You have heard all the things from your tattoo artists about tattoo aftercare. It is essential to do so, otherwise you run the risk of ruining your tattoo! Even after you get it, your new tattoo will need to be constantly cared for so it looks its best. One thing your tattoo artist might suggest is moisturizing your tattoo daily. But you could run the risk of over-moisturizing it!
So how to fix an over-moisturized tattoo? There are risks to having your tattoos be too moisturized. It might start out with small problems, but if you keep having it moisturized, you run the risk of serious skin problems. It can also ruin your tattoo. That is why it is essential to know the signs of an over-moisturized tattoo and know how to fix it before a problem can arise!
Key Takeaways
- By knowing the signs of over-moisturization, you can save your tattoo from becoming possibly infected.
- Luckily, there are simple ways to fix over-moisturized tattoos before they can become a serious problem.
- To prevent any problems of over-moisturization, it is important to know the steps to correctly moisturize your tattoo.
- The best tattoo moisturizers are the ones that will lock in the moisture, help your tattoo breathe under the cream, and protect it from the sun.
Signs That Your Tattoo is Over-Moisturized
The signs of over-moisturized tattoos are very easy to spot. It can be observed by simply observing the tattoo itself and checking for things that seem out of place with your tattoo. So here are some signs that you should watch out for before your tattoo ink gets ruined!
Leftover cream
Whenever you moisturize your skin, you will see that the cream or lotion you use will start to be absorbed by the skin. This is a sign that you have moisturized enough. But it might take time, and you might use more because you think it isn’t working. When you see that you have leftover cream on your skin and tattoo, you should know that is the most definitive sign that you have over-moisturized.
Blurry tattoo
When you are looking at the tattoo, you are actually looking at the tattoo through the skin in the dermis layer. With the residue of cream left on your skin, your tattoo will start to look blurry. You might leave the moisturizing lotion on your skin and allow it to dry. But if the tattoo starts to look blurry to you, you will know that it is caused by the layer of leftover cream on your tattoo.
New tattoo not healing properly
You would be advised to moisturize your new tattoo after a couple of weeks. Some people in my experience have gone overboard and started to moisturize it like 4 to 5 times a day! This is not good because the tattoo ink is not allowed to be dried and set in the skin. The pores get clogged and prevent the healing of the tattoo. When you start noticing that your tattoo isn’t healing properly, one of the reasons could very well be that you over-moisturized it!
Itchy and red skin
Even with a healed tattoo, it is important to allow the tattoo to be able to breathe. The healing process might be complete, but that is only for the top layer of your skin. The inner layers of your skin that had been pierced still need 3 to 6 months of healing time before it fully heals! If you over-moisturize your tattoo during this healing, you will start to notice that you form patchy red skin and it will start to itch like crazy. This is just another sign that your tattoo is not healing properly and your body is trying to let you know of that.
Scab formation
From itchy and red skin, you could also start seeing scabs forming on your tattoo. This is a clear sign that your tattoo is not getting enough air and reacts by forming scabs to protect it. It tricks the skin on your tattoo that you need to form scabs. These are super irritating on your tattoo and prevent healing.
Possible infection
And finally, the last thing you want to see on your tattoo is an infection. This is a result of having it moisturized incorrectly for days and weeks. Pathogens like bacteria will start to collect on the residue layer of cream on your skin and start entering through the tattoo and infecting it. Once that happens, you run the risk of not only ruining your tattoo but cause serious skin damage!
Ways to Fix Over-Moisturized Tattoos
With over-moisturization, it is always best to act as fast as possible. Luckily, fixing over-moisturized tattoos can be done through simple methods. Here, I will share some simple tips to help deal with your over-moisturized tattoos.
No more moisturizer
Is there leftover cream on your tattoo even after a while of it drying? Then it is time to stop moisturizing altogether! If you also have red and itchy skin on your tattoo, you should stop applying any more new moisturizer on it until it goes away. This can happen naturally as your body heals, but be sure to go see a dermatologist if the condition starts turning more serious.
