So, you’re all excited about your new tattoo and wondering how to take care of it like a pro, right? Getting curious about proper aftercare of a tattoo shows your love towards your tattoo. Aftercare is not that difficult, but you have to be cautious not to use any product that could harm your new tattoo. Aftercare products should provide benefits to the healing tattoo and not limit it. Healing, moisturizing, soothing, and infection-preventing are some of the qualities an aftercare product should have. Bactine can provide you with temporary pain relief and it is antiseptic, so you may wonder if Bactine is good for tattoos or not.
The thing is, just because a product is recommended for wounds and can provide pain relief, and protection against infection does not make it safe for tattoos as well. There are quite a few factors to determine if a product is safe or not. Ingredients, the way the product works, drawbacks it brings, etc. are crucial factors to consider. Even though Bactine has qualities that a good aftercare product or tattoo-numbing agent should have, is it safe to use for tattoos? I will elaborate on the Bactine, how it works, and whether should you use it for tattoos or not in this piece.
Key Takeaways
- Bactine is safe for tattoos, as long as you use it for numbing effects during tattoo sessions and not as a part of your aftercare routine.
- Bactine can provide benefits such as numbing effects, antiseptic action, easy-to-use, multipurpose use, etc.
- There are a few drawbacks to using Bactine for tattoos such as it may trigger allergic reactions, delay healing, make skin difficult to stretch, remove tattoo stencils, etc.
- Bactine is a popular antiseptic spray that can also provide numbing effect and reduce pain.
- To use Bactine for tattooing properly, you have to use it during your tattoo session. You can apply it on the skin when you’re done doing tattoo outlining, and after using the product you can resume tattooing.
What Is Bactine?
Bactine is a product that you might come across in the first aid section of your local store. It’s a brand-name product that’s commonly used for minor cuts, scrapes, bruises, and burns. Basically, Bactine is like a superhero for your boo-boos. It swoops in with its powers to provide some relief and help keep things clean. How does it do that?
Well, it contains some numbing and antiseptic ingredients like lidocaine and benzalkonium chloride. Lidocaine is a fancy term for a numbing agent. It prevents your nerve to send signal to your brain and by doing so it helps temporarily numb the area where you apply Bactine. After applying Bactine you will any pain a bit less, but it won’t completely numb the area and take away the pain completely. It’s like a little break from the discomfort. Then there’s benzalkonium chloride, which sounds like a mouthful, but it’s an antiseptic. It fights off those nasty bacteria that could cause infection. Think of it as a tiny warrior that battles the germs and helps protect your wounded skin. Now, keep in mind that Bactine is meant for external use only. You definitely don’t want to go sipping it like a refreshing beverage or using it on deep or serious wounds without some expert advice. If you’ve got a minor cut, scrape, or burn, Bactine might be a good option to clean it up and take the edge off the pain. But remember, if things are more serious or you’re unsure, it’s always best to seek guidance from a healthcare professional.
The only reason some use Bactine for tattoos is getting a tattoo does not severely wound the skin, which is why it might not be that bad to use Bactine in a tattooed area. Even though it may not cause any severe issues in general, it could delay the healing by killing the new skin cells that are growing on the tattooed area.
Using Bactine for Tattoos
You probably have used or at least heard of Bactine. It can provide relief from pain and treat small bruises or wounds. Bactine is an antiseptic agent that gets rid of bacteria and germs from wounds or bruises. It is quite soothing which is why many prefer to use Bactine instead of other antiseptic on their wounds. Some artist uses Bactine as a numbing agent during the tattooing procedure. And there are some people who use it as an aftercare product, because of the soothing and pain-relief effect it provides. If many are already using Bactine for tattoos, is it safe for tattoos?
Yes, Bactine is safe for tattoos. But there is a but in it. You can safely use Bactine only during the tattooing procedure, to numb the skin a bit and keep the area clean of germs and bacteria. That’s about it, you should not use it as a tattoo aftercare. You may consider using Bactine as an aftercare product as it can get rid of any irritating feeling, give a soothing feeling, and kill any germs and bacteria but it can cause harm to your healing tattoo. Along with bacteria and germs, it can kill any new cell that is growing in the area which would lead to delayed healing. And trust me, getting delayed healing just because you wanted to forget about the mild irritation a new tattoo give is not worth it.
