Dr Pickles started in 2010 in Brisbane. The founder, Luke Soden, was a tattoo enthusiast who noticed something most clients had also noticed: there was no purpose-built tattoo aftercare in Australia. People were using nappy rash cream (Bepanthen) or petroleum jelly (Vaseline) — products designed for completely different jobs.
So Luke set out to build one.
The original formula The first Dr Pickles product — still the hero of the range today — was the Original Formula Tattoo Balm. The formulation combined D-Panthenol (the active ingredient that makes Bepanthen effective) with real Australian papaya, plus Safflower Seed Oil for the skin barrier.
The combination wasn't arbitrary. Each ingredient was chosen for a specific phase of healing: - D-Panthenol for the first 3 days when the skin needs hydration support - Pawpaw for mild antiseptic action across the full heal - Safflower Seed Oil to lock the skin barrier and prevent moisture loss
From boutiques to Woolworths Dr Pickles spent its first few years selling out of independent tattoo studios and small Brisbane boutiques. Word spread through the artist community — artists started recommending it to clients, and clients came back asking for it by name.
By the mid-2010s, the brand had crossed into mainstream pharmacy retail. Today, you can buy Dr Pickles at every Woolworths and Coles in the country. It's also stocked in over 1,000 independent tattoo studios.
Australian Made campaign Dr Pickles is a registered licensee of the Australian Made campaign. That means the products are manufactured in Australia using Australian papaya and meet the Australian Made standard for local manufacturing.
It's one of a small group of Australian-made tattoo aftercare brands — the only other notable competition in the local-manufacture category being smaller boutique brands.
The product range today The brand has expanded well beyond the original balm:
- · **Original Tattoo Balm** — the hero product (50g, 75g, 20g)
- · **Antibacterial Foam Wash** — for daily cleaning during the healing window
- · **Tattoo Glide** — for tattoo artists during the session, alternative to petroleum-based glides
- · **Pickle Wrap** — adhesive bandage film for fresh tattoos
Why it's recommended Dr Pickles works because the formulation is genuinely good. But it's also recommended because:
- · It's Australian-made and reliable to source
- · The price point sits between the budget option (Bepanthen, $14.99) and the premium imported option (Hustle Butter, $39.95)
- · It's vegan and fragrance-free, which suits most sensitivities
- · It's been refined over 15+ years — most newer competitors are 1–3 years old
What's next Dr Pickles continues to grow internationally. The brand has expanded into the US, UK and New Zealand markets while maintaining Brisbane-based manufacturing.
For a deeper look at the product itself, see [Dr Pickles tattoo balm review](/articles/dr-pickles-tattoo-balm-review). For comparisons against the other major aftercare brands, see [Dr Pickles vs Bepanthen](/articles/dr-pickles-vs-bepanthen) and [Dr Pickles vs Hustle Butter](/articles/dr-pickles-vs-hustle-butter).