Healing?

[Ms.Jen]

What do you find is best to heal your tattoo? So far the best thing I used was Aqua phor. I applied for about 4 days or so a very thin coat then after that I just washed when I showered and patted dry. This was with the sparrows on my chest. Almost 2 years later they look BEAUTIFUL!!! I used pears soap to clean it.

[Ryanando]

cocoa butter. just smother the stuff on constantly.

i find keeping it moist as possible till its healed the best. it shouldnt scab over, it should flake at most. dont bathe, just shower it and dont use any heavily scented soaps etc on it till its healed. vaseline intensive care with aloe vera is also quite good but dont use it in the first few days as it can nip a little lol

[Trish]

I put a thin layer A&D ointment on mine, until it's done scabbing.

[John Lopez]

I think it's more important with tattoos than with piercings to keep in mind that there is absolutely NO ONE RIGHT WAY to heal a tattoo.

For instance, I have a very severe reaction to Lubriderm and Vaseline Intensive Care.

And because of that, I found a different way to take care of mine. It's based on the Japanese tradition of hot soaking.

Immediately following a tattoo I wet a clean wash cloth with the hottest water I can get out of a tap and slap it on. The pain is very intense for about 3 seconds, then it melts away into awesome comfort.

I do this at least 2/hour for the first 12 hours, then every couple hours for the next day.

After that, whatever mild lotion works (I like aquaphore) just to combat itching.

The only soap I use is when I shower...but I ignore the tattoo and wash as if it wasn't a new tattoo.

And that's what works for me.

[Inyanna]

I used unscented Lubriderm on my chest tattoo and it came out great. It is funny how all these different ways seem to work!

[PuncturedPrincess]

Wash once or twice a day & keep Tattoo Goo on it.

When it starts to flake, I do the hot towel thing like Lopez. Then a good massage w/Goo.

[Riot_Girl is deep in thought.......BANANAS!!!! Updated 32 weeks ago]

with my first one my tattoo artist recommended polysporin with vitamin E in it. it was also an antibacterial so i felt good about using it being that it was my first tattoo and he also told me that the vitamin E would help keep the colors bright though the healing process whether its accurate i dunno but i havent had to get a touchup yet so i must have done something right.

[BadKiTtY]

A&D for the first day, then plain unscented lotion until it heals.