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4 Benefits Of Using Bactine
Bactine can be a decent numbing agent and provides quite a few benefits if you use it during the tattooing procedure accurately.
I have listed a few benefits below:
1. Numbing effect
Bactine contains lidocaine, a numbing ingredient that can provide temporary relief from tattoo pain. If you’re feeling a bit tender, a spritz of Bactine might take the edge off and let you chill out. Using Bactine or any other numbing agents does not degrade you as a tattoo enthusiast. Not all of us can handle pain the same way, so taking a bit of help from numbing agents like Bactine is absolutely fine in my opinion.
2. Antiseptic action
Bactine has benzalkonium chloride, which is like a superhero fighting off harmful bacteria. Applying it to your fresh tattoo can help keep those pesky germs at bay and reduce the risk of infection. It’s like having a protective shield for your artwork. You can use it during the tattooing procedure or once after the tattooing is done, do not use it later on as it could interfere with the healing process of your tattoo.
3. Easy to use
Bactine comes in a handy spray form, making it super easy to apply to your tattoo. No need for messy creams or lotions—just a quick spritz, and you’re good to go.
4. Multipurpose use
It is not a tattoo-specific product. You can use it on small bruises, wounds, cuts, and burn. Getting one for your tattoo can be beneficial as later on you can use it for other needs as well. And there is a high chance you already have Bactine sitting on your first aid box, if so, then you won’t even have to purchase one for your tattoo.
7 Drawbacks of Using Bactine for Tattoos
Alright, let’s talk about the drawbacks of using Bactine for tattoos. While some folks find it helpful, it’s important to be aware of the potential downsides.
Here are a few things to consider:
1. Skin sensitivity & allergic reaction
Everyone’s skin is different, and some people may have sensitive skin or allergies to certain ingredients in Bactine. Applying it to your tattoo could potentially cause
- Irritation
- Redness
- Swelling
- Reach
- Vesicles
- Severe itchiness
- Dermatitis
- Burning
- Allergic reaction
Ouch! That’s a long list of potential issues you may face by using Bactine for tattoos. That is why it is crucial to consult with your doctor or tattoo artist first before using it. And it is always wise to do a patch test on a small area of skin before using any product on your entire tattooed area.
2. Delayed healing
Bactine kills bacteria which is great! But it also kills off your new skin cells. By killing new cells it does not let your wounded skin or tattooed skin heal. As a result, you will have delayed healing.
Delayed healing may not sound that bad, but it could lead to:
- Infection
- A longer period of scabbing
- A longer period of irritation or discomfort
- Increased chance of getting the tattoo smudged
You see, simple delayed healing could lead to so many issues. That is why you should do anything that could fasten the healing process of your tattoo and avoid using any product like Bactine that could delay the healing.
3. Impact on the aftercare process
Pain is part of the tattoo experience. The mild irritation or discomfort keeps you aware that you have a sensitive area on your body that you need to take care of and stay careful not to ruin it. Using Bactine’s lidocaine to numb the pain might make you forget to take it easy during the healing process. Overdoing physical activities or neglecting proper aftercare because you can’t feel the pain may slow down the healing and affect the final outcome of your tattoo. Many people end up ruining their tattoos by swimming, or doing extensive physical activity just because they forgot they had a tattoo. Sounds funny but you won’t be laughing if your precious tattoo gets ruined for such reasons.
4. Not specifically designed for tattoos
In general, it is recommended to stick with tattoo-specific products for tattoos. Bactine is primarily intended for minor cuts, scrapes, and burns. It’s not formulated specifically for tattoo aftercare. While it may provide temporary relief and have antiseptic properties, there are better alternative products available that are specifically formulated for tattoo care.
5. Not for a certain type of tattoo
There are so many types of tattoos, each artist uses unique ways to make bodily art. Many artists prefer a certain type of aftercare for their tattoos. So there is a chance your tattoo artist may recommend certain products to use and advise you not to use Bactine as it could interfere with your tattoo type.
