BEPANTHEN: NOT MADE FOR TATTOO AFTERCARE

Bepanthen is a diaper rash cream that is sometimes used by tattoo artists as a tattoo aftercarecream. But should you really use a nappy cream for your fresh wound?

One of the ingredients found in Bepanthen is petroleum jelly or petrolatum. This is also called white petrolatum or soft paraffin. It has been used as a cure-all and was prized for its folkloric medicinal value. Interestingly, several adverse side effects of petroleum jelly have been seen.

So why is petrolatum being used as an ingredient in various skin creams? This is because it works as a skin protectant, is very inexpensive, widely available, and has almost limitless shelf life. The petroleum jelly in Bepanthen is an emollient that maintains skin condition by restricting water loss from the skin.

Petrolatum is also chemically static meaning it can be easily mixed with other ingredients and chemicals without any chemical reaction taking place. It is a colourless and odourless ingredient. It can sit in storage for many years without changing its colour and without going rancid.

Petroleum jelly is not actually moisturising since it does not penetrate the skin. It simply leaves a greasy film and creates an oily barrier. Although it may seem that the skin is soft and smooth, this is actually the layer of petrolatum that is continually added over the skin. It can protect the skin but on the other hand, it also restricts the skin from letting the toxins out.

It has been found that petroleum jelly side effects can range from diarrhea, abdominal pain, shortness of breath, nasal itchiness, tumors, or even cancer. There are lots of substances that contaminate petroleum jelly during its production. One of these are polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons or PAHs which have connections with tumours and cancer.

If you’re considering on tattoo aftercare cream for your fresh tattoo, do not use products which contain petroleum or lanolin. Bepanthen, which has petroleum jelly as one of its main ingredients, is not the appropriate product. Remember, it is a nappy rash cream and was not made to be used as a tattoo aftercare product.