Can i use vaseline on a tattoo

Congrats on the new tatt! Stop, drop, and put away that old jar of Vaseline. According to a survey of 32 tattoo artists, most tattoo professionals recommend an aftercare routine of washing with antibacterial soap and applying a petroleum-based ointment or unscented lotion, two to three times a day. The American Academy of Dermatology says petroleum-based products can cause ink to fade. They recommend using water-based moisturizers on new tattoos instead.

But why? Products like Vaseline and super thick ointments may trap moisture and bacteria on top of a new tattoo , increasing your risk of developing an infection. Leave the ointment or plastic wrap combo your tattooist applies on your skin for a few hours or as directed by the artist. They know their stuff, and have seen hundreds of tattoos heal. In fact, in another survey of 90 New York City tattoo artists, The survey also showed that people with more training provide better written aftercare instructions and have higher confidence dealing with tattoo-related skin concerns.

Your tattoo artist may cover the area with a thick, greasy ointment and wrap it in plastic wrap or a bandage. They will tell you when to remove the bandage and gently wash your tattoo usually a few hours later. After that initial wrapping, use an unscented water-based lotion to keep the wound from drying out too fast. You may still catch a tattoo artist who advises using petroleum jelly as your tattoo heals.

When is it a good idea to use Vaseline on a tattoo? Petroleum-based products are cheap and create the illusion of soft, moisturized, and hydrated skin.

When applied, they seal the skin's surface and block the natural respiration process. Petroleum suffocates and stops moisture from leaving the skin. This can clog pores, causing blackheads, pimples, and whiteheads. Or worse, create a warm, moist environment for yeast and fungus to grow. It gets even better! Sealing and suffocating your skin can cause premature aging. Remember, a fresh tattoo is an open wound.

For the best tattoo aftercare healing and recovery, your skin must be able to breathe. These products are not safe for tattoos. No matter who says it is ok to use these products for tattoo recovery, I would take it with a grain of salt. Times have changed, we're wiser, and there are much safer and better options to treat your new tattoo with excellent all-natural tattoo aftercare products. Don't risk damaging your brand new tattoo, or adding toxic chemicals to your body, for the sake of saving a couple of bucks.

There a safer options. You want them to heal without damaging the artwork or tearing out the ink. Water is too weak, while alcohol is too strong. Therefore, Vaseline is often the chosen middleman for most tattoo artists. For this reason, Vaseline has been a go-to and first instinct for not only the artists but seasoned tattoo lovers alike. With every old wives tale comes two old husband tales to debunk them.

Mostly anything that is raved about in a widespread manner, FDA approved, or fawned over by a community will most certainly come with some setbacks. In any case, Vaseline is not safe from this type of scrutiny.

Like chicken soup serving as a vaccine, proponents of this argument back up their claims by pointing out that Vaseline is good while the tattooing is taking place because using another product may need multiple applications, but Vaseline lasts longer saving both the tattoo artist time and the client money.

This barrier of protection created by Vaseline could potentially trap harmful bacteria in the tattoo area, which is the last thing anyone wants after coming home with some fresh ink. This is the main drawback for using Vaseline during the tattoo healing process. Now, tattoo artists use it sparingly during tattooing because once the artwork is done, they simply wipe it away. Drawbacks aside, there is a clear benefit for Vaseline in the tattooing world.

For those of you who are thinking of going out into the world and finally getting that Snoopy tat, remember that when you leave the shop, after a few days of applying Vaseline to your new baby, the body can heal itself with proper cleaning and care. After Vaseline has done its job, your job is too keep your thirsty tattoo hydrated with lotion. This will ensure that your tattoo heals properly and with the colors intact. The benefits to Vaseline is excels the downfalls of it.

The key here is the amount of application and the timing of it. So there have it, now you know why tattoo artists use Vaseline when tattooing you and why they recommend it during aftercare.

Why is Vaseline Used? Vaseline has this healing element. The Bad Effects of Vaseline With every old wives tale comes two old husband tales to debunk them. The Benefits to Vaseline Drawbacks aside, there is a clear benefit for Vaseline in the tattooing world.