After Care

How To Care For Your New Tattoo

1. Leave your bandage on for 2-4 hours after your tattoo is completed.
2. Remove your bandage and gently wash your tattoo with a mild soap and warm water using your fingertips only
3. Let your tattoo air dry for 30 - 60 minutes
4. Put a very thin layer of  Aquaphor ointment on your tattoo.
5. Re-apply the ointment 3-5 times a day for 7 days.
6. After the 7 days start using Lubriderm hand cream  Your tattoo will seep and scab slightly.  Don't panic, this is normal.  

The outcome of your tattoo is a direct result of how well you take care of it.  Neglect and stupidity will ruin your investment.

 

What Not To Do To Your New Tattoo

1. Do not use any ointments not listed above on your tattoo.
2. Do not pick your tattoo.  This will pull out the ink
3. Do not scratch your tattoo.  When it itches, slap it gently.
4. Do not submerge your tattoo in water for an extend amount of time while it is healing, such as baths or swimming.
5. No swimming, No Tanning while your tattoo is healing
6. Do not listen to your friends or family's advice on aftercare.  Call us if you have questions.

Use common sense when healing your tattoo.  I've seen many tattoos screwed up due to unorthodox healing methods.  Just follow these simple instructions and your tattoo will look great for years to come.  Always remember to use sun block after your tattoo is healed to maintain the longevity of your color.

 

                                                                                                                                   

                                                              Piercing  Aftercare

The most important thing to keep in mind after your body piercing has been performed is that you have essentially just sustained an open wound, and you should be caring for it exactly like you would a surgical wound or injury. That is, with the same kind of care, cleanliness, and attention that you would to a serious injury to make sure that you don’t scar or get an infection. There are 2 different types of piercings to consider: non-oral, and oral. 

 

NON ORAL BODY PIERCING AFTERCARE

Keeping your piercing clean cannot be stressed too much! Twice a day, everyday, without fail. No excuses. Use a mild antibacterial soap that dosent have fragrances in it. The best place to clean your piercing is usually in the shower, where the warm water will help you loosen and remove those crusties around the base of your jewelry. Use a cotton swab or a Kleenex to remove these, and then throw it away. Never use a washcloth !! They are breeding grounds for bacteria and germs! Same for bath towels after you shower!

Then, with CLEAN hands, gently cleanse the area with soap and turn the jewelry just a little to get some soap in the piercing. Let it sit for a miute or two. Rinse thoroughly with warm water. Make sure you get any and all soap out and off, so to prevent any irritation. Rinsing is very important!

 

DON’T FORGET YOUR SEA SALT SOAKS!!!!

 

After cleansing, a sea salt soak helps to draw out any piercing infection and impurities while soothing the area and calming any inflammation that may be present. Mix about a ¼ teaspoon of sea salt with about 8 ounces of warm water. Using a Dixie, or disposable cup, soak your piercing for about 10 minutes the first time, and about 5 minutes each time after that. If your piercing is in a location that makes this difficult, apply the solution with cotton swabs, tissue, or some other disposable product that is soft and clean. Never use a hanky, washcloth or any item that will be reused.

Always pat your piercing dry with cotton balls, swabs, or tissues. Do not rub them- Pat them! This reduces irritation and the possible tearing of the skin and promotes healing. Although it seems to be a minor step, keeping your piercing dry is actually an essential part of piercing aftercare because it reduces the opportunities for bacteria to breed. ( They love warm moist places to play!)

 

If you aren’t sure about mixing your sea salt soaks yourself, or if its too inconvenient, theres a new alternative on the market that less messy and portable. H2ocean piercing spray is a premixed sea salt solution containing  lysozyme, a natural antibacterial that’s gentle to the skin. Simply spray it on area and allow to drip dry.

 

Once a day, not more often, as you will irritate it, with clean hands, check that the ends of your jewelry are screwed on tight.

 

A FEW DONTS

Don’t ever put hydrogen peroxide or alcohol on your piercing! They are too drying and will delay healing

Don’t ever use Neosporin  or any other ointment on your piercing! This will trap in bacteria!

Don’t ever remove your jewelry before your piercing is healed.

Don’t sleep on your piercing until the initial healing process is over.

Don’t wear tight clothing over your piercing while it is healing

 

ORAL AFTERCARE

 

During the first three to six weeks after an oral piercing, rinse your mouth with an antibacterial agent after every meal to kill bacteria and make sure no tiny food particles aren't lodged around or inside your piercing waiting to fester and turn into future problems. There are several excellent products out there for this. We recommend BIOTENE or TECH 2000 dental rinse. These have proper ingredients and the right potency to get the job done.

