Tattoo Healing Instructions

Tattoo No-No's - No Swimming! No Tanning! No Hot Water! No Picking!

#1. Leave the bandage on for at least 3 to 5 hours. After you've removed the bandage, follow directions below. You do not need to bandage it again. Your tattoo needs air to heal, so keep it dry and wear loose clothing.

#2. Wash tattoo twice daily at the sink with warm water, soap and finger tips, be gentle. Pat dry with clean towel. Apply Vaseline and blot until it is no longer sticky. If you can see the Vaseline it is too thick!

#3. Apply Vaseline, 2-4 times a day to keep the scab flexible. You can use an antibiotic ointment, but this is optional and for the first 48 hours only.

#4. Coat tattoo with heavy Vaseline to protect it from too much water in the shower. Do not at any time soak your Tattoo. After you shower, gently remove all of the Vaseline with a tissue. Getting your tattoo too wet will take out the colors, scar your skin and slow healing.

#5. In 6 -10 days the scab will flake off and you can resume normal treatment of area. Do not try to speed up this process with picking or rubbing. If you are itching, sting the skin with your finger tips, or apply ointment.

When your tattoo has healed there will be a layer of dry white flaky skin on your tattoo, it is normal and will wear off in a few weeks. You can make it look brighter by putting any gentle lotion on it.

If you want the colors to last, use sun block when in full sun or in tanning booth!

Piercing Care Instructions

Jewelry may not be changed or removed for the first three months.

Important Note: If you have a barbell piercing - be sure to tighten the balls morning and evening!!

SOAP must be pure and contain NO PERFUME, DEODORANT, COLD CREAM OR ABRASIVES. Pure Ivory Soap or Nutragena are recommended - please don’t use anything else.

Cleaning your new piercing (Clean Twice each day until seepage stops – 6 – 8 weeks) (Once daily thereafter)Follow All Cleaning Steps In Order

• Use warm water and a tissue or Q-tip to gently remove any crusty residue before moving jewelry.- Apply soap to jewelry and piercing and work soap into piercing by sliding jewelry back and forth gently.
• Rinse with water while working jewelry back and forth through piercing…Repeat Cleaning....
• On final rinse GET ALL SOAP RINSED OUT or piercing may become irritated from soap residue.
• For first week apply hydrogen peroxide after washing with soap- For first several weeks also apply salt water (table or sea salt/water, or Epsom salt soaks)
• Rinse Well

After Cleaning - Lubricate using PURE PETROLEUM JELLY (Vaseline) ONLY. Work Vaseline into the hole. You may gently wipe off excess Vaseline from your skin around the piercing, it is only needed in the hole. Lubricate with Vaseline 2 times daily for 6 months and as needed thereafter for jewelry to turn easily.

Stuck jewelry should never be forced!!! Use warm water to soften and gently remove stuck matter - then lubricate.

It is normal for the piercing to be a little red or puffy up to ¼ inch around the hole for up to three months. This is all normal and will go away when the piercing is healed.

A new piercing may bleed a drop or two and be a little tender the first few days, especially right after sleeping on it.

It takes a whole year for most piercings to be totally healed, (2 yrs for cartilage) though they may look healed right away. If the jewelry is removed prematurely, the delicate inside of the piercing can easily be torn and damaged.

Be gentle with new piercings. Light charms or chains are ok. No heavy weights or rough play for one year.

No oral or sexual (fluid) contact with new piercings for 30 days.

Tongue Piercing Care

Rinse two times daily with antiseptic mouthwash (Listerine, scope etc.) Twice a day is enough – too much causes irritations.- Follow a strict liquid diet for 4 days. (Instant Breakfast Drinks, Fruit and Veg. Juice, Soup Broth)

Gently reintroduce solid food on 5th day. Start with soft and mushy – not chewy - foods.

Reduce talking for 4 days. Sip ice water and circulate in mouth if you have to be talking. Only talk if you really have to. (!!!)- Swish often with ice water and eat lots of cold stuff to keep swelling down. (slurpies, crushed ice, popsicles, ice-cream, etc.) Don’t lick or suck. Take small bites and allow to melt in mouth. You are trying to Not Move your tongue around – to reduce swelling.

A small amount of swelling is expected. Cheating on the diet or excessive talking may cause major swelling. (it can be frightening)

The jewelry is long enough to accommodate any amount of swelling. If you experience excessive swelling, don’t panic - ICE IT! It is Best to Just Be Tough - Don’t Cheat! If you will stick to the rules for 4 days you will be Healed and Happy!

Smokers may clean their jewelry of haze “in place” with a Q-tip and vinegar. NO French kissing or giving oral sex for 30 days.

Genital Piercings

Follow general healing instructions. No intercourse for 4-7 days. Use a condom during intercourse for 30 days. Do not allow oral contact with new piercing for 30 days.

Irritations

White or cream colored pus, but no pain, swelling etc. is generally a reaction to irritation. (Hair in piercing or not lubricated enough or soap not completely rinsed out or someone yanked on it...etc.) This is easily remedied. (call the studio)

A sudden irritation may cause a bump by the hole that will go away on its own - eventually. There are ways to hurry it up. If the jewelry must be removed for surgery, testing or childbirth, a piece of monofilament line (fishing line or weed whacker line) may be used to keep the hole open temporarily. We perform this service for our clients at no charge. Jewelry may usually be replaced right after the procedure.

It is expected that any piercing may possibly sever some of the several thousand nerve endings in the area of the piercing, particularly in areas where the nerves are densely packed such as the nipple, clitoris or the head of the penis. Your body is designed with back up systems of nerves so that this is generally not a problem. Sensitivity may be increased or decreased or not affected at all. The area of the piercing may be numb or extra sensitive for a week or two and then return to normal. However, there is always the chance of permanent loss or increase of sensitivity, though such incidents are essentially unheard of and fall generally in the realm of urban legend.

Infections

Infections are rare, but suspect skin conditions should be treated seriously. Your piercer is experienced with healing issues pertaining to body piercing, including basic infection care.

If you have ANY concerns about your piercing or if you see any signs of infection such as redness extending beyond 1/4 inch, excessive swelling, a sense of excessive heat in the area, too tender to touch jewelry, green or yellow pus - Don’t wait to see if it goes away on it’s own. See your piercer the same day you notice the concern. If you can’t come in, call on the phone or email.

Do NOT remove the jewelry. Removing the jewelry eliminates a passageway for elimination of pus and debris. Infections can be cleared up within a few days, if you catch it right away. Find infection care instructions at the studio or through email. We do not charge for aftercare service.

If you are unable to consult with your artist, it is recommended you seek the advice of a physician with immediacy.