December 04th 2019

News

Science & Skin

Trend

Skincare for tattoos

The share of people having one or more tattoos is increasing every year. Getting a tattoo means a lot of stress for the skin, that's why aftercare is essential. New brands and products formats are emerging in this interesting market field.

Italy is the leader worldwide in terms of tattoos: Almost half of all Italian have at least one tattoo. The rates are very high also in Sweden (47%) and US (46%).

In Switzerland, Austria and Germany 65% of the people who are tattooed have more than one tattoo. In the US, it’s even 70%.

During the tattooing process, the skin is stabbed with fine needles which hurt the epidermis and also the dermis. The pigments are stored deeply in the dermis. This process destroys the natural skin defense barrier, the immune system becomes activated and the process of wound healing starts.

A fresh tattoo is like a wound. The skin scabs to protect the broken skin – gentle care and cleansing are extremely important.

After a few hours, the tattoo should be cleaned with warm water and soap. It is recommended to use some sort of moisturizing, soothing cream to support the natural healing process of the skin.

After 24h, the process of reepithelialization starts. The skin tries to repair the damaged barrier as soon as possible. This can be supported by keeping the wound hydrated.

To refill the punctures in the dermis, fibroblasts are stimulated to immigrate into the wound and form new connective tissue. A temporary wound closure is created by a tissue which is still very sensitive. In the final wound healing phase, the so-called remodeling, the formation of new collagen and elastin is stimulated in order to rebuild a strong collagen fiber network.

Depending on the size of the injury, this remodeling phase can take several weeks to months. Hydration and gentle routine cleansing are key parts of post-tattoo action plan.

After approximaltely 24 days the epidermis, is restored. It’s recommend to use perfume-free, panthenol-containing creams such as to promote the reconstruction of the skin barrier. Even during the rebuilding phase, it is recommended to continue to strengthen the skin.

The sun is the biggest enemy of your tattoo - UVA, UVB and IR rays will damage the healthy skin, and wreak havoc on skin that has been tattooed. Tattoos should be protected with at least 30 SPF anytime. This will go a long way in keeping the tattoo vibrant for many years.

The increase in consumers wearing tattoos has led to more and more brands specifically targeting tattoed skin emerging in the personal care market.

Popular product formats include:

Mild cleansing gels for immediate after care
Daily moisturizers to protect skin and keep it hydrated
Repair balms with soothing and wound healing ingredients to support skin regeneration
Special defining serums to ensure colour retention and keep the fresh look of tattoos
Sun protection creams and sticks to protect the tattoo from fading