Getting a tattoo done is a very exciting experience. If you are planning to get one or have already got one done, read on for tattoo care tips that will tell you what to put on your tattoo and what to do to prevent tattoo fading.

• After all the pain and discomfort you have gone through to get a tattoo done on your body, it makes sense to look after it properly so that it doesn’t create any further problems and the design comes out perfectly. The first and foremost tattoo care tip you need to follow is not to itch or pick at the scab of a new tattoo. This is because if the scab comes off sooner than it should, it may leave behind a blank spot on the design. You will have to redo that part of your tattoo. If the tattoo itches, don’t scratch it at all as it may cause contamination.

• In the first few days after you have got your tattoo done, don’t let it come under a direct shower. Of course, it doesn’t mean that you have to go without your daily shower; it only means that you have to take it carefully, preferably by keeping a cloth tied around it. Use your fingertips to wash it with a natural soap or face wash. Try to keep the scab as intact as you can. This will prevent tattoo fading. Rinse the area with water quickly and then pat dry with a soft towel.

• If you are wondering what to put on your tattoo, an antibiotic ointment is a good idea if you have just got it done and the scab hasn’t formed yet. When the scab starts appearing, try an unscented organic or natural ointment on it. If you are still not sure about what to put on your tattoo, then you should know that petroleum jelly, linoleum and diaper rash creams are a strict no - no.

• Three days is what it takes for a brand - new tattoo to turn scabbed which again falls off within ten days. An important tattoo care tip is that until the entire area is perfectly healed, soaking in hot water in a tub or going swimming is something you have to stay away from.

• Avoid skin trauma at all costs when your new tattoo is healing. Protect it from sunlight as much as you can, avoid clothes rubbing on your tattoo, avoid heavy sweating and scratching. Sweating can in fact make your tattoo get infected!

• Last but not the least; it is important that you protect your tattoo from sunlight all your life. Don’t apply sunscreen when it is not yet healed, but wear it every time you go out after that. Sunburn may cause tattoo fading and can make it blurry and lead to fine lines.

Keep these few simple tattoo care tips in mind and you will be able to show of f your tattoo as long as you live!