You Just Got a Tattoo. How to Care for It?

A up-to-date tattoo could be an expanding script, a bold geometric sleeve, or a playful illustration. It could be your first tattoo or join the medley: made in honor of a person, a place, or a spirit of self-expression.

Getting a tattoo isn’t as popular as it once was: About 32 percent of American adults have at least one tattoo, According to to a 2023 Pew Research Center study. But while tattoos are more widely accepted, advice on how to care for them can be conflicting.

The confusion begins as soon as the artist puts down the machine. Some employ the classic plastic wrap as a shield to protect their up-to-date ink, while others opt for newer dressings. One recommendation is to wash tattoos immediately upon returning home using antibacterial soap. Another recommendation is to wait a few days before washing with a milder, unscented soap.

There are also ointment options: recommended products include Vaseline and Aquaphor, natural oils and butters, and creams for diaper rash, as well as products designed specifically for healing tattoos.

This can all be confusing.

“Every customer hears information from somewhere, and it can always be wrong,” said Will Dozer, owner Electric brushtattoo parlour in North London.

While there is some research on tattoo aftercare, dermatologists say it is not extensive. Without universal, standardized guidelines for aftercare, clients often rely on advice from individual tattoo artists, friends or online research.

“There seems to be a lot of misinformation out there,” said Naresh Bhana, owner The Burning Eighttattoo parlour in London. “We owe it to our customers to assist them through this process as best we can.”

Gentle washing, twice a day

According to artists and dermatologists, the healing of a tattoo is influenced by medical history, the size of the up-to-date tattoo, and its location on the body.

However, everyone agrees it is critical to keep the area pristine, especially early in the healing process, which can take two to four weeks.

When you get a tattoo, the needles drive ink particles through the top layer of skin into the dermis below, leaving miniature open wounds that can act as “microchannels,” said Dr. Deborah S. Sarnoff, a clinical professor of dermatology at Fresh York University.

“It’s not unusual for these wounds to be oozing and for ink to be flowing out of them – we don’t want bacteria, viruses or fungi to get inside,, she said, adding that the wound is particularly susceptible to infection for about 48 hours. That means no swimming in the ocean, heated tubs, pools or anywhere else where pathogens could be present. (Maybe reconsider that tattoo just before or during a beach vacation.)

Some artists recommend washing a up-to-date tattoo a few hours after the appointment to get rid of any built-up ink and plasma. However, Dr. Sarnoff advises leaving the bandage on and not washing the tattoo for about two days. After that, he says, wash your hands first, then pristine the area around it twice a day.

“You want it to be a very gentle soap — preferably unscented and fragrance-free,” she said.

“No scrubbing, no picking, no picking,” said Dr. Bruce Robinson, a board-certified dermatologist in Fresh York City. “A gentle soak. Whatever comes off, comes off with regular soap and water.”

But even the choice of soap can be polarizing. Some tattoo artists recommend antibacterial soap to prevent infection. Others, like Mr. Bhana, say they’re too harsh: “You really want to employ something that’s as delicate and pH-neutral as possible.”

Whatever you employ, keep it humid, but don’t overdo it.

According to dermatologists, keeping a wound humid gives it the best chance of healing well and scarring. But if it’s not infected, they recommend skipping antibiotic creams and specialist products in favor of a classic: petroleum jelly, which is commonly sold as Vaseline.

“Petroleum jelly is better than anything else because it doesn’t have anything in it that could cause a reaction,” Dr. Robinson said, adding that fragrances and other ingredients, such as preservatives, could cause an allergic reaction.

Tattoo artists often send their clients home with petroleum jelly-based products like Aquaphor or A+D ointment, and advise them to switch to a lighter lotion after a few days. Unlike dermatologists, however, many artists say personal experience has taught them that a tattoo needs air to heal, and they warn against petroleum jelly-based products.

Since Lal Hardy opened his London studio More than 40 years ago, tattoo aftercare products proliferated, he said. Mr. Hardy often recommends cocoa butter or a fragrance-free, hypoallergenic moisturizer that can be easily found in drugstores. “They just seem uncomplicated for people to employ, which is what you want,” he said.

Mr Hardy recommends applying a lean layer of cream between washes, but warns against overdoing it, adding that tattoos need air to heal. ““If people put cream on top of cream, the air will never get to the tattoo,” he said.

Skin care companies and even some tattoo studios are also introducing specialist post-tattoo care products to the market in an effort to provide customers with alternative options. Bang Bang TattooThe Fresh York studio, whose celebrity clients include Aquaphor, currently recommends it. It will soon offer its own brand of petrochemical-free skincare products, the result of years of research with dermatologists and artists, it says.

“Petrochemicals can clog pores, and then the wound can’t heal,” said Bella Carino, COO of the Forever Care line. “Making it petrochemical-free was super, super critical to us.”

Dermatologists say there is no solid evidence to suggest that any product is better than petroleum jelly. “Maybe they want to sell you their own product,” Dr. Sarnoff said of tattoo artists, though she noted that tattoo artists have had the most personal experience with the healing process.

“If they think Vaseline is a no-no, then you need to choose something else, some kind of oil,” she said. “But you need to keep it humid.”

Just be patient.

It may take a few weeks or longer, depending on the size of the tattoo, but when the skin is silky, the tattoo is healed. Applying sunscreen to a fresh tattoo can keep it looking fresher for longer.

Dermatologists say patients who consult with them after getting a tattoo typically do so because they develop an allergy to the ink, scarring or simply regret their choice. If the healing process begins to lag, Dr. Sarnoff said, seek the opinion of a board-certified dermatologist.

“It’s not like getting a haircut,” she said, comparing the process to a medical procedure and warning people to do their research. “They need to be aware of the downsides and what can go wrong.”.”

Many artists have found that with proper application and care, tattoos should heal without any issues. If you do encounter any issues, most advise returning to your artist first to discuss the next steps.

No matter what ointment, soap or dressing you choose, there is no shortcut to healing. “You can’t make it heal faster than the body naturally heals it,” Mr. Hardy said. “Let your body do the work and it will be fine.”