27. Avoid tight clothing that rubs up against your new tattoo. Friction won’t just irritate your skin and make it even more itchy, it will also chip away at scabs and peeling flakes. For leg tattoos, shorts are great choice however skinny jeans are not in your best interest.

28. Don’t panic when you over apply lotion. Gently blot with a paper towel to remove any extra lotion off your skin.

29. When ointment or lotion burns or feels extremely unpleasant, immediately stop using it. Hop back in the shower and wash it off with soap right away. Negative interactions can happen, remember we’re all different. Once you’ve thoroughly cleaned off any ointment or lotion, try it again with a new product. This time check the ingredients to determine what’s causing the problem.

30. Gently rub lotion in, don’t just slap it on and call it a day. Understand that it takes time for lotion to penetrate deep enough into the skin. You want to ensure that it remains on your skin and doesn’t just smear off when you put on clothing or sit down on the couch.

31. Certain tattoos on your body will be harder to heal, like new foot and wrist tattoos. Think about all the times your feet touch the carpet, rug, shoes, etc. That’s a lot of bacterial contact and rubbing action. Or how about how many times your wrist hits your laptop keyboard, door knobs, etc. All of these moments make it harder to keep your new tattoo clean; it takes careful attention.

32. Throw your shoes in the washing machine if you’re getting a foot tattoo. Or simply head out to the store and buy a new pair of shoes to wear just for your healing process. Remember, you’ll want to walk around with shoes that are loose to the fit and not super tight. The same thing goes for your socks, lose but also smooth and completely free of fuzz on the inside.