying it more often. We don’t want to glob on product to try to give the tattoo moisture as quickly as possible - this can result in what I described under petroleum, suffocating the tattoo. Smaller, more frequent applications are the way to go.
I also recommend Hustle Butter Deluxe for Dry skin. It has a very low melting point, which makes applying more, thinner layers of ointment easy. It also soaks in super fast, and isn’t greasy.
If you suffer from psoriasis or from ezcema, I do recommend looking for products that are recommended by the Psoriasis Association. This product does have petrolatum in it ( a byproduct of petroleum), but as someone who has psoriasis, CeraVe Healing Ointment has been the best for me to heal tattoos that end up having a flare in them.
Sensitive Skin…
Now this is a tricky ( and not so tricky) one. If you have sensitive skin, you know that most active ingredients have the chance to irritate your skin. Never take suggestions from a tattoo artist that has not used the ointment they are recommending to you - I have made this mistake!
The big thing I would recommend is having a regular skincare routine that you know fairly well, if possible. This will allow you to know what ingredients work for you and what don’t.
If you have allergies to specific ingredients, please make sure you consult your tattoo artist prior to getting tattooed. Some of the tattoo glides we use ( the ointment we apply during the tattoo to keep the skin moisturized) have things like lavendar oil, argan oil, aloe, mango extract and other things that may be irritants.
I hesitate to make any product suggestions, but the one ointment I have seen work for the most people across the board ( and the one I give out to my clients as a sample) is Hustle Butter Deluxe.
