Vaseline is a product that most people have in there bathroom cabinet and is generally used as a skin ointment for burns, cuts and any dry skin.
Here Is Whether Vaseline Is A Good Product For Your Tattoo:
Most tattoo artists don’t recommend Vaseline, as the main ingredient is petroleum which is not a natural substance.
Petroleum doesn’t let your skin breath and this can cause infection while your tattoo is healing up, so not a good idea!
Throughout this message we will talk about Vaseline and tattoos, when to use and not to use and how exactly tattoo artists do you Vaseline. Hope this is informative for you.
Is Vaseline Good For Tattoo Aftercare?
While Vaseline is a common aftercare recommendation, many artists actually choose to avoid the use of this ointment on their client’s new tattoos. However, you can use vaseline on a fully healed tattoo.
The main reason that most artists don’t recommend it on fresh tattoo has to do with the ingredients within Vaseline.
Although this product was designed originally as an ointment for dry skin, recent research has shown that it isn’t as moisturizing as people once thought.
So what does Vaseline contain? Well the ingredients are pretty basic, including petroleum jelly and mineral oil. Of these two oils, petroleum jelly is one of the most common ingredients found in tattoo ink itself.
If you remember your art classes from school, you’ll know that the jelly-like substance in ink can serve to fill up areas of the skin that are uneven, thereby making lines look smoother.
As many artists will agree, petroleum jelly is not good for you when you have an infected tattoo.
This is because the petroleum (crude oil) found within Vaseline forms tiny little seals on the surface of your new tattoo. While this might prevent further infection, it will also suffocate any new cells underneath.
If you don’t remove the Vaseline from within a day or so of getting the tattoo, it can trap bacteria leading to the potential for infection .
The skin around tattooed areas is more porous than normal skin, which can make it easier for bacteria to enter.
There is also the potential that Vaseline will clog your pores and compromise the integrity of your tattoo’s color (although this is highly dependent upon how frequently you use petroleum jelly).
How Often Should You Put Vaseline On A New Tattoo
The skin cells can breathe and take care of themselves, however how you moisturize your skin all depends on the type of skin you have.
If your skin is oily then you should put Vaseline on your tattoo every time you get out of the shower. If your skin is dry then you should only put Vaseline on a new tattoo when it feels tight and uncomfortable.
As mentioned above, its mostly advisable to apply vaseline on fully healed tattoos.
New tattoos are especially prone to chaffing and itching. Putting a bit of Vaseline on them can help ease some of the discomfort and protect your new tattoo from getting weirdly irritated and dry.
You should be careful not to keep putting on the Vaseline after it stops feeling scratchy. If you’re itching, that means your skin is dry and cracked you need to let your new tattoo heal gradually before stopping.
What Do Tattoo Artists Use Vaseline For?
Tattoo artists use Vaseline to make fine lines easier for them to ink.
To get a tattoo, the artist first needs to prep the skin by clearing away excess oils and shaving the area where they’re going to place it. Tattoo artists then lay down a stencil and wipe off any remaining residue that could prevent good adhesion.
Some artists use Vaseline to remove the residue left behind by this wiping. It seems like a logical next step to apply it directly to the skin so they can continue with their work.
Vaseline is an ointment that moisturizes and softens the skin, making it more receptive for tattooing. When applied, the ointment takes on a greasy appearance.
Tattoo artists use Vaseline to help keep the skin moist so it doesn’t dry out during tattooing. Additionally, Vaseline can provide another barrier between the skin and ink. Since tattoos are permanent, having an extra layer of protection is beneficial for both the artist and their customers.
Tattoo artists typically use Vaseline to cover the skin that they are working on. This is done as a preventive measure to protect the patient from getting an infection.
The chemicals used in tattooing have been known to cause infections, especially if the area being tattooed has been exposed to dirt or bacteria from being touched by grubby hands.
Different kinds of tattoos need different kinds of prep work, and sometimes a different kind of Vaseline is used. For example, tribal tattoos require more time to heal than other types so the artist will typically use a petroleum jelly based ointment as opposed to water-based creams.
