The Best Soap for Tattoos, According to a Dermatologist

Our best overall pick is La Roche Posay Lipikar Wash AP+

By
Theresa Holland
Theresa Holland
Theresa Holland
Theresa Holland is a freelance writer covering all things fitness and wellness for Byrdie. You can also find her work in Elite Daily, MyDomaine, Thought Catalog, and more.
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Updated on 09/19/22
Fact checked by Rich Scherr
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Woman with tattoos

Susana Ramírez/Stocksy

When you think of a tattoo for what it really is—aside from bodily art and personal expression—you're looking at hundreds (if not thousands) of teeny-tiny punctures to the skin. Of course, our miraculous bodies work as quickly as possible to mend damaged tissue. But you still need to take special care—and that means using soap with a gentle yet effective formula.

Byrdie Researched & Approved

Our best overall pick is La Roche Posay Lipikar Wash AP+, a dermatologist-recommended formula that heals, soothes, and helps prevent bacterial infections. For a more affordable option, consider Vanicream Gentle Body Wash, a great drugstore option that is also dermatologist-approved and gentle on skin.

"Tattoos are at high risk for infection, especially within the first five to seven days, as the skin is still healing and may have openings that can allow bacteria in," says dermatologist Tiffany L. Clay, MD. As part of your tattoo TLC, she recommends washing with hydrating formulas containing glycerin and niacinamide (vitamin B3).

We rounded up some of the best soaps for tattoos below.

Our Top Picks
Best Overall:
La Roche-Posay Lipikar Wash AP+ at Amazon
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Best Drugstore:
Vanicream Body Wash at Amazon
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Best for Sensitive Skin:
Bushbalm Unscented Nourishing Body Wash at Amazon
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Best for Healing:
Hustle Butter Deluxe Revolutionary Refined Rinse
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Best Cleansing Bar:
VI Tattoo Soap Sea Buckthorn Berry Tattoo Bar Soap at Amazon
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Best for Old Tattoos:
Mad Rabbit Refresh Body Wash at Amazon
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Best Unscented:
Fur All Body Wash
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In This Article

Best Overall

La Roche-Posay Lipikar Wash AP+ Moisturizing Body & Face Wash

La Roche-Posay Lipikar Gentle Foaming Moisturizing Wash

Amazon
View On Amazon View On Ulta View On Target
What We Like

  • Generous amount

  • Healing and Soothing

  • Dermatologist-recommended

What We Don't Like

  • Contains PEGs

Dr. Clay recommends Lipikar Wash, calling it a "very gentle soap that's great for cleansing skin with tattoos." The formula blends glycerin and niacinamide, her go-to hydrators for aftercare. Like all products from La Roche Posay, it also contains mineral-rich thermal spring water, which has been shown to have healing, soothing, and antibacterial properties.

As icing on the cake, this body wash locks in moisture with shea butter. It has a nice foaming effect that really feels like it's cleaning without stripping your skin. We also love that you can use it on your face or body. And the generously sized pump bottle should last you a while.

Key Ingredients: Thermal spring water, glycerin, niacinamide, shea butter | Byrdie Clean: Yes | Cruelty-Free: No

Best Drugstore

Vanicream Gentle Wash

Vanicream gentle wash

Walgreens
View On Amazon View On Walmart View On CVS
What We Like

  • Gentle yet effective

  • Supports healing

  • Dermatologist-recommended

What We Don't Like

  • Not the most moisturizing

Vanicream makes a great budget option, and it's got Dr. Clay's stamp of approval. As the name suggests, this body wash is super gentle but still totally effective.

It contains soap's favorite ingredient, glycerin, plus vitamin B5 (pantothenic acid), which has shown to have a healing effect. And while it's not the most moisturizing formula, it promises not to dry out your skin.

Key Ingredients: Glycerin, vitamin B5 | Byrdie Clean: Yes | Cruelty-Free: No

Best for Sensitive Skin

Bushbalm Unscented Nourishing Body Wash

Bushbalm Unscented Nourishing Body Wash

Bushbalm
View On Amazon View On Bushbalm.com
What We Like

  • Generous amount

  • Fragrance-free

  • Dermatologist-recommended

What We Don't Like

  • Nothing

Dr. Clay also likes Bushbalm's Nourishing Body Wash. Made with sensitive skin in mind, the fragrance-free formula contains glycerin, aloe vera, and vitamin E to cleanse without irritation. Then it calls on jojoba oil to nourish and replenish lost moisture.

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Best for Healing

Hustle Butter Hustle Bubbles Deluxe Revolutionary Refined Rinse

Hustle Butter Hustle Bubbles Deluxe Revolutionary Refined Rinse

Ulta
View on Ulta View On Amazon View On Hustlebutter.com
What We Like

  • Antibacterial

  • Calms inflammation

  • Gentle formula

What We Don't Like

  • Contains PEGs

If you're in the aftercare stage, reach for Hustle Bubbles. The hero of this all-over foaming cleanser is benzalkonium chloride, a harsh-sounding but actually gentle ingredient that helps prevent bacterial infections. It also contains calming aloe, anti-inflammatory witch hazel, and arnica, which may help minimize the chance of scarring.

