Doing some research online, but I haven’t found the answer yet.
The tattoo will be going on the back of my calf.
My main question is what about the gym? I just joined the gym and want to be able to run and work out still. If I keep A&D cream on it will I be ok keeping the sweat out of it?
I doubt its really a big deal…
Just keep cream on it and life goes on.
wait, people use cream? lol. I personally never realy bothered taking care of mine unless they started to get dry and i was concerned with cracking. they have all came out fine. people sweat, its part of our body natural functions. your tattoo will be fine.
A&D ointment for the first 2-3 days, then scentless/non-perfume lotion like Luberderm for another week or so until it’s fully healed.
Gym won’t be a problem.
I use this stuff on mine:
If your sweating you may just want to clean it off after your done at the gym.
x2
I’m about 50% covered so I can attest that this is the best way to heal em (though I use target brand bacitracin not a&d).
You sweat inside out so caking ointment on will cause the body to weep the ink in an effort to let the skin breathe & sweat. Use ointment VERY sparingly. I put in on fairly thick then blot off almost all of it with a paper towel. I wash in the AM then use ointment. I re-apply ointment in the afternoon with no washing. Then at night I wash and put ointment on again.
Don’t lift heavy and make the muscle swell cause it will cause healing issues…been there done that. LOL
Use Tattoo goo or aquaphor. I never liked using the a&d on mine. Use very little though. That stuff goes a long way.
Works best for mine. Haven’t used A&D since I made the switch years ago.
Feed trough tat.
I never used anything
Well, looks like it will be a while before I get anything done, the guy I wanted to do mine isn’t tattooing again intill April.
What are you planning on having done?
With some wording
This with some wording, I have been sitting on the idea for about 4 years now.
I thought tattoo goo sucked personally. Haven’t tried Aquaphor as bacitracin works well for me. Only issue I could see is if you have an allergy to zinc with Target brand bacitracin.
The bottom line is keep it moist and clean but not overly moist or caked with ointment. You can heal a tat dry but it won’t look as crisp as if you use moisturizer. I’ve healed 2 dry and didn’t like the results in comparison.
I may try Aquaphor for the hell of it…I’m overdue for ink anyhow. LOL
Will using Aquaphor give me extra HP? 
Aquaphor is the WORST. It’s 50% petroleum jelly; will dissolve out the ink. I know because I’ve done it before on my leg sleeve and with respect to my others, it looks like shit. Anything with lanolin and mineral oil will also do the same, aka A+D. Only water-based lotions should be used; something like that Tattoo goo, H2Ocean, and Flawless Skin Couture IDRT (intensive dermal restoration therapy treatment) are the best.
Probably 80%+ of tattoo shops advise using A&D or petroleum based products. Is that just to sell touch ups in the future?
In for references to where petroleum eats ink please.
Everyone has some different recommendation; some say absolutely nothing at all besides washing until the scab is off, some say use lotion after 3-4 days, some say use lotion once the plasma oozing stops (around 1-2 days), etc. But really you should use common sense AND do research. The ink is organic-based, meaning immiscible in water. Using something that can dissolve organics, such as oils, it will partially dissolve out the ink and you can see it even in the lotion if you put it on real thick. This is all fact and simple, proven science; if you’ve ever heard of the term “like dissolves like” that’s what I’m defining to you. I’ve experienced this before when I was a tattoo noob. In the end, it’s your piece and you will do what you wanna do, but in my experience, I’ve found that using the water-based lotions as aforementioned, heal the fastest and look more vibrant.
Here is the piece I’m discussing being less vibrant and blurry (the egyptian dude thing down near my ankle), then look at the scarab (not the background/filler):
WIllybeen and myself are men. That is all. 
wtf is a scarab?