Best post tattoo care?

[Matthew Thomas]

I've recently found a new artist, and she sells a product called After-Inked. I can say that the color of my tattoos has thus far remained much more saturated with this product than with any other product I've used. I do still scab heavily, but I don't lose very much color at all, so touch-ups are no biggie.

[MadeIndelible]

To answer the last few posts, look through the thread, and you'll find that a lot of people don't trust all the tattoo-specific aftercare products. There are plenty of products that have been created for skincare that work really really well and have been used for ages, including scent-free lotion and Bepanthen, which are the only two that I would really use.

[SeeSea]

To answer the last few posts, look through the thread, and you'll find that a lot of people don't trust all the tattoo-specific aftercare products. There are plenty of products that have been created for skincare that work really really well and have been used for ages, including scent-free lotion and Bepanthen, which are the only two that I would really use.

I already read the thread before I posted. I saw what people said. I searched for that particular product BEFORE I POSTED and found no one had ever said anything about it.

That is why I asked the question.

If no one has experience with that product, that's fine. But there's no need to sound like I was too lazy to read the thread.

I'm not changing my aftercare because something has worked for other people for ages. As everyone around here is fond of saying, listen to your artist regarding aftercare.

[MadeIndelible]

My bad. I should have said, "Read the forum." But, yes, you are right. No need to follow tradition in tattoo culture.

It's good that you're doing your own research. I was simply making a suggestion which I have made plenty of times before. Also, this advice isn't coming directly from me. It comes from tattooers.

[CultExciter]

Whatever happened to washing the thing a couple times a day and moisturizing with a thin layer of scent free lotion?

[Graeme]

Whatever happened to washing the thing a couple times a day and moisturizing with a thin layer of scent free lotion?

It doesn't make anybody any money.

[CultExciter]

This is why I dig you @Graeme

[Graeme]

This is why I dig you @Graeme

I thought it was because we both like cats.

[Dusk]

I spent some money on some "tattoo lotion" once and wasn't sufficiently impressed enough. Especially when 4oz of the stuff cost the same as 16oz of my regular unscented lotion. I do buy the Provon soap to wash with instead of Dial though. I don't know if it makes any difference in the long run but it seems to be less harsh on my skin. Been using it for my piercings for a while too.

[CultExciter]

I thought it was because we both like cats.

Well, that, obviously.

[SeeSea]

My bad. I should have said, "Read the forum." But, yes, you are right. No need to follow tradition in tattoo culture.

It's good that you're doing your own research. I was simply making a suggestion which I have made plenty of times before. Also, this advice isn't coming directly from me. It comes from tattooers.

Thanks for the reply. Sorry - I was a little testy from something else.

[polliwog]

I'm no expert, but I would be wary of the beeswax and the rosemary extract. I'm sort of a skincare nerd, so I try to avoid anything with fragrant plant oils in my daily, non-tattoo skincare because of the potential for irritation. Non-fragrant oils like avocado, borage and jojoba (which is close in composition to the oil your skin naturally produces) should be fine in a post-tattoo lotion. I definitely wouldn't put oil on an open wound, but I found jojoba oil mixed with a bit of lotion helpful during the itchy, onionskin phase between peels.

I have no experience with coconut oil for healing, but it's excellent at getting rid of those little bumps people sometimes get on their arms pre-getting tattooed.

[blujax01]

Back in the 90's "Tattoo Goo" was the new magic foo-foo lotion everyone was hawking at the conventions. 20 years later, it's still out there (at WalMart of all places) so I suppose it isn't a bad thing. Last year a new-to-me artist all but demanded that I use Aquaphor because "petroleum based lotions aren't good." Okay, I bought a jar. And I read the label. Aquaphor is 40% petrolatum. Then I read the label on a jar of Vasoline. 100% petrolatum.

P.T. Barnum was no fool ...

[CultExciter]

I have no experience with coconut oil for healing, but it's excellent at getting rid of those little bumps people sometimes get on their arms pre-getting tattooed.

I always have those, my doctor says it's almost like a permanent allergic reaction to existing.

[polliwog]

I hate those stupid things. Big part of the motivation for choosing my upper arms as a first tattoo area.

[deadsp0t]

Back in the 90's "Tattoo Goo" was the new magic foo-foo lotion everyone was hawking at the conventions. 20 years later' date=' it's still out there (at WalMart of all places) so I suppose it isn't a bad thing. Last year a new-to-me artist all but demanded that I use Aquaphor because "petroleum based lotions aren't good." Okay, I bought a jar. And I read the label. Aquaphor is 40% petrolatum. Then I read the label on a jar of Vasoline. 100% petrolatum. P.T. Barnum was no fool ...[/quote']

I've used Aquafor for all but one of mine and the all healed(completely) in roughly 3 weeks, I used tattoo goo's healing lotion on my anchor and it noticeably not as bright as the other tattoos(same artist for all). Tattoo goo is not for me. Aquafor and gold dial soap.

[sophistre]

Rando bumps: Keratosis pilaris.