6. Make the skin hard to stretch
Using Bactine before the tattooing procedure could make the skin hard to stretch for the tattoo artist. Difficulty stretching the skin could affect the tattoo outcome.
7. May remove tattoo stencil
If you are using a tattoo stencil then using Bactine could potentially remove it. If the stencil gets removed then what’s the point of applying it in the first place? So make sure to apply Bactine when you are done doing the lining of your tattoo.
How to Use Bactine for Tattoos?
If you decide to use Bactine for your tattoo, you may use it as a numbing agent during the tattooing procedure. But I strongly recommend not to use it as a part of your tattoo aftercare routine.
Start the procedure without applying Bactine
To use Bactine as a numbing agent, you should not apply it on the skin before the procedure or during the tattooing procedure. Applying it before the procedure will have little to no effect. Because it is not your regular numbing agent, it can only numb where the skin is cut, wounded, or bruised. Meaning if the epidermis layer is damaged then Bactine can get under the skin and do its work. Applying it over healed and normal skin will have no effect. Applying during the procedure could lead to complications. It could make the skin hard to stretch and remove tattoo stencils if you have any, which could affect the outcome of your tattoo.
Take a break during the session and apply Bactine
Take a small break during your tattoo session and apply a thin layer of Bactine on the area you are getting the tattoo. Bactine comes in spray form so it is very easy to apply.
Wait a few minutes to let the product do its thing
After applying it won’t provide the numbing effect right off the bat. Wait a few minutes and let the product do its work.
Whip the excess
When you are ready to resume the tattoo session, use a paper towel to whip any excess product residing on your skin.
Resume tattoo session
You can resume your tattoo session now and the pain you feel from tattooing would decrease significantly for about 1 to 2 hours thanks to Bactine. It also kills 99.9% of bacteria keeping tattoos protected against infection.
FAQs
Is Bactine a good option for tattoo aftercare?
No, Bactine is not a good option for tattoo aftercare. There is next to no evidence that it would help your healing tattoo, but it can slow down the healing process. Bactine kills your growing skill cells which delays the overall healing phase for your tattoo.
Can I use Bactine for tattoo numbing?
Yes, you can use Bactine for your tattoo numbing. Make sure the tattoo is halfway done or at least the tattoo lining is done and then take a small break to apply Bactine to reduce the pain..
Does Bactine prevent infections in tattoos?
It has some antiseptic properties that may help keep your tattoo clean and reduce the risk of infection. Bactine contains benzalkonium chloride, which acts as a bacteria fighter. However, it’s important to note that tattoo artists often have their own preferred aftercare routines and may recommend other products specifically formulated for tattoo care.
Can I use Bactine without consulting my tattoo artist?
It’s always best to consult your tattoo artist before using any products on your tattoo. They know the ins and outs of tattoo aftercare and can give you personalized advice based on your specific tattoo and skin type. They might have their own recommendations for aftercare products that they’ve found to be effective.
What should I do if I experience side effects from using Bactine on my tattoo?
If you experience any adverse reactions, such as:
- Severe itching
- Swelling
- Pain
- Irritation
- Redness
- Signs of infection
then it’s important to seek advice from your tattoo artist or a healthcare professional. They can provide guidance and help you address any concerns.
Final Thoughts
Do not get influenced by others to use a product that was not formulated for tattoo aftercare. Specialty if it is a product like Bactine which has multiple drawbacks when used during the healing phase of your tattoo. That said, you can safely use it as a numbing agent during the procedure. It could harden the skin or remove tattoo stencils if you have any. So, use it after you are done with tattoo lining, take a small break, and apply Bactine on the skin. When the numbing effect kicks in you can resume the tattooing procedure. Why it can be applied as a numbing agent during sessions and not aftercare? It could lead to many issues if you use it as a part of your aftercare routine. The ingredient in the product could trigger an allergic reaction, make you forget you have a sensitive healing tattoo on your body, delay the healing process, etc.
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