Did you know that, according to a 2018 survey conducted in 18 different countries, 38% of the global population is tattooed.? Stockholm, the capital of Sweden, is the most tattooed place on the planet, as 33% of its inhabitants between 18 and 49 years old have marked their body with ink on at least one occasion throughout their lives.
It is clear that the preconception that tattoos are for troubled people is something that has been completely left in the past. Today, tattoos on the arms, legs, trunk and even the face have become normalized in society and are no longer a reason for dismissal or lack of work.
Men and women are experimenting more and more with our bodies: tattoos, piercings, painted nails, masculine eye shadows and many other aesthetic accessories allow us to shine in ways we never thought possible before. Even so, with every physical intervention comes certain care and requirements.. If you want to know the 12 best creams to cure and care for your tattoos, read on.
General care of a tattoo
You have finally taken the step. You have just left the tattoo parlor with your new print on your skin, and you feel pain, but above all, euphoria. All of us who have been tattooed for the first time have felt something similar: that’s why getting a tattoo can become addictive. Surely the specialist has already guided you on the path to follow once you have undergone the process, but it does not hurt to to remember some basic care to maintain a tattoo:
- Keep the tattoo covered for 2-4 hours as soon as it is done.
- The first night, cover the tattoo with cling film without applying cream, otherwise overhydration will damage the ink.
- From the first day on, wash the tattoo about 3 times a day with cold water and neutral soap. Do not squeeze or rub: be gentle on your skin.
- Let the tattoo air dry or pat dry with white paper. Never use towels, as these are usually infested with bacteria.
- Apply cream on the tattoo about 5 times a day, always with a thin layer. Consider applying more cream only when the previous layer has been absorbed and the tattoo begins to crack.
One of the most common mistakes made by first-time tattooed people is to get too obsessed with creams and ointments: remember that you must let your tattoo perspire. let your tattoo perspire, as it is a lesion that requires oxygen to heal..
The best creams to care for tattoos
We have stayed on the fifth step of the care of a tattoo not because it is the last, but because it is the subject that concerns us here. Here we present the 12 best creams to care for and heal a tattoo, which have been obtained after consulting multiple pharmaceutical portals and experts in the art of tattooing. Don’t miss them.
1. CannaSmack Ink Salve
Made from 100% plant-based materials and completely vegan-friendly, this ointment features soothing botanical ingredients that have anti-inflammatory properties. One of the key components is hemp seed extract with therapeutic properties. It is recommended for application before the tattooing process and to soothe the area after tattooing..
2. Modern Day Duke
This is one of the most popular creams among tattoo fanatics, as it usually gives very good results due to its antiseptic properties. due to its antiseptic propertiesIt is always based on 100% natural compounds. According to the sales page itself, this cream acts on the following fronts:
- Helps tattoo healing due to its antiseptic properties.
- Prevents discoloration.
- Reduces scars, thanks to the presence of vitamin E, hemp oil and tea tree oil, all with antibacterial properties.
- Rejuvenates old tattoos, thanks to the carnauba wax it contains.
- It is very easy to apply.
3. Bepanthol
Let’s change the subject a bit, because bepanthol cream is a pharmaceutical product categorized within the group of protective ointments that is used for much more than just healing tattoos. With a high content of panthenol (5%) and lipid compounds (60%), this compound protects the skin against contact with irritating substances and provides high moisturization. provides a high moisturizing effect.. It also serves to protect irritated areas and redness in patients of all ages.
4. Tattoo shield
With a similar premise to Modern Day Duke, tattoo shield cream is the 100% made in Spain option that keeps your tattoo clean, lustrous and with a vivid color. It is composed of multiple plant-based oils.
5. Hustle Butter Deluxe
This cream is similar to the ones mentioned above, but it has a benefit that not all of them can claim: it is a 100% vegan and sustainable optionIt is a 100% vegan and sustainable option, as it completely rejects petroleum products in its preparation. It can be used before, during and after the tattooing process.
6. Pegasus pro
If you are looking for quantity at an exorbitantly low price, this may be the option for you.. So far most of the creams we have mentioned come in small 50-milliliter jars, while this one comes in half-kilo jars for the incredible price of 30 euros (yes, you read that right, only 6 euros per 100 milliliters). It may not be as “chic” as the options mentioned so far, but if you are looking for quantity over quality, don’t think twice.
7. Betty’s Essential Ink Chaser
Another one of the very famous creams in the tattoo realm, this time coming from the UK. Again, this cream is also made from 100% organic compounds, such as shea butter, avocado oil, coconut oil and macadamia oil. In addition, this cream is free of sulfates and parabens, compounds that are increasingly being questioned because of their possible unproven effects.
8. Eucerin aquaphor
Once again we jump from the world of tattoos to a more “usual” pharmacological terrain, because eucerin aquaphor is a cream that is applied to damaged skin, regardless of whether it has suffered from the tattooing process or any other cause. When the skin is irritated, extremely dry or cracked, this is the way to go.. Eucerin cream promotes tissue regeneration in the affected area.
9. La Roche Posay Cicaplast Baume SPF50 Tattoo
Another famous brand has chosen to make special creams available to the public for the healing of tattoos. It is a soothing repairing balm, for recent and old tattoos and sensitive skin. It preserves the heat, repairs and soothes the skin, in addition to anti-stain protection..
10. Soivre after tattoo panthenol 5%.
Again, if you are looking for cheap options, go for this type of cream.. The soivre after tattoo lotion can be purchased from 5 euros, while other more fashionable options such as Modern Day Duke and Betty’s Essential ink do not go below 11 euros for the same amount (50 milliliters).
It is clear that if you are looking for a 100% organic compound this is not the best option, since it has 5% panthenol, urea, allantoin and other compounds a little more “far-fetched” than coconut oil. Even so, it performs its function perfectly: it protects the newly tattooed skin from infections.
11. Nivea cream
Who would be surprised to find the legendary blue jar cream on this list? Nivea lotion is good for everything, including moisturizing newly tattooed skin. Of course, its low price and its great value for money speak for themselves.
12. L’Oreal Men Expert
Another of the big brands that have entered the tattoo care market with a specialized lotion. L’Oreal Men Expert maintains hydration for 24 hours and, in addition, prevents tones and colors of old tattoos from fading..
Summary
If you want an honest opinion from a tattoo enthusiast and biologist with a knowledge of microbiology, it is always best to opt for pharmaceutical products tested for their effectiveness, it is always best to go for tested pharmaceutical products with antibacterial properties based on clinically proven compounds based on clinically proven compounds, whether of plant or other origin.
Yes, it is clear that a product made from almond oil sounds seductive, but is it worth doubling the price for a more “indie” chemical composition? If you have the means and care about sustainability and the organic properties of the drugs, go for it. If it’s value for money you’re after, typical drugstore products will always have the upper hand.
Bibliographic references:
- How to care for a tattoo in 15 easy steps, musatattoo.com. Picked up on December 6 at https://musatattoo.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/01/cuidados-del-tatuaje-musatattoo.pdf
- Tattoo Care, gastattoo.com. Retrieved Dec. 6 from https://www.gastattoo.com/assets_app/attached_files/CUIDADOS_DEL_TATUAJE.pdf.
- The 11 Best Tattoo Creams | Moisturize and Heal, tattoogeniales.com. Retrieved December 6 from http://www.tatuajesgeniales.com/cremas-para-tatuajes/
- The Best Tattoo Creams in 2020, cosasdetattoos.com. Picked up Dec. 6 at https://cosasdetattoos.com/cremas-para-tatuajes/.