taking care of a new tattoo? A & D?

Question

I thought we had the clear A & D ointment from my last tattoo but it turns out we only have the white diaper rash cream A & D... Is it OK to use that kind? Is it the same thing? It kinda seems like it's gonna dry it out....

I'll eventually get something better but for today, since all the stores are closed....?

Answer 1

I would not use that heavy zinc ointment on your tattoo.

Here is a copy and paste from an aftercare question and my stock answer:

1. Antibiotic ointments are not a good idea - people are easily allergic to them and they think they are allergic to their tattoo.

2. Antibiotic ointments, Aquaphor, Vaseline, A &D ointment ALL contain petrolatum - we don't like that for healing tattoos (many also contain lanolin and many people are sensitive to these preparations because of that too)

3. Preparation H is for a**holes not tattoos - much has been written about this by many over the years and in some forms it contains live yeast cells...ewwww on open skin.

4. No baby powder, cornstarch or any such "powdering." No Desitin or similar products that gunk up the skin with heavy zinc oxide.

5. No plastic wrap ever! Plastic wrap is for left overs, not tattoos. It keeps the fluids on the surface of the tattoo that a nice dressing would absorb those first couple hours so there is NO SCABBING - that's right, NO scabbing. Scabbing is not normal in a well cared for tattoo. Also, with plastic wrap, fluids leak out around it and it is a disgusting source of cross contamination. The slight peeling that should occur should be the top layer of skin that is mixed with the ink, similar to a sunburn peeling.

Most tattoo artists seem to prefer unscented mild lotions - they are looking for products with a minimum of ingredients - some like H2Ocean products, some like Tattoo Goo (contrary to reports, there is nothing adverse in this product) Coco butter is often used as well as Olive oil body butter - I don't prefer these, but I have no big issues with them.
The international folk seem to like Bepathen, however this product also contains lanolin and petrolatum among other products that some could be sensitive to. It is widely used for diaper rash, as is A&D in the US. It also contains alcohol.

I happen to give out little pillow packs of Ink Fixx ointment for the first couple days - then they can switch to the mild lotions. People like Curel which is good - so is Aveeno - I like Cetaphil. We always give the Ink Fixx to the client to use because it is not always easy for them to go right to the store to buy things.

Truth be told, the skin heals pretty well no matter the abuse and certainly even if you use nothing at all. I have even seen people use just plain old Crisco in a very thin layer. Nothing wrong with that either - (again, not preferred.)

In my studio they are also given WRITTEN directions for after care. There is NO reason for a professional tattoo artist NOT to do this for their client.

Once you remove the bandages, wash with an antibacterial soap and warm water, pat dry with dye free paper towels and apply whatever healing agent you choose SPARINGLY - this means barely covered. IF you apply too much, it will accumulate bacteria that get stuck to it and the tattoo cannot get air.

Overall, keep it clean and don't scratch it. It will go through some peeling and other changes over the next couple of weeks. Keep dirty hands and strangers off of it!

So in the end, take what you can from everyone's advice here as no one really has the magic answers in all cases. Most of us knows what worked for them, or works for our clients in general if we are artists!

Answer 2

A lot of artists provide a slight variation in after care. I just got #27 yesterday and this is what I have been doing since #1: After you have removed the initial bandage and lightly cleaned the tattoo: apply a thin coating of A&D ointment for the first 3 days; starting with day 4 use a fragrance and color free lotion -- I have always used Lubriderm. Keep the tattoo out of the sun. Keep the tattoo out of prolonged water. Do not swim, go in a hot tub, etc. You can lightly wash the tattoo -- usually I just splash some water on it, pat it dry with a clean white facecloth and then apply A&D or Lubriderm, depending on how many days it has been since you got the tattoo. I personally strongly disagree with the use of Neosporin or any other type of topical antibiodic. Never rebandage the tattoo and keep it exposed to the fresh air as much as possible, which can be difficult depending on the area. If you must wear clothes over your tattoos, wear cotton materials and try to avoid synthetics because they have a tendancy to stick to your skin more, especially if you are sweating. Do not pick or scratch your tattoo no matter how much it is itchy.

Answer 3

You should not use the A&D cream at all. The difference between the cream and the ointment is that the cream draws stuff out (like infections or color) and the ointment protects and heels from the inside out. If you have nothing else then use lotion to keep it moist or any other oitnment (triple antibiotic for example). Good luck.

Answer 4

I wouldn't put anything on a fresh tattoo unless I were certain it wouldn't affect the ink. Until you can get something like neosporin or bacitracin, I'd simply keep it clean and dry (pat it dry, don't rub). If you have a mild hand lotion you could apply a small amount to keep it from drying up too much. But do not put anything on it that contains zinc oxide, as a friend of mine did when I told him to use lotion and keep it out of the sun. He used a zinc oxide based sun block and it totally made a mess the tattoo. I reccomend Vasoline Intensive Care lotion, or something like that. If it itches bad, wash it in cold water with a mild hand soap (highly reccomend Ivory for it's lack of perfume and colorants), pat dry and apply a small amount of alcohol. Then use the hand lotion or neosporin or bacitracin, applied thinly to keep from soaking the scab. Anything that makes the scab swell will cause it to come out too soon and pull the ink out with it. It is important to let the scabs fall off naturally, in thier own good time (usually a week to ten days).

Answer 5

I don't think your suppose to use diaper rash cream... even though it is a type of A&D. If you have any lotion try that, use the one that has the least perfume in it... when you go to the store get some Lubraderm Coco Butter & Shea! Great Stuff

Answer 6

Any A&D is fine. It's a good thing to use in moderation so that you don't use too much even after it's healed if it gets dry. I still do and so does one of my friends with a tattoo. It wont dry out, if you are worried about that keep a small tube of white unscented lotion with you and put a pea sized dab on your finger and put it on when you need to. I would ask the artist if you aren't sure, that's just what my artist told me to do for mine. Good luck.

Answer 7

Don't use anything with oil.
Read the label..that rash cream
has shark oil. A good un-scented
moisturizer is better. If al else fails,
call a friend.
Porotect your investment

Answer 8

I think you shouldn`t use A&D ointment. it`s better if you use luberderm [i think that`s how you spell it] because A&D is kind of oily and not good for the tattoo. and don`t use the rash cream it will dry out and crack it

Answer 9

When I got my tattoo, the guy told me to just use some good unscented lotion on it for a few days - I used Vaseline Intensive Care. My tattoo has healed beautifully!

Answer 10

if and when you can get a chance, go back to where you got your tattoo and ask if they've got "Tattoo goo"......but for today if you've got it, use some vaseline to keep the tattoo moisturized and than cover that tat and the vaseline with saran wrap (so you don't get it on your shirt/whatever and use loose rubber bands/medical tape to keep the saran wrap in place