Anyone that has had tattoos done knows how crucial it is to take care of the tattoo. This is especially the case for that new tattoo that you may have got. Taking care of a new, fresh tattoo is important because it determines how the ink sets in the skin and how well it heals. This is because a new tattoo is like an open wound and has to be washed carefully. That is why antibacterial soaps, such as Dial Gold, are recommended.
But is Dial Gold good for tattoos? A lot of artists I have been to over the years have suggested using it. Dial is a trusted brand for soap and there is a reason why tattoo artists specifically recommend Dial Gold. But all may not be as it seems because of the ingredients that Dial Gold has. And for your newly-inked tattoo, this might be harmful!
Key Takeaways
- Dial Gold is recommended due to its antibacterial and moisturizing properties.
- The main problem with Dial Gold is it has fragrance in its ingredient list, which is harmful to tattoos, especially new, fresh tattoos.
- From personal experience, Dial Gold is okay to use for smaller tattoos, but it might be a problem on larger tattoos and for people with sensitive skin.
Why is Dial Gold Recommended?
So the reason that Dial Gold is recommended is because of its antibacterial properties. Because the skin of the tattoo has been pierced so many times, it takes time for it to heal. While it is healing, the tattoo also has to be washed and cleaned to get rid of the excess tattoo ink that leaks. The antibacterial properties of Dial Gold ensure that the area of your new tattoo is clean and reduces the risk of infection. As it kills 99.9% of germs, it is pretty obvious why tattoo artists recommend it!
But another part of Dial Gold is that it has a moisturizing property as well! The area of your new tattoo tends to get dry very easily. With it getting dry, the skin will start scabbing and peeling which hurts a lot! For me, the prickling sensation of a new tattoo is more annoying than hurtful. With Dial Gold’s moisturizing ability, you can ensure that the skin stops flaking and reduce irritation. With its antibacterial and moisturizing properties, it is easy to see why Dial Gold is recommended.
But all that glitter may not be gold!
Problems with Dial Gold
A new tattoo presents many problems because of the potential dangers it attracts. And taking into account how skin sensitivity varies from person to person, then it makes choosing the right products for aftercare even more difficult. Dial Gold also has problems because of the ingredients that it has, namely two particular ingredients. One is less of a problem than the other. Nonetheless, you should know why they might be a problem for your new tattoo.
Benzalkonium chloride
This is the active ingredient for most if not all antibacterial soaps on the market. Benzalkonium chloride has two reasons why is it used. The first of course is its antibacterial properties. It helps kill any potential germs that might cause an infection on the skin. Second, it mixes well with water. This makes it so that Dial Gold is easily washable and gets rid of anything on the surface.
But the problem with benzalkonium chloride is that it is a very harsh ingredient to be using on the skin. Dial Gold has only about 0.13% of benzalkonium chloride in it, but repeated use might cause irritation, redness, and skin drying out over time. This is why the moisturizing component of Dial Gold is good because it counteracts the negative effects of benzalkonium chloride. But remember, that repeated use might still hurt the skin.
Parfum or fragrance
Unlike benzalkonium chloride, parfum or fragrance is more problematic! The fragrance is made out of different chemicals called ketones, along with thousands of other chemicals. But the main component of fragrance that really brings out the smell is alcohol. Alcohol mixes and blends with the other chemicals inside the fragrance. Once on the skin, it evaporates and helps carry the smell of the fragrance. Without alcohol, the smell would only be smelled by someone really close to you.
Now the problem with alcohol is that every tattoo artist will tell you to stay clear of it! Especially for a new tattoo, alcohol will cause major irritation on the skin and cause various infections to occur. Many studies have shown that fragrance is the cause of tattoos getting infected. Guess what, Dial Gold also has fragrance or parfum in it! This is a major problem with Dial Gold, because the soap that you use should make sure that it does not harm the skin. With Dial Gold’s ingredient list containing fragrance, you should know that repeated use of it will harm your skin!
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Personal Experience with Dial Gold
For my first few tattoos, I was also recommended the use of Dial Gold to help wash my new tattoos. I would say that I have very tough skin so Dial Gold on smaller tattoos didn’t really affect me too much. But the problem was for a large tattoo I had, and it was getting visibly redder.
I looked up the ingredients for Dial Gold and when I saw parfum in it, that is when I realized that was the cause of my irritated skin. I think what happened is that I used more Dial Gold than usual because of the detailed nature of the tattoo. I’m not completely sure if that is the case but I had stopped using it for heavy tattoos or large tattoos.
Now imagine if someone else had used Dial Gold but they have sensitive skin. They might have had a worse effect and could possibly have a ruined tattoo and that is awful! That is why any tattoo aftercare should be with unscented products. Dial has another good product that is called the Dial Complete Clean + Gentle Fragrance Free Liquid. This is fragrance-free and even though it has benzalkonium chloride as an active ingredient, it is still in an amount that is safe for use.
FAQs
Does Dial Gold soap have alcohol in them?
As the ingredients say it has parfum or fragrance in it, it would mean that it has alcohol.
Can extended use of antibacterial soap be harmful to tattoos?
For the first few weeks antibacterial soap is okay, but extended use might make the skin dry. For older tattoos, it is important to keep the tattoo moisturized.
Is Dial Gold the best soap for tattoos?
Dial Gold is good, but there are alternatives that are milder and better for your skin and tattoo.
Final Thoughts
Overall, always avoid products that have alcohol in them for newer tattoos. This can be in the form of fragrance or as an active ingredient, but avoid it at all costs! Since I don’t use antibacterial products on my tattoo after the first month, I can’t really say much about the extended use of Dial Gold or other antibacterial soaps. After it is healed, you should be fine with using products, just make sure they do not have any scrubbing effect, or else they will ruin your tattoo.
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