Piercing

Question: I just have a simple question regarding A & D. If petroleum jelly fades a tat why doesn’t A & D when one of the main ingredients is Petrolatum (petroleum jelly) at 53%?

Answer: Even though 53% is a lot, the addition of other ingredients does seem to make products containing petrolatum - such as A&D and Aquaphor - better than pure petroleum jelly.

Petroleum jelly, by itself, can be responsible for clogging pores which can lead to infection - not just color loss. If you look at a jar of Vaseline, it specifically says not to put it on broken skin or a puncture wound. But A&D is made to help heal minor skin wounds and is very effective for most people.

However, there are still going to be those who will have problems using a product that contains any petrolatum. And sometimes that’s in how they’re using it, not in the product itself. Using too much ointment of any kind can lead to color loss. It’s very important to use a very sparing amount.

This is why aftercare is such a controversial subject because there just simply can’t be one product that everyone likes and no one has any kind of reaction to. As long as you’re keeping your tattoo clean and hydrated, it all comes down to personal preference.