Air drying for 20 to 30 minutes
Another very simple method of fixing over-moisturization is to air dry the moisturizer. It is as simple as letting the air do all the work and fix it for you. However, unless you applied sunscreen moisturizer, do not go under the sun. UV rays from the sun can ruin the appearance of your tattoo and make it fade faster. Just have it air-dry for 20 to 30 minutes. You can also use a fan to help it dry faster!
Patting with a towel
If air drying is not working, then it is time to get out a soft, clean, cotton towel and pat over your moisturized tattoo. This will remove any excess cream that might be left behind as a result of not being absorbed by your skin. Simply, pat your towel on your tattoo until you feel that the top part of your tattoo is not wet anymore. It is that easy!
Other drying methods
If you are unsure about a towel, there are other drying methods that you can use! Using a cold compress with some ice on it can help not only get rid of excess moisturizer but also promote the healing of the tattoo! You could also get some dryer sheets and press them on the tattoo to absorb the leftover cream on the tattoo and make it dry again.
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How to Moisturize Tattoo Correctly?
To correctly moisturize your tattoo, first you will need to prep it. This can be easily done when you shower and clean off the dirt and oil that is on your tattoo. Remember, for newer tattoos you don’t want to shower for more than 10 minutes, and only clean it using fragrance-free or green antibacterial soaps. You should do this for the first month of your new tattoo. But for older tattoos, you can use whatever soaps or gel you want! But fragrance-free and oil-free soaps are the best options.
After you are out of the shower, make sure to pat dry the area of the tattoo. Rubbing it every time you leave the shower might make it fade faster with time. So after you dry the tattooed skin, apply a very thin layer of moisturizer over the tattoo. For new tattoos, you should never apply anything other than balms and ointment recommended by your tattoo artists. For a healing tattoo (after the first two weeks of a new tattoo) you should follow whatever your tattoo artist had suggested. Make sure that the moisturizer you use is oil-free and fragrance-free for better results.
And with that, you are done with moisturizing your tattoo correctly! Make sure you apply a thin layer and rub it into the skin to lock in the moisture. Only apply moisturizer on your tattoo whenever it feels dry. I know some people will suggest something crazy like 4 to 6 times a day, which definitely will lead to over-moisturization! So only if your tattooed skin is feeling dry should you apply a moisturizer. The maximum amount in a day would be 3 times a day.
Best Moisturizer for Tattoos
The best moisturizer for tattoos are ones that are alcohol-free, fragrance-free, oil-free, and have an SPF rating. Fragrance and alcohol will dry out your skin so it is best to avoid such moisturizers for your tattoo. Oil-type moisturizer will lock in the moisture on your skin but it will prevent your tattoo from being able to breathe which is really important! And finally, the sun is the worst enemy of your tattoo. That is why sunscreen moisturizers can help protect your tattoo on days you want to show it off and be under the sun. Moisturizing helps keep your tattoo looking fresh and helps improve its longevity. That way, it will last a lot longer before starting to fade away.
FAQs
Is moisturizing good for tattoos?
Moisturizing your tattoo is good! It helps keep the moisture on your skin whenever it feels dry and rejuvenates the skin and makes your tattoo look better! But too much of it can create problems.
Can you moisturize a new tattoo?
You should not moisturize a new tattoo. Your tattoo artist will recommend balms and ointments that are breathable to help the healing process of your new tattoo. It is like an open wound so it should be taken care of as such.
Is it normal for tattoos to look faded?
Tattoos will fade over time due to bodily processes, which could take years to occur. But if your tattoo looks faded or blurry, it might be because of dry skin or something obstructing the view of your tattoo like a cream.
Final Thoughts
Moisturization of your tattoo is good, but over-moisturizing your tattoo is bad! It can leave your tattoo becoming ruined and eventually cause damages that need the help of a qualified dermatologist to fix. There are easy-to-tell signs of over-moisturized skin which can be removed by simply absorbing the excess cream from your skin. Make sure to correctly moisturize your skin whenever it feels dry and limit it to 3 times a day and you will face no problems with an over-moisturized tattoo!
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