I got a tattoo (not my first) on the 13th, it was on my wrist and bled slightly at first.

I had been regularly applying Prep H to it to keep it moist but found it made the skin tight and uncomfortable. About 3/4 days later I was advised by a heavily tattooed friend to apply some E45 Lotion (the plain one) to soften it and I did. The next day it had scabbed with YELLOW scabs (the ink is black and blue) and I am concerned this may be a sign of infection.

The tattoo is not painful, hot, swollen, bleeding/oozing and it does not smell. But all my previous tattoo scabbed the colour of the ink e.g. black. Yellow scabs make me think of infection... advice?

Preparation H actually slows down healing - I realize it's been recommended for use with tattoos for a very long time but do a little research. It traps bacteria, unlike an antibiotic cream.

I'm not sure the color (yellow) isn't a result of the color of PrepH.

I am reading antibiotic cream of some sort is the answer. What does the tattoo artist say?

I saw my doctor rather than the tattooist, I have just been encouraged to continue what I have been doing since suspecting an infection - washing regularly with mild anti bacterial soap and then covering with savlon cream.

I tend to take the word of my tattooist when it comes to aftercare and have been recommended by several (I have a number of tattoos) to use Prep H, it concerns me to hear you've read that it can be detrimental to the healing process and I will rethink using it. It has never caused me trouble before.

I am fairly sure the infection is very superficial and will clear up quickly, though it will likely have spoilt the tattoo and I will need it touched up, I am fairly certain the yellow scab is infection and it has lifted out the ink.

I would research the PrepH question in depth. My late husband was a Doctor of Pharmacy, I attended his workshops with him, this was actually covered in an "over the counter" extended learning seminar.

I have always been told by my artist and others, as well as through research online, to initially wash the tattoo with anti-bacterial soap when I get home and basically make sure I get all the plasma off my arm so that it doesn't scab so bad.

Then for a couple days to use some Vitamin A & D cream to help protect the skin as it heals. Then after that to use unscented lotion. I've always used Lubriderm (which does burn a little). All of my tattoos have turned out well.

As long as you take care of it, most tattoos should turn out fine. They're pretty resilient.