How to keep tattoos hydrated!

[slayer9019]

I am running into a pretty serious dilemma. My tattoo is drying out really fast with the winter's dry weather. At home I just keep lotioning up like usual but all week I am stuck in a suit at work and it is simply crazy to keep disrobing myself constantly to keep this sucker hydrated. Any options other than keep taking my jacket and shirt off every few hours?

[jade1955]

I wouldn't worry too much. I don't think any great harm is going to happen to your tattoo if it gets a little dry. It's part of the natural healing process.

I use a very small amount of Aquaphor the first few days then I switch to E45 cream. I tend to put a little bit more cream on the tattoo after it has "flaked" to counter the itchyness, caused by the tattooed area drying out. From what I've been told and through personal experience lotions do nothing to aid the healing process, your own body will take care of that part.

Basically I look at a tattoo as an open wound. Now if I had an open wound due to an injury the last thing I would be doing is constantly putting lotion on it. The wound has to dry out, to a certain extent, in order to heal.

Personaly I use creams and lotions to make the tattooed area feel a bit a little more comfortable during the healing process. If you are sufffering like crazy from itchyness you are probobly stuck with the stripping off every so often to put on some lotion as your clothes will absorb most of it during the day.

[slayer9019]

I wouldn't worry too much. I don't think any great harm is going to happen to your tattoo if it gets a little dry. It's part of the natural healing process.

I use a very small amount of Aquaphor the first few days then I switch to E45 cream. I tend to put a little bit more cream on the tattoo after it has "flaked" to counter the itchyness, caused by the tattooed area drying out. From what I've been told and through personal experience lotions do nothing to aid the healing process, your own body will take care of that part.

Basically I look at a tattoo as an open wound. Now if I had an open wound due to an injury the last thing I would be doing is constantly putting lotion on it. The wound has to dry out, to a certain extent, in order to heal.

Personaly I use creams and lotions to make the tattooed area feel a bit a little more comfortable during the healing process. If you are sufffering like crazy from itchyness you are probobly stuck with the stripping off every so often to put on some lotion as your clothes will absorb most of it during the day.

Yea I've found Aquaphora for the first 48-72 hours then straight to Luberderm (normal as possible lotion). I normally wouldnt care much but it is getting crazy dry as with the rest of my skin due to all this dry air. It is dry enough to start drying out my cigar humidor!

[JAllen]

say fuck it and quit your suit and tie job? :D

[gougetheeyes]

Funny, had a similar worry with my arm filler but I treated it the same as any other time and it all healed fine. And this year I've noticed my arms and legs getting crazy dry.. like ashy dry. But unless you're scabbing really bad and it's cracking, I wouldn't worry too much. Otherwise, treat it like any other tattoo. And if you're nervous during the day, find a stall, disrobe, lube it up and don't worry about it.

[slayer9019]

say fuck it and quit your suit and tie job? :D

Oh how I would love to do that! I have been trying to get the hell out of the business but I keep getting more money. I would love to drop the suit and tie, I even promised myself back in my punk days that I would rather die than wear a businessman's noose around my neck, but I guess I lied to myself. I still laugh when people at work talk about all those "tattooed punks", and how they will never get a <job, girl, etc, etc>. Maybe I can do some good as a tattooed executive type, break the mold a little and open some eyes!

[slayer9019]

Funny, had a similar worry with my arm filler but I treated it the same as any other time and it all healed fine. And this year I've noticed my arms and legs getting crazy dry.. like ashy dry. But unless you're scabbing really bad and it's cracking, I wouldn't worry too much. Otherwise, treat it like any other tattoo. And if you're nervous during the day, find a stall, disrobe, lube it up and don't worry about it.

Right now I'm just dealing with the outline but it is scabbing a bit more than I have had before (could be the tattooist has one hell of a heavy hand!). It is also my first traditional tattoo with a nice big, fat outline!

[Dr Benway]

Well I'm hardly an authority on this subject having been tattooed for the first time this week, but my attitude to this (and healing generally) is to just allow my body to do what it does so well whenever I am cut, burnt or suffer any other trauma. Keep the area clean and dry, let air get onto it, drink plenty of water and eat well. The only issue I have is that central heating will probably dry mine out worse than regular summer weather. I have stopped with the Bep as of yesterday and now I will apply E45 only if it is obvious that the tattoo is too dry.

I am firmly of the belief, having researched this for the best part of 3-years, that fucking about with a wound by applying various creams, tinctures and lotions is just getting in the way of nature, and could possibly exacerbate the problems of healing.

[Texkota]

Just put a big fucking blob of vasoline on it. hehehe What I have done in the past in similiar situations is put a thick layer of lotion on it. I know you're not icing a fucking cake but this seems to help me when I'm in a situation where I can't "lube up" every few hours.

