Article: You should continue to wash your tattoo 2-3 times a day with antibacterial soap and lukewarm water until it's fully healed. This can take anywhere from 2 to 6 weeks, depending on the size and location of the tattoo.  While moisturizing is important, be careful not to smother the tattoo in lotion or ointment—a thin layer is all you need. Continue using an unscented mild soap when washing. As it heals, your tattoo will start to scab over, which is normal. Let the scabs dry out and fall off by themselves, and don't speed up the process by picking or scratching at the scabs. This can cause the scabs to fall off too soon, which can leave holes or light spots on the tattoo.  Dry, scabbing or peeling skin can become very itchy, but scratching at your tattoo may also cause scabs to fall off. Keep using moisturizing ointment to combat itchiness if it is a problem. The harsh rays of the sun may cause your skin to blister and bleach some of the colors from your tattoo. For this reason, it is best to keep your tattoo covered and away from the sun for at least 3 to 4 weeks until the initial healing is complete. Once your tattoo is healed, you'll want to wear sunscreen to prevent the tattoo from fading. Until your tattoo is fully healed, don't swim in a pool or the ocean. Avoid soaking in the bathtub as well. Exposing your tattoo to lots of water can pull the ink out of your skin and do damage to the tattoo's appearance. The water may also be carrying dirt, bacteria, or other chemicals that can infect your tattoo. It will be safe to resume these activities once your tattoo is healed, but for now you should stick to rinsing your tattoo in the sink or shower. Try not to wear tight or restrictive clothing on the area with your new tattoo, especially at first. As your tattoo heals, it will seep plasma and excess ink, which may cause the clothing to stick to the tattoo. The clothing will then be painful to remove and may rip off any freshly formed scabs.  If your clothing does stick to your tattoo, do not pull! First wet the area with water, which should loosen the clothing to where it can be removed without damaging your tattoo. Tight clothing will prevent enough oxygen from getting to your tattoo, and oxygen is essential for the healing process. If the tattoo covers a large surface area or is near your joints (such as elbows and knees), it may take longer to heal if the skin is forced to move around too much during physical activity. The movement will cause the skin to crack and become irritated, prolonging the healing process. If you work in a job that involves physical activity, such as construction or dance, you may want to consider having your new tattoo done right before you have a day or 2 off so it has time to heal before you return to work.

What is a summary?
Wash and moisturize your tattoo daily until the scabs are gone. Avoid scratching or picking at your tattoo. Keep your tattoo out of direct sunlight. Avoid soaking the tattoo in water. Wear clean, loose-fitting clothing to avoid irritating your tattoo. Wait for your tattoo to heal before doing strenuous workouts.