Wondering if you can use Dial Soap on your new tattoo? Turns out, some of the Dial soaps are safe to use on tattoos!
A ton of people and tattoo artists recommend using Dial Soap, and I would also agree with them. It’s OK to use Dial soap on your tattoo. However, keep in mind that most including Dial Gold and White soaps are scented.
This post will walk you through which Dial soaps are okay to use on tattoos and some of the possible risks of using them. I’ll also analyze the ingredients of Dial soap so you’ll get a good understanding of whether it’s good for you.
So, grab a cup of coffee, and let’s dive right in!
What is Dial Soap?
Dial soap is a type of bar soap that’s made by the brand Dial. It’s a cheap and very common soap that you can find in pretty much any store, and people use it to clean themselves. It’s the second most used soap in the US!
There are lots of different types of Dial soap, like Dial Gold and Dial Liquid Hand Soap, and some of them come in different scents.
Some of the active ingredients (vary depending on the product) are Triclosan and Benzalkonium chloride. These have antimicrobial properties and help kill bacteria on our skin.
Can I Use Dial Soap On My Tattoo?
Yes, you can use Dial soap on your tattoo. A lot of people have used it and never faced any issues. Plus, a lot of tattoo artists recommend it.
Also Read: Is Dove soap good for tattoos?
Some of the benefits of using Dial soap on tattoos include,
Reduces the risk of infection: The antimicrobial agents in Dial soap can help kill bacteria and other germs on the skin, reducing the risk of infection in the wound.
Gentle on the skin: Most Dial soaps are formulated to be gentle on the skin, making it suitable for people with sensitive skin.
Moisturizing properties: Most Dial soap have built-in moisturizers that help keep the skin hydrated and prevent dryness and irritation.
It’s important to note that NOT ALL Dial soap is good for tattoos, I recommended using one of these three:
- Dial Complete Clean Foaming Hand Wash
- Dial White Antibacterial Soap
- Dial Gold Antibacterial Soap
To use Dial Soap on a fresh tattoo, wet the tattoo with lukewarm water (avoid putting it directly under a stream of water) and apply a small amount of any of the Dial soap I talked about, on the tattooed area.
Gently lather the Dial soap over the tattoo, taking care not to scrub the skin too hard. Afterward, rinse the tattoo with lukewarm water.
Pat the tattoo dry with a clean, soft towel, avoiding rubbing the tattoo, as this can irritate.
Finally, always make sure to use a moisturizing lotion like Dermasil after washing to help replenish moisture that has been lost due to Dial’s disinfecting capabilities.
Ingredients Of Dial Gold Soap
Let’s take a look at the ingredients of Dial Gold antibacterial bar soap and understand it better.
It’s a stupid way of concluding if something is good or bad for a tattoo, but at least it gives us a good idea of how the soap is made.
The main active ingredient of Dial Gold is Benzalkonium Chloride (BZK) which is an antibacterial, and interestingly some people believe that it’s not good for tattoos (which are essentially puncture wounds).
Also Read: Can you use O’Keeffe’s working hands on a tattoo?
Now I don’t know for sure the specific effects of BZK on tattoos because I never studied chemistry or anything of the sort. But I guess some people may be sensitive to BZK and may experience skin irritation.
Other non-active ingredients include:
| Ingredient | Function | Good For Tattoos? |
|---|---|---|
| Water | Solvent | Good |
| Sodium Tallowate | Surfactant, Foaming Agent | Not Sure |
| Sodium Palmate | Surfactant, Foaming Agent | Not Sure |
| Sodium Palm Kernelate | Surfactant, Foaming Agent | Not Sure |
| Glycerin | Humectant, Skin Conditioner | Good |
| Sodium Chloride | Thickening Agent | Not Good |
| Tetrasodium EDTA | Chelating Agent | Not Sure |
| Tetrasodium Etidronate | Sequestering Agent | Not Sure |
| Yellow 5 | Colorant | Not Sure |
| Yellow 10 | Colorant | Not Sure |
| Blue 1 | Colorant | Not Sure |
You can read about the ingredients in detail here.
Another thing I noticed is that Dial Soap Gold is scented. Not sure why a lot of artists say it is unscented.
Some Of The Possible Risks Of Using Dial Soap
Both Dial Gold and Dial White are not fragrance-free. Scented soap can be irritating to the skin when applied to a fresh tattoo. It could cause redness, itching, and other forms of irritation, which can be uncomfortable and potentially interfere with the healing process.
And with some Dial soaps being gentle, some are still very strong, and due to their strong antibacterial qualities, they may irritate the tattoo if used too often.
Related: How long to leave Tegaderm on tattoo
Additionally, Dial Soap has a pH level of 8-10 which is far too high for a new tattoo and will dry out skin due to its alkaline nature. Moreover, fragrances can cause allergic reactions in some people.
FAQs
Is Antibacterial Soap Good For Tattoos?
Antibacterial soap can be a good choice for cleaning a fresh tattoo due to its ability to kill bacteria and prevent infections. Wash your tattoo once or twice a day with antibacterial soap. Make sure to use a mild and unscented antibacterial soap to minimize the risk of irritation and other complications.
Is Dial Complete Antibacterial Good For Tattoos?
Yes, Dial Complete foaming Antibacterial Hand Wash is good for tattoos. It’s fragrance free and one of the Dial soaps I recommend using on a tattoo.
Conclusion
You can use Dial soap on your tattoo. It’s gentle and antibacterial which helps prevent any infections.
Plus, it has moisturizing properties which keeps the tattoo from drying out. However, most Dial soaps are scented.
Contrary to popular belief popular belief that scented soap is bad, a lot of tattoo artists still recommend using Dial soap.
Tattoo aftercare is incredibly important for making sure your tattoo lasts and looks great for years to come.
If you don’t like the risks of using scented soap, it’s probably better to go with something that’s a little more formulated for tattoos.