The 12 best creams to heal and care for tattoos

Did you know that, according to a survey conducted in 2018 in 18 different countries, 38% of the global population is tattooed? Stockholm, the capital of Sweden, is the place with the most tattoos on the planet, as 33% of its Inhabitants between the ages of 18 and 49 have marked their bodies with ink on at least one occasion over the course of their lives.

It is clear that the preconception that tattoos are for conflictive people is something that has been completely in the past. Today, tattoos on the arms, legs, trunk and even the face have become normalized in society and are no longer usually a reason for dismissal or lack of work.

Men and women are increasingly experimenting with our bodies: tattoos, piercings, painted nails, Male eyeshadows and many other aesthetic accessories allow us to shine in ways that we did not before we conceived. Even so, with each physical intervention come certain cares and requirements. If you want to know the 12 best creams to heal and care for your tattoos, keep reading.

• We recommend you read: "21 small tattoos for women and their meaning"

General care of a tattoo

You have finally taken the step. You have just left the tattoo center with your new stamp on your skin, and you feel pain, but above all, euphoria. All of us who have tattooed for the first time have felt something similar: therefore, 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 doesn't hurt remember some basic care to maintain a tattoo:

• Keep the tattoo covered for 2-4 hours nothing else has been done.
• The first night, cover the tattoo with plastic wrap without applying cream, otherwise it will cause overhydration, harmful to the ink.
• From the first day, wash the tattoo about 3 times a day with cold water and mild soap. Don't squeeze or rub - be gentle on your skin.
• Allow the tattoo to air dry or pat the white paper gently. Never use towels, as these are often infested with bacteria.
• Apply cream on the tattoo about 5 times a day, always with a thin layer. Consider applying more cream only after the previous layer has been absorbed and the tattoo begins to crack.

One of the most common mistakes made by first-time tattooers is getting too obsessed with creams and ointments: remember that you should let your tattoo perspire, as it is an injury that requires oxygen to heal.

The best creams to care for tattoos

We have stayed in the fifth step of caring for a tattoo not because it is the last, but because it is the issue 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 portals of a pharmaceutical nature and experts in the art of tattooing. Do not miss it.

1. CannaSmack Ink Salve

Made from 100% plant-based and completely vegan-friendly materials, this ointment features relaxing botanical ingredients that have anti-inflammatory properties. One of the key components is hemp seed extract with therapeutic properties. Its application is recommended before the tattooing process and to calm the area after it.

2. Modern day duke

This is one of the most popular creams among tattoo fans, as it usually gives very good results. due to its antiseptic properties, always based on 100% natural compounds. According to the sales page itself, this cream acts on the following fronts:

• Helps the tattoo to heal 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.
• Rejuvenate old tattoos, thanks to the carnauba wax it presents.
• Your application is very simple.

3. Bepanthol

We change a third one, because bepanthol cream is a pharmaceutical product categorized within the group of protective ointments that serves much more than 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 hydration. 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, the tattoo shield cream is the 100% produced in Spain option that keeps your tattoo clean, lustrous and with a vivid color. It is composed of multiple oils of vegetable origin.

5. Hustle Butter Deluxe

This cream is similar to those named above, but has a benefit that not all can claim: it is a 100% vegan and sustainable option, as it completely rejects petroleum products at the time of their elaboration. It is used for before, during and after the tattooing process.

6. Pegasus pro

If you are looking for quantity at an exorbitantly low price, this may be your option. Until now, most of the creams that we have named you come in small tubs of 50 milliliters, while this one is Presented in half-kilo jars for the incredible price of 30 euros (yes, you read that correctly, 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 of the very famous creams in the kingdom of tattoos, this time from the United Kingdom. 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 devoid of sulfates and parabens, compounds that are increasingly questioned due to their possible effects not yet proven.

8. Eucerin aquaphor

Once again, we jump from the world of tattoos to a more "usual" pharmacological field, since 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 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 of the famous brands choose to make special creams available to the public for cleaning tattoos. It is a soothing repairing balm for recent and old tattoos and sensitive skin. Preserves heat, repairs and soothes the skin, in addition to provide stain protection.

10. Soivre after tattoo panthenol 5%

Again, if what you are looking for are 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 that are 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 is surprised to find the mythical blue jar cream on this list? Nivea lotion is used for everything, even to hydrate the skins that have recently been tattooed. Of course, its low price and its great quality / price speak for themselves.

12. L'Oreal Men Expert

Another of the great brands that have been launched on the tattoo care market with a specialized lotion. L'Oreal Men Expert maintains hydration for 24 hours and, in addition, he keeps the tones and colors of old tattoos from fading.

Resume

If you want an honest opinion from a tattoo enthusiast and biologist with knowledge of microbiology, it is best to always opt for pharmaceutical products tested with antibacterial properties based on clinically proven compounds, whether plant-based or otherwise.

Yes, it is clear that a product made with almond oil sounds seductive, but is it worth doubling the price for a more “indie” chemical composition? If you have the means and are concerned about the sustainability and organic properties of drugs, go ahead. If what you are looking for is a quality / price ratio, typical pharmacy products will always lead the way.

Bibliographic references:

• How to care for a tattoo in 15 easy steps, musatattoo.com. Picked up on December 6 in https://musatattoo.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/01/cuidados-del-tatuaje-musatattoo.pdf
• Tattoo care, gastattoo.com. Picked up on December 6 in https://www.gastattoo.com/assets_app/attached_files/CUIDADOS_DEL_TATUAJE.pdf
• The 11 Best Tattoo Creams | Moisturize and Heal, tatuajesgeniales.com. Picked up on December 6 in http://www.tatuajesgeniales.com/cremas-para-tatuajes/
• The best tattoo creams in 2020, cosasdetattoos.com. Picked up on December 6 in https://cosasdetattoos.com/cremas-para-tatuajes/