My New Tat Itches Like Crazy!

I got my first tattoo last Friday (April 16th) and it has been itching like crazy! It's on my back on my right hip bone. I know that many artists and shops have different directions for tattoo aftercare, mine directed me to wash my tattoo at least twice a day with antibacterial soap and to apply non-scented lotion to keep it moisturized. I have been following the directions perfectly but the itching is making me crazy! Is there anything I could put on it? It's taking all of me not to scratch it. Any suggestions would be a big help!

What soap & lotion are you using? I'm not a tattoo artist, but from personal experience I remember mine itching quite a bit in the healing process. I especially remember having an issue with dial soap - but that I think might depend on the person. Best bet? Call the artist who did your work and see what they say - it might be that the lotion is drying you out and irritating your healing tattoo. I know I went with a fragrance free, dye free, and alcohol free (or low alcohol content) lotion...

I'm washing it with Dial three times a day and I'm using Lubriderm to keep it moisturized. This may be the dumbest question ever, but I'm a receptionist and it's getting really hard to sit still... I could try a new kind of soap and/or lotion.

i really think your best bet is to contact the artist. and please. whatever you do, don't scratch or rub at it. it won't help, and you'll only be angry at yourself later. might be the materials that you're wearing are rubbing against the tattoo (pantyhose?) and irritating it or maybe you need to moisturize more often, but the person best to tell you whats going on is the artist as he can see it and we can't. itchiness isn't uncommon though (i don't think). i know i actually would take an ice cold wash cloth and hold it in place on my tattoos at times to ease the itchiness. like i said, i'm not a tattoo artist, so i'm not licensed or train. i can only go by my own personal experiences and everyone is different... hmm. i haven't been on this board very long, but this seems like it's Taz's department -- maybe?

I would normally say to contact the artist but in this case I can almost guarantee that your problem is due to the use of Dial soap..you should only be using the pure soaps...Ivory or Neutragena bar soap or equivalent...any antibacterial soap has harsh chemicals and surfactants that can and do attack pigment and causes so many problems...switch soaps and you will be fine...a little itching is quite normal...TAz

Thanks soooooo much! I can't wait to get out of this cubicle and run to the store for some new soap! I'll also give the artist a call or a visit just in case. Thanks again!

Yeah! Taz is right! Lay off the Dial soap! Extremely harsh once it has healed! Also, don't over moisturize! If I use lubriderm more than every other day, I get itchies. Maybe just leave it be a little. Maybe just moisturize it once in a while to bring color back...

And barring the soap (huh, huh, huh), itching is normal anyway. TCE