Aftercare

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TATTOO AFTERCARE

Instructions

Leave the bandage on for 2-3 hours after covered by your tattooist.

1. Remove bandage and wash immediately.

  1. Wash with open palm using warm soapy water. We suggest using a fragrance-free and dye-free antimicrobial soap.  Remove any plasma, ink, or blood from the tattoo.

  1. Let warm water run over the tattoo for 5-10 minutes. Follow with a cold rinse for several minutes to close the pores in the skin (this may be beneficial for the first couple of days).

  1. Let air dry or blot with a new clean paper towel. Apply a very thin layer of suggested aftercare product. Reapply a thin layer as needed through the day with clean hands.

Continue washing 2-3 times a day (or as directed) and apply aftercare products after washings and as needed until the tattoo is completely healed. Remember that different designs and placements on the body as well as different people and skin types will heal differently. Please call or stop in with any questions concerning healing.

Things to AVOID

  – go swimming, bathing, or soak your tattoo in water

   – expose it to the sun

   – apply sunscreen on it

    – wear tight or irritating clothing

    – Touch it without washing your hands first.

    – pick at it

    – cover it unless directed otherwise.

Soaps and Products

Cleaning with Soaps

Satin:   Mild antimicrobial soap, some moisturizing properties

Provon:  Mild antimicrobial soap, some moisturizing properties

Dr. Bronner’s:  All natural, pure-castile liquid soap.

Suggested Lotions

Ohana Organics:          Tattoo Butter Organic and All Natural 

Curel:          Fragrance free lotion

Lubriderm:        Fragrance free lotion

Things to Avoid

– Touching piercings with unclean hands, hats, phones, etc. (#1 cause of infection)

– Over cleaning piercings (over cleaning a piercing can cause dryness and irritation which slows down the healing process)

– Using products other than what’s suggested (alcohol, and hydrogen peroxide are very drying and kill white blood cells)

– Wearing clothing that’s tight or restricting to the area that has been pierced (a vented eye patch bought from a pharmacy can be -worn over piercings to protect them from clothing or rough contact while playing sports)

– Hot tubs, swimming pools, fresh water lakes, and streams and Oceans can contain myriad bacteria that can irritate and possibly infect healing piercings.  A waterproof breathable bandage such asPolyskin can be applied to the piercing prior to swimming to avoid contamination with these bacteria.

– Oral or Sexual contact with piercings while they are healing can be hazardous—condoms for sex, and plastic wrap for oral sex is suggested to avoid the contraction of diseases.  (Listen to your body-if it hurts it’s probably not a good idea.)

– Wearing jewelry of inappropriate material, size, or design for your particular piercing.  (Consult your piercer before buying new jewelry.  Body jewelry is not one size fits all!!)

– Removing jewelry if you think your piercing is infected. This can eliminate a passage way for discharge of puss and matter.

– Wearing band-aids on piercings limits air circulation and the adhesive can irritate the surrounding area.

– Applying make-up, lotion, sunscreen, hairspray, and other foreign substances to piercings could irritate them.

– Rotating or moving jewelry doesn’t promote healing. It disrupts the delicate cells forming around your jewelry. Be gentle.

PIERCING AFTERCARE

Cleaning with Soaps

Instructions: DO NOT clean more than 2 times daily. (Over cleaning a piercing can cause dryness and irritation.)

Wash hands thoroughly with an antibacterial or antimicrobial liquid soap.

With a small amount of soap and warm water work a lather around the piercing, saturating both holes and the jewelry. Continue to massage the area of 30 seconds.

Use clean q-tips to remove any dried matter from the jewelry. (dried matter is less difficult to remove if soften first by rinsing the pierced area for several minutes with water)

Rinse by running warm water over the piercing.  (Urination after cleaning is encouraged for some genital piercings – don’t worry, your urine is sterile to your own body.)

Suggested Soaps:

Satin:   Mild antimicrobial soap, some moisturizing properties

Provon:   Mild antimicrobial soap, some moisturizing properties

Dr. Bronner’s:   All natural, pure-castile liquid soap, cool and refreshing. Not as effective as an antimicrobial soap like Satin and Provon.

Cleaning with Saline Solutions

Instructions: Clean 2-3 times a day. (Over cleaning a piercing can cause dryness and irritation.)

Soaking (Preferred method):

Wash hands thoroughly with an antibacterial or antimicrobial liquid soap.  Fill a small cup with preferred solution and invert it over the area to form a vacuum. (healing the solution by stove top or microwave may be helpful)  For certain placements it is easier to use a paper towel or gauze pad soaked in the solution and applied to the area.  Use either method to soak your piercing for 5-10 minutes. Use clean hands and q-tips to remove any dried matter from the jewelry.A clear water rinse after soaking may be preferred.

Suggested saline solutions:

Saline:  Mix 4 teaspoons of non-iodized Sea Salt to 1 gallon of distilled water. (For smaller proportions mix ¼ teaspoon of Sea Salt to 1 cup or 8 oz of  Distilled water.)

Sterile Saline:  (with no additives) This product is found in most pharmacies. Maybe labeled as wound care saline.

H2Ocean: Purified ocean salt water in a non-aerosol dry mist spray bottle

 

– Or –

Wash hands thoroughly with an antibacterial or antimicrobial liquid soap.  Spray, pour, or apply solution with q-tips to pierced area to remove dried matter. A clear water rinse after cleaning may be preferred.

Oral Piercings

The use of ice and an over the counter anti-inflammatory such as Ibuprofen is strongly suggested to minimize swelling for 3 days after being pierced. Rinse with Saline Solution 2 times a day for 10-15 seconds. (those with high blood pressure or heart problems need only use warm water without sea salt) For Lip, Monroe, and Labret piercings follow the procedure for cleaning piercings using saline solutions to care for exterior hole. Rinse with an alcohol free mouthwash for 1 minute after eating, drinking, or smoking. (it is not advisable to smoke or drink alcohol during healing) Brush the jewelry and around your piercing to prevent plaque build-up.  (by buying a new soft bristled tooth brush you can avoid introducing new bacteria to your piercing) A shorter length barbell or labret post is highly suggested once the piercing is healed to prevent damage to gums and teeth.

AVOID: Eating spicy, salty, acidic, or hot foods and beverages as it can irritate piercings.

Suggested Oral Rinses:

H2Ocean Oral:  All natural sea salt rinse uses enzymes to cleanse your piercing

Tech 2000:  (dilute one 4 oz bottle in 32 oz of clean water) antimicrobial, alcohol free Mouth wash used throughout the day to clean oral piercings.

Biotene:  Antimicrobial, alcohol free mouth wash used throughout the day to clean oral piercings