I got a tattoo on April 10th of 2007 so just over a month ago and I'm hoping that someone can please please please help me. It has been over a month and my tattoo is still shiny (which I was told that that means that it is still healing). I have tried almost everything. When I got it done I was using vasaline (which after a while I heard that it wasn't good for tattoos). So now I'm using a generic brand of polysporin. I have been using it for 2 weeks now and nothing has changed. Is this normal or did I do something wrong. This isn't my first tattoo, my other tattoos healed in like 3 weeks. Is it because I used that vasaline? I asked my tattoo artist several times and he always says give it some more time or give it two weeks and it should be healed. I just don't know what to do. Could someone please help me??

My artist recommended against any sort of neosporin/polysporin/vaseline. I used Aquaphor ointment for about 5 days, then switched to Lubriderm lotion. If your tat isn't sore to the touch any more, go ahead and switch to a simple, white lotion. My tattoo shop recommends Lubriderm specifically. I've followed that regimen now with both my tats, and they've come out great.

Thank you so much. I will pick up some today! What is the Aquaphor ointment? can you get it at any pharmacy?

I use baby lotion.

yeah i heard that baby lotion works well too.. so i mite try that if nothing else works. but i hope that something does work!

I bought my Aquaphor at Wal Mart. It was in the lotion section next to Eucerin lotion. I'm pretty sure Walgreens, CVS, etc carries it. Good luck!

Aquaphor is the best and I use it for the entire healing process... I never use lotion and I healed perfectly...another after care thread..brace yourselves :P

i use e45cream it works well or i had this cream they gave me after i had the tattoo done which worked and it healed fine

If your tat is still "shiny" after that amount of time, which should be totally healed, STOP RUBBING VASELINE ON IT!!!!!!!!JEEEEZZZZZZZ....are ya blond?

Thanks for the tip tbilharz....i did stop using vasaline after about just over a month of it not being healed. And to this day it is still not healed. I have tried everything to try and get it to heal. And no I'm not a blonde!!!

hello , where is this tattoo located on your body ?

just messin with ya tinkerbell, try to refrain from using a petrolium based ointment. Use a non fragrent white lotion for a while...dont forget, your body will heal

lol sorry...wasn't having a good day that day....now i'm just using the non-fragrent lotion and it is slowly healing....crossbones1977....the tattoo is on the inside of my left leg

Just about everyone (my tattoo guy included) says do not use vasoline, but I'm seeing that many folks here use and recommend Aquaphor, which for some reason, I thought was a petroleum-based ointment, much the same as vasoline. Surely I'm mistaken, since so many swear by the Aquaphor but warn not to use vasoline. Would someone take a moment to clarify this for me! Thx.

My artist doesn't recomend it either. He now uses tattoo-goo. New one on me haven't been there for years but going back for more soon.

alot of people i know recommend that vitamin A and D ointment, i think its specifically for like diaper rash? anyone have an opinion on this?