Key Ingredients: Benzalkonium chloride, aloe vera, arnica, witch hazel | Byrdie Clean: No | Cruelty-Free: Yes

Best Cleansing Bar

VI Tattoo Soap Sea Buckthorn Berry Tattoo Bar Soap

VI Tattoo Soap Sea Buckthorn Berry Tattoo Bar Soap

VI Tattoo Soap
View On Amazon View On Walmart View On Vitattoosoap.com
What We Like

  • Natural ingredients

  • Reparative

  • Prevents discoloration

What We Don't Like

  • High price per bar

This cleansing bar leans on natural ingredients to wash, moisturize, and protect even the most sensitive skin. Rich in reparative sea buckthorn, plus coconut and olive oil, the nourishing, anti-inflammatory formula is ideal for aftercare. It also promises to keep old tattoos vibrant and prevent discoloration.

Key Ingredients: Sea buckthorn berry, coconut oil, shea butter | Byrdie Clean: Yes | Cruelty-Free: Yes

Best for Old Tattoos

Mad Rabbit Refresh Body Wash

Mad Rabbit Refresh Body Wash

Amazon
View On Amazon View On Madrabbit.com
What We Like

  • Gently cleanses

  • Moisturizing

  • Nice scent

What We Don't Like

  • Fragrance could be irritating

  • Not recommended for new tattoos

For older ink, Mad Rabbit is a fab pick. While it's not recommended for aftercare, Refresh Body Wash will help existing tattoos look their best on all skin tones by gently cleansing and replenishing lost moisture.

The formula flaunts a comforting coconut-vanilla aroma that's not too overpowering. Just bear in mind fragrances can sometimes irritate sensitive or damaged skin.

Key Ingredients: Glycerin, plant collagen, green tea, hyaluronic acid | Byrdie Clean: Yes | Cruelty-Free: Yes

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Best Unscented

Fur All Body Wash

Fur All Body Wash

Fur
View on Ulta View On Dermstore View On Bloomingdales
What We Like

  • Gentle formula

  • Velvety lather

  • Replenishes skin barrier

What We Don't Like

  • High price per ounce

If fragrances aren't your forte, go with Fur. The brand's All Body Wash is a super-gentle oil-based formula that starts as a liquid and transforms into a velvety lather.

We like that you can use this no-nonsense cleanser from head to toe, including on your pits and bits. Helping to hydrate and protect while replenishing the skin's barrier, it's perfect for tattoos.

Key Ingredients: Fractionated coconut oil, sweet almond oil, vitamin E | Byrdie Clean: Yes | Cruelty-Free: Yes

Final Verdict

The best option for washing tattoos is La Roche Posay Lipikar Wash AP+, a dermatologist-recommended formula that heals, soothes, and helps prevent bacterial infections. That said, Vanicream Gentle Body Wash is a great budget option (also dermatologist-approved), and you can find it at almost any drugstore.

Meet the Expert

Tiffany L. Clay, MD, FAAD, is a board-certified medical, surgical, and cosmetic dermatologist based in Atlanta.

What to Look for When Buying Soap for Tattoos

Ingredients

"Look for soap-free cleansers with ingredients such as glycerin, a water-attracting humectant, and niacinamide, a B vitamin that aids in hydrating the skin barrier," offers Dr. Clay.

Some of the best tattoo-friendly body washes also contain healing and anti-inflammatory ingredients, such as thermal spring water, vitamin B5, vitamin E, sea buckthorn, aloe vera, plant oils, and arnica."

Old vs. New Tattoos

Some soaps are intended to help heal new tattoos and prevent infection. These usually contain the reparative, anti-inflammatory ingredients mentioned above and may mention "aftercare" in the product description. However, other formulas are meant to be used only with older tattoos that have already healed.

Fragrance

Unscented formulas are usually best for tattoo aftercare, as added fragrance can irritate damaged skin. Having said that, scented soaps used for older tattoos are usually fine if your skin isn't particularly sensitive.

FAQ
  • Why use soap for tattoos?

    Regular cleansing is important during the tattoo aftercare process. The goal is essentially to keep the area clean while preventing infection. Regular soap and mild body washes are ideal, as they're usually gentle and non-irritating.

  • How often should you wash a new tattoo?

    "I recommend at least twice a day," says Dr. Clay, adding that bacteria-laden loofahs and washcloths should be avoided. "Use your hand to gently wash the tattoo, then pat the skin dry and apply the ointment your tattoo artist recommends."

  • Do you need antibacterial soap for a tattoo?

    According to Dr. Clay, tattoo soap doesn't necessarily need to contain antibacterial ingredients. "Sometimes, using an antibiotic treatment on freshly wounded skin can cause sensitivity," she says. Washing regularly with a mild cleanser and warm water should be enough to keep infections at bay.

Why Trust Byrdie

Theresa Holland is a freelance commerce writer and product reviewer specializing in skin care, personal hygiene, and wellness. She interviewed a board-certified dermatologist for this story, who provided product recommendations and insight into tattoo aftercare, then researched the best formulas and cross-referenced ingredients in peer-reviewed journals. Theresa has been contributing to Byrdie since 2020. You can find more of her work on Travel + Leisure, The Spruce, and People.

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Article Sources
Byrdie takes every opportunity to use high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read our editorial guidelines to learn more about how we keep our content accurate, reliable and trustworthy.

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