Yes, you can (and should!) shower with a new tattoo, as long as you don’t completely soak it. Avoid swimming—whether in a pool, lake, or the ocean—and submerging your tattoo in a bath or hot tub for two to three weeks, though; this may cause serious damage.

Tattooing creates a permanent image by inserting ink into tiny punctures under the topmost layer of skin. So getting a new tattoo triggers your immune system to send white blood cells called macrophages to eat invaders and sacrifice themselves to protect against infection.

You shouldn’t:

• cover your tattoo with sunblock until it’s fully healed.
• scratch or pick at the tattoo.
• wear tight clothing over the tattoo.
• go swimming or immerse your body in water (showers are fine)

Many artists will recommend sleeping with your tattoo wrapped for the first few nights. This protects it from bacteria, your sheets, and accidental picking or ripping of the scabs. A good wrap should be breathable, anti-bacterial, and waterproof.

Your first night sleeping, your artist might recommend you re-wrap the tattoo with plastic wrap (like Saran Wrap) to sleep without the tattoo sticking to your sheets. This is generally for larger or solid-color tattoos. If your artist did not recommend re-wrapping, just let the tattoo stay exposed to air overnight.

Yep. It’s fine if your tattoo gets a little wet, but it shouldn’t be submerged in water or left under running water for long periods of time. Keep time in the shower to a minimum, and be gentle to avoid irritating your newly tattooed skin. Products with alcohol and certain chemicals can irritate and dry out the skin.

Gently wash the tattoo with antimicrobial soap and water and be sure to pat dry. Apply a layer of antibacterial/Vaseline ointment twice a day, but don’t put on another bandage. Gently wash your tattoo area twice a day with soap and water and gently pat dry before reapplying the antibacterial/Vaseline ointment.

The bottom line. Coconut oil is generally safe to use, but a skin patch test is the only way to know for sure. While tattoos fade over time, coconut oil won’t speed up this process. If you think the coloring of your tattoo is starting to fade, check in with your tattoo artist.

Aquaphor Advanced Therapy Healing Ointment

Neosporin isn’t the best choice for new tattoos. While you are healing a new skin wound, Neosporin is designed for minor cuts, burns, and scrapes only — not tattoos. Triple antibiotic ointments don’t offer the moisture needed for tattoos to heal, nor do they allow the skin to breathe.