Should you put neosporin on new tattoo's?

Answer 1

The aftercare "game" is certainly confusing. It is always best to go with what your artist tells you. Many artists though, that criticize vaseline (petroleum jelly) for being damaging to tattoos, tell their clients to use A&D which ALSO contains petrolatum AND has lanolin, which many are allergic to.

Neosporin ointment has petrolatum, too, but also contains Polymyxin B Sulfate and Neomycin which are antibiotics people can be allergic to. It also contains Bacitracin Zinc.


Here is a copy and paste of my standard answer to aftercare questions:

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

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Answer 3

Neosporin Cream

Answer 4

My friend's tattoo artist told her to use Neosporin Cream. Instead, she used neosporin gel. She drowned it once every three hours. Within less than twenty-four hours, it began to literally bubble. Now, her tat has these big, flesh colored spots.

Use A&D or Aquaphor. I've used both. I prefer Aquaphor because you can use it throughout the entire healing process; A&D you're only supposed to use for the first two or three days, then switch to lotion. I also have had no issue with itching when I've used Aquaphor.

Answer 5

NO, NO, NO, NO!!! I already knew this, but while I was getting mine done today a chick came in after getting one yesterday and putting neosporin on it and it almost looked like she had some flesh eating disease from the way it scabbed up! Needless to say the girl that did it asked what she had done and when she said she put neosporin on it she stopped her and said that was the problem right there. It doesn't allow it to heal correctly and can cause the ink to pull out.

Answer 6

I was always told no, that Neosporin can pull the ink out of the tattoo. I used A& D and it worked great every time.

Answer 7

I've always been told no, that Neosporin isn't good for them. Try A&D ointment for the first few days, wash with Dial soap and then switch to Lubriderm lotion (without scent/regular kind) and you should be fine.

Answer 8

Bacitracin, Neosporine, the juice from an aloe plant, Bert's Bees cream, A and D...............haven't tried the "goo" yet, but I heard that's ok....................just make sure you're not allergic to any of the above.
try to keep away from anything with lanolin or petroleum.
Definitely not Vaseline.

Answer 9

no!
it's an opne wound and neosporin is made to take away scars from open wounds........this might ruin your tattoo and might effect the coloring of your tattoo

Answer 10

no.....a tattoo is a open sore neosporin is not good for it . I just had my 3rd one done & I use & recommend A&D ointment it works great and leaves no scabs .Stay away from any soap products that will dry your skin.