Got a New Tattoo? Here's Some Expert Advice on How to Help It Heal Properly (2024)

We recently updated this article to add more information about each product, based on extensive research and vetting.

Are you sporting a recently done butterfly tattoo on your back or a lively daisy chain design adorning your wrist? Perhaps you intend to memorialize your baby's birth date on your previously pregnant belly? Regardless, proper aftercare is essential for your new tattoo to heal correctly and maintain its vividness. One crucial aspect of this process involves using the right lotions at the appropriate time.

“As soon as a tattoo is done, it’s like a big open wound,” says tattoo artist Mike Nomy, owner of South Shore Tattoo Co. in Amityville, NY. Dermatologist Mona Gohara, M.D., associate clinical professor in the department of dermatology at the Yale School of Medicine, agrees: “If someone said, how does your skin feel after you drag needles through it, one would think, ‘not so great.’ The skin is inflamed, irritated and reacting to a whole bunch of microtraumas,” she says. Definitely sounds like something that needs a dose of TLC! After that, it's time to protect the tattoo with lotion.

After reading the Good Housekeeping Institute's expert reviews of tattoo aftercare lotions, sunscreens and other products to consider, look to the end of this guide for the best ways to take care of your tattoo, according to dermatologists and tattoo artists.

Nobody knows tattoo aftercare better than a tattoo artist themself, which is why you can trust your ink (both new and beloved!) with this ultra moisturizing tattoo cream by Hustle Butter. Created by tattooists who had both skin health and body art in mind, this aftercare cream features high-quality, thoughtfully sourced naturally derived ingredients that are 100% vegan, and no petroleum or parabens — think creamy skincare must-haves like shea, mango and coconut butters, which makes for a luscious balm-like consistency that's gentle to smooth on and smells incredible. Talk about an ideal way to preserve both your body art and the health of your skin!

Aquaphor's all-purpose ointment won a top spot in the 2022 Good Housekeeping Beauty Awards for its nourishing glycerin and panthenol formula. It creates a protective barrier that allows skin to heal and prevents moisture loss, according to the GH Beauty, Health & Sustainability Lab's data evaluation. Plus, 91% of consumer testers found that it repaired extremely dry, cracked skin. Nomy recommends using Aquaphor for two to three days, two to three times a day, and washing it off between applications. Avoid using too much product and rub it in completely, leaving your skin hydrated but not tight.

For at least a month after getting a tattoo, it's important to use a moisturizing lotion. "It helps the tattoo settle into your skin and look like it's a part of you," Nomy says. "Look for a lotion that's unscented, like Lubriderm." Formulated with vitamin B5, it's made to improve your skin's moisture barrier, too. One GH editor already owned the body lotion and used it on their healing tattoos. She attests that it made her skin feel moisturized all day long. While it absorbs easily, it layers on more thinly.

Tattoo artists and derms alike note that it's important to protect skin with SPF. Hydrate your new ink with this moisturizer that doubles down on sun protection. A Good Housekeeping Seal holder, Olay's Regenerist mineral sunscreen moisturizer offers long-lasting hydration. The sheer fragrance-free formula absorbs quickly into skin without leaving a greasy residue behind. A con worth noting is one Amazon reviewer said it left a slight white cast.

When tattooed skin feels particularly parched, Eucerin's repair balm is creamy and nourishing on skin. Loaded with emollients like castor oil, shea butter and glycerin, the formula is non-irritating and keeps skin hydrated for 48 hours after one application, according to the Beauty Lab's evaluation. Those looking for the same texture of petroleum products without the crude oil derivative can opt for this smooth formula. Oily in consistency, it can be greasy but a little bit goes a long way.

Another option that Nomy recommends for those first few days: A&D Ointment. Again, don't use too much, and wash in between uses. "You don't want to layer it on," he says. Often used to treat baby rashes, it's specifically formulated with lanolin and petrolatum to soothe minor cuts and abrasions. "Occlusive ointments are helpful the first week following tattoos as moist environments are optimal for healing," says board-certified dermatologist Azadeh Shirazi, M.D. Sensitive skin types may not be compatible with the lanolin formula as the ingredient could irritate eczema, psoriasis and more.

One tester enjoys this glossy salve that sits on top of the skin and creates a nice protective barrier. "I used it a few years ago to help protect a large tattoo, and my skin healed pretty quickly," they said. The ointment contains occlusive ingredients axungia and beeswax as well as slippery elm extract, which is great for people with dry or dehydrated skin. A thin layer of it on the affected area can help moisturize chapped skin. Just note that this product is not vegan and not kosher as it contains animal fat. Dr. Shirazi adds, "A protective balm is beneficial the first week of wound healing, but this has some potential allergens like beeswax which could delay healing or cause irritation in some skin types."

Dr. Gohara recommends this cream designed to help wounded skin, easing the healing process. Also named in our best moisturizers for sensitive skin guide, the formula is beloved by GH Senior Chemist Sabina Wizemann who praised its ability "to help sensitive or compromised skin bounce back. It absorbs quickly and calms and moisturizes my skin with no greasiness." For freshly healed, sensitive skin, Dr. Shirazi calls the occlusive formula a great choice. "It’s best to apply to damp skin," she adds. Several online reviewers have mentioned that the formula tends to separate. To solve this issue, run the tube under warm water, then give it a good squeeze to mix the contents.

After getting a tattoo, "you should stay out of the sun for three or four weeks, at least while it’s healing, and you should avoid being in the water for an extended time," Nomy says. Otherwise, the color will fade, "especially in the first few weeks." He recommends kids' sunblock with zinc to his clients, to avoid irritation. Designed with sensitive skin in mind, the mineral sunscreen is supposed to be mild. Since it's a sunscreen first, rather than a moisturizer, it's more likely to leave a white cast behind on skin, according to reviews.

Both Nomy and Dr. Gohara say that sunscreen is an important element of aftercare for a tattoo. “UV light can fade tats — it’s an ongoing commitment to protect them from these harmful rays," says Dr. Gohara. "Not just in the days after, but forever!” Her recommendation: EltaMD UV Restore. It's made with squalane, known for its moisturizing and anti-aging benefits. Several Amazon reviewers rave about its protection against the sun and wind, noting that it's saved their skin from chapped, dry redness.