Getting a tattoo is not just art or a way to show who you are. It’s also like a medical thing because artists use needles to put ink under your skin.
Fresh tattoos leave your skin open to germs. These germs can cause infections. Infections can lead to bad scars on your new tattoo.
So, after you get a tattoo, check to see if it’s healing well. To help it heal right, work with your body and listen to your tattoo artist.
But, doing more than you should might not fix things. It could even make problems bigger if you aren’t super careful. That’s why we wrote this article to answer your question: “Can You Put Vaseline on a Tattoo?”.
Basically, you can use Vaseline on a tattoo, but it depends. If your tattoo is fully healed and feels dry, Vaseline is okay. But, it’s not a good idea to put Vaseline on a new tattoo that’s still healing.
That covers the main points, but we’ll explain more here. We’ll talk about what you should and shouldn’t do when using Vaseline on a tattoo. We’ll also discuss better options than Vaseline. Finally, we’ll compare Vaseline to Aquaphor.
When Is It Not Appropriate To Apply Vaseline On A Tattoo?
` tags provided, I will leave them unchanged.
Lots of people wonder, “Why shouldn’t I use Vaseline on my tattoo if my tattoo artist told me not to?”
Let’s explore the science behind why using Vaseline might not always be the best idea.
If you just got a new tattoo, people often tell you to use petroleum jelly, like Vaseline, to help it feel better. But, most of this advice from tattoo artists or other people who love tattoos comes from personal stories, not scientific proof.
This means some people might think it worked. But there’s often no real science or proof to support what they say.
Dermatologists say too much Vaseline on a new tattoo can be bad. It can trap germs and wetness on the open skin. This can cause infections and scars.
Like when your body heals itself, new tattoos need air to get better quickly. Using things like petroleum jelly can block the skin and let germs grow.
Scientists say that lotions made from petroleum don’t let air through. This can stop oxygen from getting to a wound, which can make it heal slower.
This can make your tattoo ink fade. It can also make your tattoo take longer to heal. This could lead to a bad infection later.
When Is It Appropriate to Apply Vaseline On A Tattoo?
` tags provided, I will leave them unchanged.
If you really like using Vaseline and need it all the time, good news! There are times when you can put Vaseline on your tattoo without causing any problems.
After your tattoo is fully healed (about 2-3 months), it’s usually safe to put Vaseline on it. Make sure there’s no more bleeding or ink coming out of the tattoo first.
Usually, it’s a good idea to use Vaseline if your skin is dry or looks wrinkly. It can also help keep your tattoo looking good.
Using Vaseline at the right time can be helpful. But don’t ever put it on a new tattoo.
You can use Vaseline on a new tattoo, but only in one special case.
It’s also important when you’re going to shower with a new tattoo that’s bandaged. Some artists will wrap your tattoo and use Vaseline. This helps keep the tattoo from getting too wet if water gets through the bandage. This depends on the tattoo’s size and where it is on your body.
Water can help germs grow. So, it’s better to protect your new tattoo from water with Vaseline.
What Is The Best Alternative for Vaseline to Put On A New Tattoo?
` tags provided, I will leave them unchanged.
If Vaseline doesn’t work, what else can you use? People often wonder, “Can I use Vaseline on my tattoo instead of Aquaphor?”
Many readers have these questions, and we want to answer them for you.
Let’s tackle the biggest question: What can you safely put on a new tattoo to help it heal faster?
We’ll answer your question with a quick summary and a more detailed science explanation to support it.
Taking care of your new tattoo is super important. It helps it heal the best way possible.
This means the ink won’t fade, and there won’t be any crust, scabs, redness, or infections.
But what’s the best lotion to use on your new tattoo? You need something that helps it heal and doesn’t cause problems.
People often disagree on what’s best. Things like weather, skin health, and skin type matter. What works for you might not work for someone else!
Dermatologists say breathable moisturizers are the safest choice, better than vaseline. These lotions are made for tattoo healing. They mostly contain water.
Make sure the products you use won’t cause problems like allergies or scabs. Check that they don’t have strong stuff that can irritate your skin. Also, make sure they don’t have perfumes, alcohol, or colors.
Let’s stop talking about what makes a good tattoo lotion. Here are some examples: coconut oil, cocoa butter, Curel, Eucerin, shea butter, Lubriderm, and Inked Tattoo Aftercare Lotion.
These products are tested. We promise they work much better than vaseline!
Aquaphor Vs Vaseline: Which One Should You Put?
If you’re not sure which aftercare product to get, this part can help. We’ll compare two popular lotions to help you decide.
Here, we’ll compare Aquaphor and Vaseline. We’ll help you pick the best one for you! You won’t need to search, “Can I Put Vaseline on my Tattoo instead of Aquaphor?” anymore.
Disclaimer: Before we compare them, I want to say something important. Aquaphor isn’t really a moisturizer like you might think. It only keeps the water that’s already on your skin from escaping. This is because it has petroleum in it, which makes your skin’s surface hard to get through.
So, you shouldn’t use Vaseline or Aquaphor on new tattoos. But, if you want to use them after your tattoo is fully healed, or while showering during healing, this comparison will help you!
What Vaseline Has To Offer:
Vaseline is made completely from petroleum. It puts a layer on your skin. This layer stops your skin from losing water. It also keeps germs and other bad things away from your skin, so they can’t cause problems.
What Aquaphor Has To Offer:
Aquaphor isn’t just petroleum jelly. It’s only 41% petroleum jelly, like Vaseline, but Vaseline has even less. Aquaphor also has mineral oil, ceresin, lanolin alcohol, panthenol, and glycerin. Glycerin helps keep skin moist. Vaseline usually doesn’t have these extra things.
But, if you’re allergic to lanolin, you shouldn’t use Aquaphor healing ointment. It could make your skin break out or have problems.
Which One Should You Use?
If you really want to use petroleum jelly on your new tattoo and can’t decide between Aquaphor and Vaseline, we think Aquaphor is the better choice.
Aquaphor works better than Vaseline to keep skin moist. This is because Aquaphor has ingredients that pull in moisture and seal it in. Vaseline only seals in moisture.
Vaseline seems to cause less redness around tattoos than Aquaphor when helping them heal. If you’re allergic to lanolin, use Vaseline instead of Aquaphor.
Aquaphor might work better on tattoos than Vaseline. Vaseline stops air from getting to the tattoo. Tattoos need air to heal fast. Aquaphor has less petroleum (only 41%), so some air can still get in and help it heal faster.
It doesn’t stop all air like vaseline. This makes it a better choice if you want to use petroleum on your new tattoo.
But we still think it’s best to use tattoo lotions made with water, not petroleum.
Final Thoughts
That’s about all we wanted to say about using Vaseline on your tattoo. We think it’s usually not a good idea. You should only use it if your skin is very dry. Also, it’s okay if you shower a lot after getting a new tattoo.
Water-based tattoo lotions are the best for aftercare. If you’re allergic to lanolin, Aquaphor is a good second choice. But try to avoid using Vaseline on your tattoos if you can!
Thanks for reading this article! We hope you learned a lot of new things. We wish you the best with your tattoos, now and in the future. Be careful and stay safe!
Similar Post: