We all know by now that taking good care of your tattoo is crucial to ensuring the healthy longevity of your artwork. And, as we’ve outlined, a good aftercare routine is key. One of the most prominent parts of an aftercare routine is ensuring that your tattoo is properly moisturized. Moisturizing your tattoo is a sure fire way to prevent itching, redness, scabbing and cracking in the artwork. Going without the use of a tattoo aftercare moisturizer during the healing phase will run the risk of infection and damaging the tattoo design, leaving you with a final result far from what you had in mind. However, as much as we emphasize a consistent aftercare routine, it is important to note that it is, in fact, possible to over moisturize your tattoo. Over moisturizing your new ink can occur from excessive moisturizing or if the tattoo hasn’t properly dried after getting wet, causing the water to get trapped between the ink and the moisturizing lotion. When this happens, gooey scabs of fluid can develop, causing aesthetic changes to your design. So, what are the signs that your tattoo is headed to over moisturized territory and how can you avoid the nasty side effects?
How long do you moisturize a new tattoo?
The length of your aftercare routine is usually dependent on the size of your tattoo, and this can be anywhere between 2 weeks to 3 months. Most professional tattoo artists will recommend moisturizing the fresh ink once or twice each day to give it the best chance of healing. The best way to ensure you adequately hydrate your tattoo is by applying an after care moisturizer every morning and night, particularly after showering to ensure it doesn’t try out.
Signs of over moisturized tattoo
By applying a tattoo care moisturizer more than three times a day, you run the risk of over moisturizing your new ink. When you over moisturize your tattoo, you can actually delay the healing process. Excess moisture in the skin creates the perfect environment for bacteria and germ growth, so one of the key signs is irritated, inflamed skin. Another key sign of over moisturizing is clogged skin. Applying too much moisturizer restricts the skin’s ability to breath, thus causing the pores to clog and can lead to consequent break outs. To avoid these symptoms, follow the aftercare instructions of your tattoo artist and apply the best tattoo aftercare moisturizer: your trusty Ink Nurse cream. If you find yourself applying moisturizer more because you're worried your tattoo looks dry, consult your artist for further advice.
How to fix a tattoo if it’s over moisturized
Even the best creams for tattoo care can cause your tattoo to be over moisturised with excessive use. But don’t worry! The damage is still reversible, You just have to follow the instructions below:
- Stop moisturizing - This goes without question. As the excessive moisture is the reason why the tattoo is not healing properly, stop moisturizing immediately.
- Remove the excess cream and dry the tattoo naturally - After showering, use a soft towel to gently pat dry the tattoo and remove the excess cream. Afterwards, leave it for 15 to 30 minutes to dry naturally. You can use an electric fan to speed up the process.
- Wait until the next day to moisturize - The last step on how to fix your over moisturized tattoo is simply to wait. Moisturizing your piece is still a must, but you need to wait until the next day to put the best tattoo care cream on the art. Make sure you’re applying a thin layer both to avoid over moisturization and running out of the product itself.
Moisturize your tattoo with Ink Nurse
For the best moisturizing cream for tattoo care, look no further than Ink Nurse! Made with a formulation of natural humectant ingredients, our Ink Nurse Remedy Cream is sure to give your tattoo the moisture and nourishment it needs to heal properly. Just make sure you apply enough and not too much of this on your tattoo to avoid over moisturizing it. Check out our product at our online shop!
