Anti-Bacterial Ointments:
(Neosporin, Bacitracin, A&D Ointment, etc.)
Before your new Tattoo is bandaged, your Tattoo Artist will typically apply a thin coat of an anti-bacterial ointment, such as Bacitracin or Neosporin from a sterile, single-use packet.
Once you leave the Tattoo Studio, however, it is NOT NECESSARY for you to continue to use an anti-bacterial ointment while your new Tattoo is healing!
YES, a Tattoo is an "open wound" -- and thus subject to the possibility of an infection. With simple good hygiene there is no danger of a serious infection. And continuously apply oily, petroleum-based ointments is actually counter-productive to the healing process. They can clog your pores and prevent the skin from "breathing" and generally unnecessarily prolong the healing-time of your new tattoo. There are also some that believe these oily products "leech" pigment out of the skin, thus contributing to a loss of color and vibrancy in your tattoo.
By virtue of the Tattooing process itself, you are going to see colored pigment "shed" from your Tattoo during the healing process. The stability of the pigment in your skin, however, depends much more on the technical skill of the Tattoo Artist that applied your Tattoo (depth of needle, not overworking your skin, etc.) and the density of the pigment used (denser inks will result in more insertion of pigment under the skin) than to the healing process itself. But your new Tattoo is actually much less fragile than you think!
Special Note Regarding A&D Ointment: Also a popular topical ointment for healing Tattoos. But be warned: If you are applying this ointment to a very large area that has been Tattooed, it is possible to have an adverse reaction from an overdose where the skin absorbs too much of the active ingredients. If you are going to use an anti-bacterial ointment, either Neosporin or Bacitracin is a better choice.