When it comes to tattoo aftercare, there is an industry-standard of sorts. Clean and moisturize, pat dry, fragrance-free products, and avoid sunlight are the key elements to that. But some people find that typical products do not work for them in aftercare. That is why some people resort to using vitamins and oils to help with their aftercare due to the benefits that they provide. Vitamin E oil is regarded as one of the best ones for skincare
But is vitamin E oil good for tattoos? This is a hotly contested debate in the tattoo community about whether vitamin E oil is good or not. Some swear by the results of how good it is for your tattoo aftercare while others say that it really isn’t good at all and can be damaging instead. For the sake of the argument, I will provide both the good and bad sides of vitamin E oil and give my thoughts on the matter. By the end of this, I hope you get a clearer idea about vitamin E oil and tattoos!
Key Takeaways
- The benefits that vitamin E oil provides for your skin can also make it useful for tattoos.
- However, some of the benefits that vitamin E oil provides are also what makes it not good for tattoos and you should know why!
- Other types of oil that are cold-pressed are the best types of oil to use but be warned that not oil works in the same way and some of them could be bad for tattoos.
- Make sure to apply the oil to your tattoo occasionally as daily use could be harmful to both new and old tattoos.
Vitamin E Oil and Tattoo: Benefits in Aftercare
There are numerous benefits that people have found with vitamin E oils, especially for scars. So what about tattoos? Let’s find out!
Hydrating and moisturizing
One of the things that you constantly need to do for your new tattoo is to clean and moisturize it whenever it feels dry. Vitamin E help to preserve the lipids on your skin, the fat molecules responsible for moisture retention. By keeping the moisture in the skin, it will keep the tattoo hydrated and prevent things such as peeling and flaking from occurring. It will also prevent dry skin.
Anti-inflammatory
One of the worst things that you will have to deal with a new tattoo is the terrible itching sensation on it. For new tattoos, it could become almost unbearable. Vitamin E oils have anti-inflammatory properties to them which gives them an added benefit to soothe the itching of the skin. If you ever feel an itching sensation on your new or old tattoo, vitamin E could help solve that issue.
Antioxidation
Your new tattoo is an open wound that is trying to heal itself to the best of its abilities. To trigger this healing process, the antioxidation of vitamin E oil can help a lot. It promotes new cell production while getting rid of any impurities on the skin, making it so that the tattooed skin is renewed.
Easy application and long-lasting
Vitamin E oil is very easy to apply and you can expect it to last a long time on the skin. This is what makes it very good for a tattoo that constantly dries up. Without the need for constantly moisturizing and the moisturizing benefits of the oil, you get no dry skin and all the benefits of the oil.
UV protection
Another benefit of vitamin E oil is that it provides UV protection by absorbing the free radical energy from UV rays. It creates a barrier that provides protection and absorbs all the harmful radicals that get absorbed into the ink. The sun is the worst enemy for a tattoo and the protection that vitamin E oil provides makes it very easy to go out and about with its long-lasting effect.
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Vitamin E Oil and Tattoo: Drawbacks and Consequences
Now that we have seen the good in vitamin E oil, let’s move on to the drawbacks and consequences that it brings to the skin, especially the tattoo. Most of its benefits are also what makes vitamin E oil dangerous for tattoos so let’s have a look at them in more detail.
Comedogenic
Vitamin E oil lasts for a long time because it does not get absorbed into the skin. It says on top of the skin layer and creates the barrier. However, this oil is comedogenic, meaning it clogs the skin and doesn’t allow it to breathe.
A new tattoo would be the most vulnerable to this as the healing process is done by letting it breathe in the air. Without the much-needed oxygen for clotting, healing is hindered as a result.
Irritating
Vitamin E oil can also be very irritating to the skin, especially those that have sensitive skin. While it does soothe the itching, you may notice more outbreaks and rashes.
This will hinder the healing phase for new tattoos and cause new problems for tattoos that have already healed. Thus, this consequence makes it not a good idea to apply on a tattoo.
Removes impurities
Vitamin E is very good at removing impurities in the skin to promote the production of new skin cells. But, the tattoo ink on your skin is also considered to be an impurity. With constant use of vitamin E oil, your tattoo is likely to fade faster as new cells are forming and peeling away the skin that has the ink.
While the new cells are good to make the tattoo look vibrant, they will also make it fade away even quicker!
Not scar-reducing
The antioxidation of vitamin E makes it so that the appearance of scars is considerably reduced with extended use.
In theory, that is how it should be working. The result is quite the opposite. Studies have shown that it only works for only small amounts of people while having the opposite effect on others.
