Summer time is the peak season for new tattoos. With a few simple steps, you can help your new tattoo heal quickly and without complications. Here are a few pointers...

First, ALWAYS follow your tattoo artist's advice over anyone else's since they are the experts, they created it and they know their stuff!

Following, is what I've learned since entering the tattoo aftercare business, making my product, Raven Tattoo Care, an aftercare salve for healing new tats:

~At the first sign of infection or swelling, go immediately to your doctor's office - but, thanks to today's sterile environments, complications are rare.

~ Most important of all, keep your new tattoo clean!

~Once your bandage has been removed, do not pick at your new tattoo.

~Keep it very clean by gently washing it a couple of times a day with a mild antibacterial soap and gently patting dry. Then apply your aftercare.

~Very important to note during the intensely hot summer months, it is best to keep a new tattoo out of the sun! Almost everyone forgets to reapply sunscreen, and so why take the risk of burning your new tat and ending up with a mess? Just keep it covered up completely for a minimum of 3 weeks as this is the average complete healing period. The more you protect it at this point, the better it will heal and look later.

~Try to stay out of water - bathtubs, hot tubs and pools for the first three weeks, these things just impede the healing process and can damage the work you paid for!

~Don't use vaseline, citrus products, tea tree products (or anything with unnecessary chemicals, dyes or perfumes on your new tattoo. If you can't afford to buy the aftercare for healing it, it's better to use nothing on it, than to potentially ruin the ink with clogged pores or rashes!). Remember, you chose the design, endured the pain, paid for it, now don't ruin it -- protect it so you can show it off for years to come and make your artist proud!

This article was written to inform only and is not meant as medical advice. I am not a doctor, but am in the tattoo industry. For any further questions, or to order Raven, feel free to go to the Raven Tattoo Care website at www.raventattoocare.com or email me at missy@raventattoocare.com