I would generally recommend that you speak to your shop/artist about some kind of handout explaining this. If you have this question, then so will others. That aside…
This is normal. One week after a tattoo is about the worst time, with the upper layer of skin peeling much like after a bad sunburn. It will slowly get better over the next week or so, slowing in it’s improvement but continuing to ‘cook’ for up to three months.
What you should do now is keep it moisturized, but not to excess. Make the tattooed skin feel like the surrounding; no more as you can get a rash from too much lotion. If it itches, do not scratch the tattoo. You can slap it, and for most people that’s quite sufficient.