To conclude, it really does not reduce the appearance of the scars in the small number of studies that have been conducted thus far.
Added ingredients
Most oil-based products have other added ingredients in them alongside vitamin E. While vitamin E might be good on its own, the added ingredients might cause problems for the skin and tattoo.
Irritating and comedogenic ingredients like parabens are found in oil-based products that also boast vitamin E. With this, you will have to be careful about a product that says it has vitamin E as the other ingredients can cause quite a bit of a problem for your tattoos!
From seeing the benefits and drawbacks of vitamin E oil, it is safe to assume that you should use it very sparingly, making sure that it is non-comedogenic. The benefits are good, don’t get me wrong, but the problems with vitamin E oil make it an ingredient that I cannot recommend for use on tattoos at all. Occasionally, it will be fine for old tattoos, and only after the first 2 weeks of a new tattoo. Daily use of vitamin E could prove to be detrimental for both new and old tattoos!
Other Oils and Tattoos: Are They Good?
So we have established that vitamin E oil is quite bad for tattoos. But what about other types of oil on your tattoos? So let’s look at examples of oil that are supposed to be good for dry skin and how well they are for tattoos.
Coconut oil
Coconut oil has the benefit of being antibacterial and anti-inflammatory properties, both of which are really good for new tattoos. However, just like vitamin E, coconut oil is highly comedogenic and clogs the skin of your tattoo. This can lead to rashes and other forms of irritation on your skin which can compromise the appearance of your tattoo!
Recommendation: Not a viable option unless you get cold-pressed coconut oil and apply it occasionally. The consequences of using coconut oil far outweigh the benefits that it can provide for a tattoo for daily use.
Tea tree oil
Tea tree oil is one of those ingredients that have anti-microbial properties that can protect your skin really well. Just like vitamin E, it is also an antioxidant that can promote the growth of new and healthy skin cells. But tea tree oil is also known to cause skin irritation, swelling, and fading of tattoo ink!
Recommendation: Can’t recommend tea tree oil. The swelling and fading of tattoo ink could make the appearance of your tattoo worse!
Shea nut oil
Shea butter or shea nut oil has soothing and healing effects on your skin due to the presence of vitamin A in it. It can keep the skin hydrated without clogging the pores. You probably only have to be careful of raw or unrefined shea butter or oil as it can be problematic for sensitive skin.
Recommendation: Highly recommended for tattoos. It has all the properties to make a nice oil that you can use on your tattoo without worrying too much. Make sure to mix the oil or butter with a bit of coconut or olive oil so that it won’t lead to breakouts of the skin.
Grapeseed oil
Grapeseed oil has anti-inflammatory properties, provides good protection against infection, and is quite hydrating. However, it is known to slow down the healing of skin due to its anti-clotting properties.
Recommendation: Not recommended for new tattoos, could be used for old tattoos. The reduced healing could compromise your new tattoo while it’s still trying to heal the layers of skin.
Olive oil
Olive oil makes the skin feel smooth and calms down the itching sensation. It is quite a mild oil that hydrates the skin and provides increased healing. It has vitamin A which is something that you will be familiar with if you A+D ointments for tattoo aftercare!
Recommendation: If you can get your hands on cold-pressed and unrefined olive oil, that would be the best type of olive oil to use on your skin. It will also be good for new tattoos after the first 2 weeks of getting it so you can get the increased healing benefits.
FAQs
Is aloe vera OK for new tattoos?
Aloe vera gel is great for new tattoos! Their natural cooling will help soothe the redness and itching of a new tattoo. Aloe is a natural ingredient but make sure to use only non-scented aloe vera products on your new tattoo.
What is the best to moisturize a tattoo?
The best way you can moisturize your tattoo is to use an A+D ointment for the first few days and then move on to an unscented moisturizer for the rest of your aftercare. After it has healed, you can use any type of moisturizer but make sure it doesn’t irritate your skin.
Are oils safe to use on tattoos?
Generally, oils aren’t really good for tattoos, especially during the healing phase. Most if not all are pore-clogging and can cause problems for your tattoo. It might be fine for healed tattoos but most oil can irritate the skin.
Final Thoughts
While oils may be hydrating and combats the dryness of the skin very well, they do not absorb into the skin well enough and can clog the pores. Vitamin E oil is especially comedogenic and can cause the loss of ink on your tattoo with extended use. It could be beneficial to use it before the tattoo to make sure you have nice supple skin that is easy to work on. However, it should strictly not be used for new tattoos as it can irritate the tattoo and cause rashes to form. You might be better off using other oils that I have recommended but be sure to not use them daily!
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