Four Tattoo Care guide to your skin type

Your skin type will vary across your body and when having a tattoo it is important to choose the right care, giving your skin tailored nutrients for perfect healed results.

Here we have your comprehensive guide on how to identify your skin type for your next tattoo.

Understanding the different skin types for tattooed skin

Skin type is determined by genetics so using the correct care for your tattoos is important to their longevity. If you need help identifying your skin type contact our team of tattoo specialists at info@four-tattoo.care or a professional dermatologist.

Dry Skin

The symptoms of dry skin to look out for include:

• Tightness
• Lack of moisture
• Flaky
• Sensitive
• Dull
• Lacks elasticity
• Visible lines/wrinkles
• Small pores
• Itchy

The cause of dry skin can vary, but surprisingly makes up 40% of dermatologist visits. Medications, age, environment, illness, diet, lifestyle, UV and occupation are a few examples of how natural moisture can be broken down. Any illness or injury to the lipid layer will leave the skin open to possible sensitivities and bacteria. Skin loses moisture consistently throughout the day, not only from any of the above, but also through perspiration and natural daily excretion through trans-epidermal water loss (TEWL) which is roughly half a litre.

You are most likely to see dryness on:

• The face: Cheeks, under the jaw line, around the eye area and lips.
• The body: Feet, shins, hands, knees and elbows.

These areas tend to be more dry because there are less sebaceous glands and more exposed to the elements. Frequent washing also contributes to dry hands. Although these tend to be the most likely problematic spots, dryness can appear anywhere and more often with age.

What can I do to help?

If you are having a tattoo one of these areas, keeping your skin from getting too dry is really important to prevent thick scabbing, itching and cracking. Dehydration can look a lot like dryness but there is an important difference. Dehydration is a lack of water and dry skin is a lack of sebum production.

Good skincare starts with a healthy diet with plenty of essential fatty acids to build up the natural lipids in the skin. DrInking a lot of water and delivering the right vitamins both in diet and topically will give the skin health your tattoos need for looking their best for longer.

Natural ingredients are always best to use as they will be gentle and kind to irritated skin.

Four Tattoo Care Dry contains all natural and vegan friendly ingredients with the added benefits of sunflower seed oil and allantoin which is known for its highly moisturising properties for very dry areas.

Oily Skin

The signs of oily skin include:

• Shine
• Frequent blackheads
• Blemishes, spots
• Thicker, more pale skin
• Possible acne
• Large pores
• Younger people

The majority of people with oily skin tend to be young as skin dries out the more we age and skin breaks down. The skin is over producing sebum and so colour retention in tattoos and permanent cosmetics can be a struggle. You are most likely to see an oily skin type in these areas:

• Face
• Neck
• Shoulders
• Back
• Chest

These areas tend to be affected most as the sebaceous glands are easily triggered by hormonal changes, stress and lifestyle. Skin can easily become congested, when hair follicles become blocked with oil and dead skin cells then breakouts can occur.

What can I do to help?

Make sure you keep up a regular skin care routine on the run up before your tattoo and the weeks following. A light exfoliate, good diet and the right moisturiser is what’s needed to help regulate sebum production for a healthy tattoo. The weeks after the tattoo has been done it is important to keep up with care for your skin so your tattoos stay looking fresh. Although an abrasive exfoliate isn’t recommended at this stage there are naturally occurring exfoliating ingredients in our Four Tattoo Care Oily. Lemon is a natural way to encourage skin to shed dead cells and the vitamin C assists in the regulation of sebum making sure to be gentle and calming to tattooed skin. With the added benefit of massaging the area up and away, will encourage the skin to repair and regenerate.

Mature Skin

Mature skin is identified by:

• Over 50 years old
• Slower healing times
• Thinner skin
• Dryness
• Fine lines/wrinkles
• Pigmentation

Mature skin can take around three months to heal due to the slower production of collagen and elastin repairing the tissue. More mature skin tends to be dry as well so tattoos can come across more complications and pigment retention issues.

(Click here to learn more about healing.)

What can I do to help?

Thinning skin affects all parts of the body so specific nutrients are required for any tattoo placement. Four Tattoo Care Mature has the highly moisturising properties of vitamin B5 coupled with anti ageing oils which help to boost the production of collagen for faster repair and plumping of the skin.

Sensitive Skin

Sensitive skin can be defined as:

• Reacts to alcohol
• Reacts to chemicals
• Redness
• Itchy
• Tingles/stings

Sensitive skin can be a permanent condition for an individual or something which is triggered by an external factor caused when the natural barrier function has been comprised. Strong chemicals, alcohol and perfumes can trigger redness and an itchy sensation. Sensitive skin can be found anywhere on the body.

What can I do to help?

It is best to evaluate the symptoms of sensitive skin before planning the best care. It is always wise to use all natural ingredients when looking for a soothing and calming skin care, especially for tattooed skin. Four Tattoo Care Sensitive is both anti inflammatory and anti bacterial giving all the moisturising benefits required for tattooed skin needing a little extra care.