Hey Ross,
imo, every 3-4 hours is a bit too much... with bepanthen, you have to apply just enough (really a little) in order that your tattoo is not too dry and let the scabs do their work, and in the meantime not too much and avoid a wet tattoo. You just have to find the right dosage. Like already said by the LST friends, keep it clean is the key: I advice you Dr Bronner Pure-Castile Liquid Soaps, that was advice to me by Valerie Vargas, and I'm always use it for my tattoo and now every day too!