Don’t bother with mouthwash. It is not strong enough to do anything except cover your bad breath,which wont be much consolation when you have a swollen tongue due to improper aftercare. You can also use a commercial antibacterial rinse, but dilute it with water 50/50 so its not too strong. If your tongue develops whitish or yellowish look your mouth rinse is too strong and is delaying the healing of your piercing.

 

SEA SALT RINSES AHHH….

Mix the solution of sea salt and swish this in your mouth for 15-20 seconds after drinking anything other then bottled water and after smoking. Its not only an aid to healing, but can be very soothing to the pierced area.If your pierced area is sore or swollen, you can find some relief by allowing crushed ice to melt in your mouth, Popsicles, ice cream and the like will also wok, but must be followed up, like everything else with a sea salt rinse.

You can keep your tongue and piercing as clean as you want, but if you don’t brush your teeth well, you’ll still have millions of bacteria in your mouth. Try to brush your teeth three times a day during the first several weeks of healing. Buy a new soft bristle brush that will be gentle on your piercing. Don’t use a brush that you’ve already used before your piercing, as it will harbor old bacteria. You should also gently brush the balls on the ends of your piercing jewelry to prevent natural build up of plaque.

    ORAL PIERCING DONT'S

   Don’t smoke, chew gum or use snuff or rub during the healing period; these increase the risk of infection.

   Don’t play with the piercing jewelry or click it against your teeth; this can cause cracking of the tooth enamel.

   Don’t engage in any activities, including kissing, that exchange bodily fluids during the initial healing period.

    GENERAL TIPS TO IMPROVE HEALING

Proper piercing aftercare is the primary reason for a successfully healed body modification, but your overall health and how well you take care of yourself is also a contributing factor.

DON’T PLAY WITH YOUR PIERCINGS!! Your hands are always dirty, and it leads to irritation and infection!!!!!!

Drink plenty of fluids, try to get 8 hours of sleep, try to limit stress, and take vitamin c and zinc supplements.

If the pain bothers you, take Ibuphrophen.

    SIGNS OF TROUBLE

Even with an excellent piercer, and excellent care, there will be some swelling at the site of the piercing for a few days. You will also have some clear, watery discharge and perhaps  some mild bleeding. The bleeding will usually stop within 24 hours while the discharge may last several weeks. This is simply drainage of the wound and actually helps prevent infection.

Discharge that becomes noticeably thicker and is yellow or green in color, could be sign of infection. See your doctor. Also keep in mind that an infected piercing in which the jewelry is taken out, could trap the infection inside and lead to other problems. Ask your doctor or piercing professional before taking out a piercing because of infection.

Red streaks from the piercing site and a fever, along with body aches. See your doctor.

Hives, redness, itching, and irritation around the piercing, which may signal an allergic reaction to the jewelry or metal used. Contact your piercing professional to see if this is a factor, and if you can find an alternative metal to replace it.

Difficulty breathing, wheezing, or a feeling that your mouth or throat are swelling closed after your piercing..Seek medical attention immediately!!!!

 REJECTION.....

 

Certain piercings have a much higher rate of rejection then others.  Among the most rejected piercing are surface piercings which can be very sensitive to pressure. The most common surface piercings are navel (belly button) and eyebrow piercings. Sometimes piercing rejection can be stopped with TLC and plenty of attention, other times you will need to remove the jewelry and let the area heal before attempting to pierce it again. Repiercing does not mean that it wont happen again. Some people are prone to this for whatever reason. Try using a different metal the next time. Repeated piercing and rejecting can lead to permanent scarring.

If you perform your piercing aftercare properly, your body will heal cleanly and leave you with a beautiful new piercing with no scarring, migration, or keloids.The time it takes for this ,however, will vary depending on what piercing you have, how well you take care of it, and yourself. These are just general times, and there are a thousand variables.

Earlobe or eyebrow: 6-8 weeks

Genitals: 4 weeks –4 months

Labret/ lip: 6-8 weeks

Navel: 6-18 months

Nipple: 3-6 months

Nostril: 3 months – 1 year

Septum: 6-8 weeks

Tongue: 4-6 weeks

Cartilage: 3 months – 1year

 

If you have any questions or concerns, please don’t hesitate to come down to the shop, or contact us : 207-608-0306