If you recently got a tattoo, you undoubtedly want to take good care of it to ensure the longevity of your ink.
Finding tips on how to take care of a tattoo, whether online or from well-meaning friends, usually yields a ton of results, some of which are contradictory.
You may find a lot of tips praising the advantages of cocoa butter for tattoos when you conduct your research.
Of course, you could doubt if using cocoa butter is genuinely safe to try if your tattoo artists didn’t mention it.
It’s crucial to follow whatever advice your tattoo artist offers you in order to promote healthy skin healing and protect your brand-new ink.
Having said that, cocoa butter might be a fantastic choice for moisturizing.
Continue reading to find out more about the advantages of cocoa butter for tattoo aftercare, as well as ideas for when to apply it.
KEY TAKEAWAYS
✅ When it comes to moisturizing throughout the tattoo aftercare procedure, cocoa butter does wonders.
✅ You should be able to use it on your tattoo as it heals unless you have a skin issue or sensitivity.
✅ Just make sure you adhere to the aftercare recommendations of your tattoo artist.
✅They can provide extra advice and information if you have any queries about using cocoa butter.
Is it therefore safe for tattoos?
“Yes, using cocoa butter on a tattoo is entirely safe. Cocoa butter has helped me personally heal my own tattoos. As a tattoo artist and proprietor of Art and Sol Tattoo Gallery in Tucson, Arizona, David Meek says, “I’ve used cocoa butter as a lubricant during the tattoo process and advised it for healing to my clientele who are sensitive to petroleum-based treatments.
Meek continues by pointing out that many creatives prefer cocoa butter to conventional petroleum-based goods like Vaseline or vitamin A Plus D ointment. Meek emphasizes that customers should always speak with their tattoo artist regarding customized aftercare.
What dangers could arise from employing it too soon?
You may have seen advice that cautions against using cocoa butter on a tattoo too soon after it has begun to heal. However, there is no documented evidence that putting cocoa butter on a tattoo that is healing might harm it.
Regarding dangers, you may have come across a few references to the internet rumor that claims salt and cocoa butter may remove tattoos.
In reality, this is only a myth.
When you receive a tattoo, a needle is used to deposit ink 1 to 4 millimeters into the dermis layer of your skin. If you rub salt into your skin vigorously, you risk damaging the tattoo since it is abrasive (not to mention your skin). Salt, however, will not erase the tattoo. It merely exposes you to the potential for infection and scars.
Save yourself the suffering and consult a dermatologist about safe tattoo removal methods if you’re regretting getting a tattoo.
Potential advantages of using cocoa butter
Although some research points to cocoa butter’s potential for anti-inflammatory and skin-protective characteristics, specialists have not yet discovered any conclusive evidence of these advantages.
However, because cocoa butter is high in antioxidants, applying it to your skin can form a moisturizing barrier that prevents drying out. This can relieve itchy, tight skin that has recently had tattooing.
Maintaining proper moisture in your skin also aids in avoiding irritation and dryness that could increase your propensity to pick and scratch at your tattoo, which can cause peeling. Additionally, moisturized skin makes the colors of your tattoo look more vivid.
Who can use it?
Even though cocoa butter is generally safe to use, not everyone may benefit from it. Experts advise against using cocoa butter if you have oily skin or are prone to acne. It will clog your pores because it is highly comedogenic.
There have been no documented instances of allergic responses to the cocoa plant, which produces cocoa butter. However, you might be sensitive to cocoa butter or other substances found in products containing cocoa butter. This sensitivity could cause an itch or a rash.
Before applying cocoa butter to your tattoo, perform a patch test if you have sensitive skin, allergies, or simply want to be extra cautious.
Performing a patch test
- Use a little amount on the area that isn’t tattooed, such as the back of your neck or the inside of your forearm.
- Don’t touch this area of the skin for 24 hours.
- No response? Use it on your tattoo if you want to.
Uses for cocoa butter
Meek advises using cocoa butter or any other aftercare product between three and five times each day.
When using an aftercare lotion or ointment, for instance:
- Just a single morning
- one time at night
- several times during the day
Remember that cocoa butter is extremely oily, viscous, and full of fatty acids. So to speak, a little bit goes a long way. When moisturizing, try to use it sparingly, like you would a rich lotion or body cream rather than frosting a cake.
Can cocoa butter be combined with other aftercare items?
According to Meek, it’s best to utilize a single product if you’re going to use cocoa butter for your tattoo. Avoiding various aftercare solutions at once can make it simpler to spot any problems that may develop during the healing process, according to Meek.
Basically, it could be more difficult to pinpoint which aftercare product caused a reaction if you have a rash or other irritant when using two separate brands.
If you only use one product, you can immediately stop using it and try another one.
Things to remember
Be aware that not all cocoa butter products are created equal when selecting one for your tattoo. You should always read the label before buying to find out what exactly is in the cocoa butter creams and lotions you want to use on your skin. Avoiding products with smell, dye, or harsh substances like alcohol is always a good idea. Your skin may get dry and irritated from all of these.
If at all possible, try to buy pure, organic cocoa butter. Additionally, keep in mind that hydrating your tattoo is only one aspect of maintaining your ink. In order to avoid infection and scarring, proper aftercare is crucial. Because of this, you should constantly adhere to the aftercare recommendations given by your tattoo artist and keep your healing tattoo clean and germ-free.
Pay attention to infection warning signals, and consult a medical expert if you see:
- excruciating or escalating discomfort, skin discoloration, or inflammation
- swelling
- a pimple or blister
- fever