Healing your tattoo

The quick version:
DOs:
1) Wash 3-4 times a day with antibacterial soap and water.
2) Apply a *thin* layer of lotion over the freshly washed tattoo.
3) Repeat until the tattoo is smooth to the touch.

DON’Ts
1) No soaking (baths, pools, lakes, any from of submersion.)
2) No scratching, picking, pulling on the skin as it flakes or scabs.
3) No sun; keep your tattoo covered and out of direct sunlight until fully healed.

The detailed version:
A new tattoo is considered an open wound and should be treated as such. In order for your tattoo to heal well and last a long time there are a few things that mush be done and a few to be avoided. Fortunately, tending to a new tattoo is not difficult.
The first few days are the most important but a tattoo isn’t considered fully healed until it is fully smooth to the touch again (usually about two weeks) and not fully “settled in” until about three months. The best care for a new tattoo is regularly washing it with an unscented antibacterial soap, such as Dial Gold. Gently pat it dry with a clean towel or let it air dry. Once it is dry you can add a thin layer of unscented lotion such as Curél or Lubriderm or Aquaphor. This layer should be very thin; if you can see excess on top of the skin be sure to work it into the skin or remove. Keep washing and applying lotion until your tattoo is fully healed.
As your tattoos heals it will most likely peel and flake or even develop small scabs. This is normal but it is very important to NOT scratch or pick at these. This can cause the tattoo to heal poorly so let it all fall off by itself. It is also important to not soak your tattoo. Taking a shower is fine but avoid baths, pools, hot tubs, lakes, etc. Lastly, keep your healing tattoo out of the sun by either wearing a layer of clothing (do not apply sunscreen) or staying out of the sun entirely.
There are also many brands of adhesive bandages that work well (Saniderm, Tegaderm, SecondSkin.) Apply a bandage the first day to your freshly cleaned tattoo and keep it on for 24 hours. Remove the bandage, wash the tattoo with soap and water, and without applying lotion place another bandage on the tattoo. This second bandage can be left on for 4-6 days and then removed. Typically after removing the second bandage your tattoo will be mostly, if not fully, healed. To apply these bandages follow the directions on the box.