Think Twice Before Using BEPANTHEN On Your New Tattoo!

Think Twice Before Using Bepanthen on Your New Tattoo

Tattoo aftercare is a critical part of the healing process. A well-cared-for tattoo not only heals better but also keeps its vibrant colours for much longer. Many people are tempted to reach for Bepanthen, a popular antiseptic cream commonly used to treat diaper/nappy rash. But is Bepanthen truly suitable for your new tattoo? Was Bepanthen only ever mentioned to use for the healing of tattoos due to lack of options? Is it just because it's so cheap that makes Bepanthen attractive? Perhaps all of the above, let's dive in...

What is Bepanthen, and is it Good for Healing Tattoos?

Originating in Switzerland in 1945, Bepanthen was primarily designed as a nappy rash cream. Trusted by generations of mothers and grandmothers, the brand has gained a solid reputation over the years. Not everyone knows the history and story behind the parent company of Bepanthen, but we encourage you to do your own research and digging, there is a lot to uncover, a lot is very shocking. For those who don't know, Bepanthen is owned and made by controversial pharmaceutical giant BAYER. However, the question arises – is a product designed for infant rash also suitable for tattoo aftercare? Let's delve into its ingredients to find out:

Bepanthen's Ingredients and Their Effects on Your Skin

Out of the 11 primary ingredients in Bepanthen, only four have natural beneficial properties for the skin. The rest, including Paraffinum Liquidum (a non-natural mineral oil based on petroleum), Lanolin, Petroleum Jelly, Glyceryl Oleate and Ozokerite, can potentially irritate your skin or block its natural healing process. A big reason why here at Ink Nurse, we use the ingredients that we do, such as Coconut oil, Jojoba, Rosehip, Shea Butter and more.

Such ingredients in Bepanthen may not pose any risk when dealing with regular skin conditions, but a fresh tattoo is a different story altogether. A new tattoo is essentially an open wound, and some of these substances, like petroleum jelly, can cause skin clogging. Others like Lanolin might lead to allergic reactions, redness, or irritation. Again, why using a tattoo specific product like Ink Nurse (or another high-quality one out there on the market) is far superior for tattoo healing than Bepanthen is.

This leads us to believe that one of the main reasons why Bepanthen was only ever offered to use for tattoo care, was simply for no other reason than the fact there was never a widely recognised tattoo-specific product, like there is today.

Why Experts Advise Against Bepanthen

If you've taken a deep dive into tattoo care research, you might've stumbled upon hundreds of reports advising against the use of Bepanthen for new tattoos. Numerous tattoo care brands and industry experts have voiced their concern about Bepanthen's appropriateness for tattoo aftercare all over the internet.

There's a wealth of material online to back up these claims. However, many people may have never come across these resources and might be misled into believing that Bepanthen is a sound choice for their new tattoo. This lack of awareness could potentially lead to undesired consequences, such as a longer healing time, skin reactions, or even fading of the tattoo. It probably stems back to the fact that there was not many, if any, tattoo specific aftercare products on the market 10+ years ago and it was then that Bepanthen was just thrown around as a potential product that might work and it has been stuck in tattoo folklore ever since. And we would love to change that narrative and educate the public on this!

Why Risk Your New Tattoo?