It is also used by artists to help fill small gaps and holes that may appear on tattoos where they did not line up properly when creating the design. This will mean less time fixing mistakes after the fact.
The final use of Vaseline during the tattooing process is to act as a barrier between the skin and any foreign object that may come in contact with it.
This is especially important before the needle touches the skin because this can cause pain for some people, especially those who are more ticklish than others. By using petroleum jelly on their skin, you can help to reduce this sensation.
Can I Use Vaseline On A Tattoo For Swimming?
If you’re going to be in the water for a long time Vaseline might be an option, but only if it’s applied over another layer of lotion. If the Vaseline gets in the water, the skin around your tattoo will start to peel and crack making it more susceptible to infection.
The best thing to do is wait until after you’re done swimming before applying Vaseline or any other substance to your tattoo. If you can’t wait that long then make sure that there’s another layer of lotion between the Vaseline and your skin.
Petroleum jelly acts as a barrier between the skin and water ( Apply another layer of lotion). It traps moisture in the skin while still allowing the pores of the skin to breathe. This creates an environment that protects your tattooed skin from irritation caused by water, especially chlorine.
One of the bonuses of using Vaseline is that it’s easy to remove. Users can simply wash off or wipe away any excess product easily with a warm damp towel. This makes it faster to dry when your done swimming, which might cut down on fading since prolonged exposure to sunlight speeds up the life cycle of the ink in your tattoos.
When using Vaseline, however, it is important to remember that when you are done swimming to clean the tattooed skin thoroughly. Petroleum jelly can trap bacteria and other substances in or on the skin so it is best practice to simply wash it away before attempting to care for the tattoos.
Vaseline with the layer of lotion, will prevent a significant amount of ultraviolet light from penetrating the skin and reaching the colored pigments to complete their fade cycle. Many experts recommend that swimmers simply avoid covering their tattoos while they are exposed to considerable amounts of water.
It also minimizes UV-rays that causes skin cancer. Luckily, tattooed skin is very tough and can absorb many chemicals without effect.
What To Use Instead Of Vaseline When Tattooing?
• Instead of petroleum jelly, you can alternatively use Squalane or olive oil.
Squalane is a naturally derived substance that is sometimes added into cosmetics and lotions because it helps to reduce the amount of moisture loss in the skin. This property makes it excellent when applied to the skin because it reduces the risk of developing infections.
• Olive oil is another alternative, but it can leave stains on sheets if you are laying down while getting the tattoo done.
• Another great alternative to Vaseline would be tattoo aftercare which contains silicone, this is why products like Tattoo Goo are so popular among tattoo enthusiasts.
Silicone is a very unique substance that does not evaporate and it does not mix with water, so the solution is to use a silicone based aftercare if you do not have any other lotion or ointment.
In order for an aftercare product to be good, it should contain aloe vera, vitamin E and medical-grade silicon which allows it to moisturize your tattoo, while making it waterproof for a short period of time.
• We all know that cold cream (Ponds) is very soothing on freshly tattooed skin; it keeps the irritation down by creating a barrier between your fresh ink and the air.
It does this through mechanical means (the cream itself) as opposed to Vaseline which does so because it is a waxy substance.
The main ingredient in Ponds cold cream is Mineral Oil, a byproduct of petroleum distillation.
To this you may add Jojoba oil for its moisturizing properties and Tocopherol Acetate (Vitamin E); It keeps irritation down, lubricates the machine (no clogged ink-thru slots!) and hasn’t broken components like Vaseline has.
• Aloe vera gel is another option. Many tattoo artists prefer it because it’s 100 percent natural, which means you won’t have any problems with allergies.
It also aids in healing the skin after the tattoo has been completed. If you are allergic to aloe vera, you can use glycerin or lanolin instead.
Another popular tattoo lubricant is vitamin E oil, which is accessible and cheap. It also has antioxidant properties which help protect the skin from damage due to free radicals, but it may cause acne problems for some people.