Yay! After much deliberation, you finally got your tattoo. Hopefully you’re happy with it! One of the most important things to keep your tattoo beautiful is the aftercare just after you have had your tattoo done. Unfortunately, the recommended tattoo cream is often expensive, so a cheaper option (like Vaseline) may seem better. Yet nothing could be further from the truth: this is why it is better not to apply Vaseline to your freshly done tattoo.
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Aftercare for a tattoo
After getting a tattoo, it is important that you take good care of the wound to prevent infections or an ugly tattoo. If you have already had several tattoos, then you already know the drill. However, for the newbies among us it is a different story and taking good care of your tattoo can sometimes be a bit exciting.
In any case, you should wash your new tat carefully with perfume-free soap and then rub it thoroughly with an ointment to keep the skin and wound supple. There are special tattoo creams for this, but there are also cheaper variants that work just as well. An option that you should avoid is Vaseline – this ointment would not be good at all for your fresh tattoo.
Vaseline?
We love Vaseline. It is a truly multipurpose product that we are often very happy with. However, it may be better not to use Vaseline for your new sticker. The reason for this is that Vaseline can cause the skin to become clogged. Your skin can no longer breathe due to the layer of ointment, so that bacteria remain in the wound. Ew!
In addition, research by the American Academy of Dermatology has shown that a petroleum-based ointment (Vaseline) can cause the ink from a tattoo to fade. Well, you obviously don’t want that with a new tattoo.
Cured
Should you never put Vaseline on your tats at all? If the wound is completely healed, it can do no harm. Then the ointment works just as it would on your lips or elbows. In any case, don’t overdo it with lubricating it. A thin layer is more than enough for the Vaseline to do its work.
