Background: Tattooing is defined as ‘the practice of producing an indelible mark on the human body by inserting pigment under the skin using needles or other sharp instruments’ (Sperry, 1991). It has probably been practised for as long as man has walked the earth. Aims: The objective of the study was to compare the effects of a new posttattoo cream with a control ointment on newly tattooed skin. Method: Subjects attended for visits on day 0 (approximately four hours after their tattoo was completed), then on day four, seven, 11, 14, 21, and 28. The study duration was 28 days, or less if the skin had returned to normal for both test sites. At each visit the same assessments, measures and questionnaires were completed and photographs were taken of the tattoo. The products investigated were Forever Ink Balm® (Forest Laboratories), which, in addition to manuka honey of UMF 10+, also contains panthenol, vitamin E, and a hyaluronic acid derivative; and a proprietary cream for ‘nappy area care’ which is water petrolatumbased and contains lanolin and lanolin alcohol. Results: No statistical differences were found between the purpose-designed post-tattoo cream and the nappy care cream.