I only know this because there is a body scrub I use that is designed to treat it, and it is AMAZING. I don't actually have KP, but my mom apparently does, and she swears by the stuff. It involves a scrub component and a light peel treatment, and it makes my skin so freakin' smooth. It is expensive (fittybux), but I've had my tub for about two years and it works better than anything else I've ever tried.

Just thought I'd toss that out there!

[CultExciter]

I don't even care that I just spent the last 30 minutes browsing the Sephora website.

[TrixieFaux]

I don't even care that I just spent the last 30 minutes browsing the Sephora website.

Welcome to my world. :D

[polliwog]

Oh, me too. At least you're not watching makeup tutorials yet.

<nerd>That scrub is amazing but the lotion that goes with it doesn't seem to do much besides moisturize well. I still haven't found the *perfect* lotion for KP (most are alpha hydroxy acid lotions - it's hard to find a good beta hydroxy lotion at the right PH), but the coconut body butter from Trader Joe's is good if you're OK with smelling like a pina colada.</nerd>

Or you can just blast over the KP and then ignore it forever :)

[wenn313]

I got a recent tattoo 1/2 sleeve did at a convention on the the 22nd of last month. I used H2Ocean aftercare instructed by the tattoo artists. Did everything the artists asked for me to do. It's been 10 days now since I was tattooed but on the 6th day weird shit started happening to it. I have this white skin like film in certain areas of the tatt. It's not oozing it's not bleeding, burning hot none of the infected tattoo stuff you read about. But I developed little scabs in the areas where the tattoo was really detailed and this white film has appeared over the inked areas. Most of the dead scabs has shed the tattoo is somewhat smooth with the exception of a few scabs left on my shoulder and around the eye area of the tattoo. I have other tatts & this has never happened. I know people body heals differently. I don't know if I'm jumping the gun or what, but It looks like I'm going to need a hell of a touch up after it has healed. The artist that did the tatt lives out of state. So I'm pretty much screwed on a free touch up from her if I need it being that I don't have the loot to travel to where she is just to redo a tatt. Do you think it was the new product I used, I never used H2Ocean before that suppose to be some top of the line shit. I heard great reviews about it. I just hope this is just the healing process. Have any of you ever heard anything like this happen the white scab film over certain parts of the tattoo. If so let me know?

[HaydenRose]

I got a recent tattoo 1/2 sleeve did at a convention on the the 22nd of last month. I used H2Ocean aftercare instructed by the tattoo artists. Did everything the artists asked for me to do. It's been 10 days now since I was tattooed but on the 6th day weird shit started happening to it. I have this white skin like film in certain areas of the tatt. It's not oozing it's not bleeding, burning hot none of the infected tattoo stuff you read about. But I developed little scabs in the areas where the tattoo was really detailed and this white film has appeared over the inked areas. Most of the dead scabs has shed the tattoo is somewhat smooth with the exception of a few scabs left on my shoulder and around the eye area of the tattoo. I have other tatts & this has never happened. I know people body heals differently. I don't know if I'm jumping the gun or what, but It looks like I'm going to need a hell of a touch up after it has healed. The artist that did the tatt lives out of state. So I'm pretty much screwed on a free touch up from her if I need it being that I don't have the loot to travel to where she is just to redo a tatt. Do you think it was the new product I used, I never used H2Ocean before that suppose to be some top of the line shit. I heard great reviews about it. I just hope this is just the healing process. Have any of you ever heard anything like this happen the white scab film over certain parts of the tattoo. If so let me know?

If it's not an infection, let the tattoo heal more... give it some time. Healing tattoos can do all sorts of wacky stuff before they are fully healed. I think (and correct me if I'm wrong) that it takes 3 months to completely heal a tattoo. Usually after a month it's mostly healed and you will know if you need a touch-up.

Have some patience! If you're still worried, contact your artist or the shop where you got the tattoo.

[wenn313]

Thanks HaydenRose appreciate it.

[deadsp0t]

If it's not an infection' date=' let the tattoo heal more... give it some time. Healing tattoos can do all sorts of wacky stuff before they are fully healed. I think (and correct me if I'm wrong) that it takes 3 months to completely heal a tattoo. Usually after a month it's mostly healed and you will know if you need a touch-up. Have some patience! If you're still worried, contact your artist or the shop where you got the tattoo.[/quote']

This...!! I have seen the what I call hazing before and by the one month mark it was gone for me(doesn't mean yours will or won't be, just sharing my exp), like said just relax and enjoy your tattoo and revisit any issues later, when the tattoo is healed.

[polliwog]

Just wondering if I should be trying to encourage a slower peel, somehow - I seem to peel all at once somewhere on the 3rd day. I'm probably a little more lax about washing than I should be and usually just do 2 or 3 times a day during those first 3 days, followed by nothing on day 1 and a tiny bit of Aquaphor on days 2 & 3. I haven't really had a problem with losing color before, other than a bit of yellow, but the skin underneath's so tender that the flaking feels a little premature. It basically looks like the skin of a nonagenarian on prednisone and feels hot to the touch. Maybe this is completely normal, though. I'll be doing a second light peel soon.