How often should i apply lotion to my new tattoo

Don’t you sometimes wish there’s a standard procedure for tattoo aftercare? For instance, there’s no hard and fast rule on how often you should apply lotion on a new tattoo. Understandably, it can get quite confusing – especially for beginners – to figure out the best way to get a new tattoo to heal properly.  

Just a quick disclaimer before we go any further:

We took measures to ensure this article’s veracity, but again, everyone’s different. So, please take our advice with a pinch of salt. If you’ve any concerns about aftercare, do have a chat with your tattooist – they know your tattoo best!

Page Contents

• Applying Lotion on New Tattoo – Why Do It At All?
  • 1. Moisturisation is key to proper healing
  • 2. Skin dehydrates after a few hours
  • 3. It prevents deep, ugly scabs from forming
  • 4. Aids in faster healing
  • 5. Prevents cracking
  • 6. Helps with itching and irritation
• What’s The Best Tattoo Healing Lotion Or Moisturiser For New Tattoos?
  • 1.   After Inked Tattoo Moisturiser
  • 2.   Aveeno Daily Moisturising Lotion
  • 3.   Cetaphil Moisturising Lotion
  • 4.   Lubriderm Daily Moisture Lotion
• Frequently Asked Questions About Applying Lotion on New Tattoos
  • 1.   Can you put lotion on a new tattoo?
  • 2.   When to start using lotion or cream on new tattoos?
  • 3.   How many days after tattooing can I use lotion?
  • 4.   How much healing ointment to put on tattoo?
  • 5.   When should you switch to lotion for a new tattoo?
  • 6.   How often should you put lotion on your new tattoo?
  • 7.   How to moisturise or put lotion on new tattoo?
  • 8.   How much moisturising lotion to put on tattoo?
  • 9.   What happens if you don’t moisturise your tattoo?
  • 10.  Is it possible to over-moisturise your tattoo?
  • 11. Can you use coconut oil instead of lotion?
• Conclusion

Applying Lotion on New Tattoo – Why Do It At All?

This is a pretty good question honestly. There are some people who swear by dry healing tattoo. But not everyone can handle the downsides of this natural approach to tattoo healing. If you’re not sure why you should even bother putting lotion on, here are 6 good reasons that may persuade you over.

1. Moisturisation is key to proper healing

Don’t you just hate it when your skin goes dry, especially in cold weather? It becomes even worse when you’ve got fresh ink on your skin. If you didn’t already know, dry skin is bad news for new tattoos. Why? Because it can dry out your tattoo and cause it to crack and bleed.

Fortunately, there’s a simple remedy to most dry skin – moisturising lotion. A thin layer of lotion applied regularly can hydrate and moisturise your skin, like magic! This helps your skin generate new cells, close up those tiny needle holes, and heal your tattoo.

2. Skin dehydrates after a few hours

Our skin loses water throughout the day, and we need to replenish it by drinking water and staying hydrated. This may be enough if you’ve got a healthy immune system.

But for better skin hydration, you need to rub some lotion on your skin. And your job doesn’t end there. Long after your tattoo has healed, you need to keep on applying lotion as part of your daily skincare routine (yes, you need one).

3. It prevents deep, ugly scabs from forming

Your tattoo will form scabs, whether you like it or not. But if your skin is not well-moisturised, those small, harmless scabs can turn into big, ugly ones. A little lotion applied a few times a day can go a long way to ensuring the scabs don’t go into the dermis, the skin layer where your tattooist inserted that special ink.

4. Aids in faster healing

Aside from making your skin look old, dry skin isn’t great for tattoo healing either. But when your skin is moisturised, you can most likely expect the healing process to go so much faster for you! 

5. Prevents cracking

Dry skin is prone to cracking, which, depending on the area, can be extremely painful. Additionally, if the cracks are deep enough, it can even draw some blood out. I’m sure it’s not something you want to experience, especially not while your tattoo is still unhealed.

6. Helps with itching and irritation

The discomfort that tattoo itching brings is immense, and the bigger the tattooed area is, the itchier it becomes. The right moisturising lotion can help reduce itchiness. And it increases the likelihood that your new tattoo will remain vibrant for years to come! 

What’s The Best Tattoo Healing Lotion Or Moisturiser For New Tattoos?

To be honest, there is no single best tattoo aftercare product. Tattooists and tattoo studios all have their opinions on what’s “the best.” And I don’t find it all that surprising either. After all, everyone’s skin is different and there are a lot of factors that affect the tattoo healing process.  

However, since we’re on this topic, we’d also like to put in our tuppence. In our opinion, these are the best and most affordable aftercare moisturising lotions you can buy right now:

1.   After Inked Tattoo Moisturiser

We’re truly big fans of this grapeseed oil-based lotion. This premium tattoo aftercare lotion is one of the best ones out there. We love the fact that the primary ingredient is grapeseed oil which is a potent antioxidant, so it will definitely help soften and protect your freshly tattooed skin.

This brand’s been on the market for years now – and it’s quite popular amongst tattooists and tattoo enthusiasts alike. It’s free of paraben, fragrance, gluten, and petroleum. The non-allergenic and non-irritant formula is perfect for all types of skin – even vegans can use this product!

Click the link below to buy a tube of this amazing tattoo moisturiser!

2.   Aveeno Daily Moisturising Lotion

If you’re wondering if you can put Aveeno lotion on your tattoo, well, the answer is yes. Aveeno’s got a comprehensive line of dermatologically approved skincare products.

This particular lotion variety is formulated with prebiotic oat which is perfect for normal to dry skin types. It’s also clinically proven to moisturise skin for 24 hours, so you literally only need to apply it once a day!

3.   Cetaphil Moisturising Lotion

Cetaphil may be a bit more expensive than Aveeno, but this is also a good lotion for tattoos. It’s fragrance-free, non-comedogenic (does not clog up pores) and provides 24-hour moisturisation.

Cetaphil lotion’s moisturising power lies in the fact that it binds water to the skin, thus reducing moisture loss!

4.   Lubriderm Daily Moisture Lotion

Fortified with vitamin B5, Lubriderm is another popular lotion for moisturising new tattoos. It’s more expensive than both Aveeno and Cetaphil, but pretty much works the same way.

That said, this product is non-greasy and fast absorbing, so it will keep your skin soft and supple for a solid 24-hour stretch.  

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