[jade1955]

That’s why it’s important to take some time to think things over. Going through tattoo designs and catalogues is always worth the time and effort, especially if you are getting it with someone you love. Some couples get infinity symbols or each other’s names tattooed while others even get wedding ring designs inked to their fingers. So you want to make sure your design is unique because you don’t want to end up with the same wedding ring design as the next random guy you see.

@johnmc I think you've posted this in the wrong thread.

This thread's about tattoo aftercare.

[Brandon Dailey]

As a tattooer I have used many products in the quest to heal tattoos in the best way possible. I recently came across an all natural product called Hustle Butter. I was quite skeptical about it when I was introduced to it at a convention in Miami. It seemed like half of the guys there were using it and going on about using it durring the tattoo and as aftercare. I spoke With the owner of the company who sent me some free samples. I have to admit that it seemed to work well for me durring the tattoo and we used it on several pieces as an aftercare with fantastic results. It is certainly worth looking into...

[Pugilist]

I agree with folks who say the dryness shouldn't be a problem for healing, but when I've had those experiences of a new tattoo drying out super easily, I do know that I wanted to use a bit more moisturizer just to keep it comfortable for myself. The only advice I have is to maybe use a heavier duty moisturizer. We're pretty loyal to Aveeno in our household, and they have a super-super-super dry skin formula that likely won't solve the problem, but might make you just that little bit more comfortable.

ETA: This won't help you now, but in general another thing I try to do is to moisturize the skin pretty consistently in the days leading up to my tattoo appointment, my logic being that the better shape it's in, the smoother the process is likely to be. Preventative care and all that.

[Our Endless Days]

as mentioned in here already, just put a little bit of lotion on that bad boy if you feel like it's getting a little too dry. should be good to go.

[CultExciter]

Also, don't over moisturize. Sometimes I baby my new tattoos too much and they start to bubble a little. Which means you just have to leave the guy alone and let it stay dry.

[David Flores]

Bottom line is healing tattoos sucks, and their is no magic lotion that is going to make it any better. Winter is generally worse for drying out tattoos, but at this point in the healing stage their is very little you can do that is going to affect the tattoo, a little bit of lotion might help relieve some itching and discomfort , but ultimately until it heals it's going to suck, but as long as you don't pick scabs the tattoo should be fine, and even if it needs a touch up their is nothing any lotion regiment or magic tattoo goo cream is going to do that will make the tattoo any better.

[Luk7]

as mentioned in here already, just put a little bit of lotion on that bad boy if you feel like it's getting a little too dry. should be good to go.

Which type of lotion you use?

[Our Endless Days]

Which type of lotion you use?

i use palmers non-scented cocoa butter. shit is great.

[Luk7]

i didn't know that it can be good, thanks for answer

[Idahoink]

Dont forget to drink plenty of water every day, healing or not. Many people dehydrate as much or more in the cold winter months than hot months. Water is great for flushing your entire body. I try to drink 80 oz+ daily and am an actve 6 ft 195lb male that works as a stripper/pornstar...sniff...cough...ok I dont really but I'm still practicing.

Remember if you see any color in your urine, drink more water as it should be clear.

[SamWolter]

I get super dried out during the winter months too, and I also work in an office so I feel for you. I have just been using a small amount of aquaphor on my fresh tattoos until about 2 1/2 weeks into healing. Seems to heal the tattoos just as fine, and they never seem dry out anymore. Just my 2 cents on the subject!

[Eskimette]

As a tattooer I have used many products in the quest to heal tattoos in the best way possible. I recently came across an all natural product called Hustle Butter. I was quite skeptical about it when I was introduced to it at a convention in Miami. It seemed like half of the guys there were using it and going on about using it durring the tattoo and as aftercare. I spoke With the owner of the company who sent me some free samples. I have to admit that it seemed to work well for me durring the tattoo and we used it on several pieces as an aftercare with fantastic results. It is certainly worth looking into...

Have you tried h2Ocean products?:)

[rory123]

I am a newbie, and just had my second session of a large back tattoo (about 3/4 of my back). I'm using tegaderm for the first 4-5 days, but after my first session I got really itchy and dry once I took the film off. After trying some of the cheaper stuff, I finally used a face cream I have from La Roche Posay and it was AWESOME. If you try some high-end stuff formulated for irritated, extremely dry skin it may work longer and you won't have to re-apply in the middle of the day. Just a thought....

[tattooedgirl]

My butterfly on my lower back got really dry, but I applied vaseline to it and that really did help me out. It helped to lubricate it well and within a day it was looking better.

[temporarytattoo]

There is no need to worry about it or you could try applying any moisturizing lotion or cream.

[Sofitofi37]

Can you use essential oils or butters or something like this? or only creams are allowed?