I use 3 different methods of healing tattoos as dictated by my mood
1) Bepanthen - Applied very very sparingly to the tattoo at least twice a day, ~10mins after showers so that the skin is dry. I get very thin scabs with this method of healing, and I find it to be good for areas where there's a lot of movement (eg. in between your arm ditch and elbow)
2)Tegaderm - applied roughly six hours after getting tattooed. stick it on and take it off 5 days later. It's a breathable antibacterial occlusive bandage made by 3M, It's meant to act like a second skin, specifically for open wounds and burns.
I like this one as it is so fuss free, your arm doesn't hurt to the touch after the second day, and I find it especially useful if you are frequently in situations where you could potentially hit your tattoo against something.
I also find it very useful when I get anything done on my arms, I don't need to worry too much about accidental ink splatter and whatnot while tattooing.
3) Natural healing - scabs come out slightly thicker for me and take a day or two longer to flake off, but otherwise fine