CARE & HEALING OF YOUR TATTOO
Proper care of your tattoo is VITAL! Not only for the prevention of infection and irritation, but for the longevity of the details and color of your tattoo. Please read these instructions thoroughly, and contact your artist if you have any questions or concerns. Failure to adhere to these guidelines, based on your artist’s observation of the condition of the tattoo, may result in denial of your complimentary touch-up.
Contact your Doctor if:
There are any signs of infection (fever, increasing redness and swelling, pus/discharge)
The site shows signs of allergic reaction (hives, unusual swelling and/or redness)
ALWAYS wash your hands for 30 seconds with anti-bacterial hand soap and dry with a disposable paper towel before touching your tattoo. Ensure that all towels and bed linens in contact with the tattoo are clean.
Total healing time for most tattoos will be 1-2 months. Taking care of your body in general will help reduce your healing time. Get plenty of rest, hydrate, make healthy food choices, avoid alcohol and tobacco.
DO NOT use sunblock until tattoo has peeled completely.
WEEK 1
WHAT TO EXPECT:
Soreness, redness, seeping fluid (plasma, excess ink) in first 24-48 hours. Very soft, velvet-like after fluid weeping stops (if unwrapped).
WITH ADHESIVE BANDAGE
Initial adhesive bandage must stay on for 4-6 days.
Leave the wrap on. It will itch, and it’s okay to gently tap it for relief, or use a cold compress. If any corners lift, carefully cut them off with clean scissors to prevent more of the wrap from being peeled off. If you have leakage, large fluid build-up, or if any part of the wrap over the tattooed area peels away, come see us to be re-wrapped.
After 4-6 days, carefully remove the wrap in the shower or with soapy water to aid in removal. Gently wash with mild, unscented soap (Dial, Softsoap, etc) and pat dry with a paper towel and allow to air dry for 15-20 minutes.
UNWRAPPED
Remove temporary bandage after 2-3 hours (or 1 hour during very hot weather or when excessively sweaty). Clean gently with mild, unscented soap. Pat dry with a paper towel.
DO NOT apply any lotion or aftercare for the first 24 hours, or until the tattoo has stopped actively weeping fluid. Allow the tattoo to breathe, and gently dab any seeping fluid with a clean paper towel. If necessary, it can be covered with a non-stick Band-Aid pad and medical tape to absorb fluid and provide protection.
When tattoo becomes dry-feeling and tight, apply a thin layer of unscented, water-based lotion (Curel, Lubiderm, Aveeno, etc) or aftercare salve.
Wash twice a day (morning and before bed) or more if exposed to dust or contaminates, or if you have sweating. Pat dry and allow to further air dry for 10-15 minutes before applying a thin layer of lotion or aftercare salve.
Avoid contact with tight clothing or sleeping on the area. Wear loose-fitting clothing while sleeping or cover with non-stick wound pads and medical tape.
WEEK 2
WHAT TO EXPECT:
Slight scabbing, flaking, itchiness, shiny skin
Wash tattoo once a day and after getting sweaty or dirty. Pat dry with a paper towel and apply aftercare salve or lotion.
Apply aftercare 1-2 times per day, or as needed when area becomes overly dry. Take care not to over-saturate the area. Let it breathe!
DO NOT SOAK OR SUBMERGE YOUR TATTOO. This includes baths, swimming, saunas, hot tubs, etc.
Do not scratch or itch your tattoo, or attempt to peel any flakes off. Give it a gentle smack if it’s unbearable.
WEEK 3 & BEYOND
WHAT TO EXPECT:
Slight flaking, shiny skin, slightly raised areas along lines
Continue to apply mild moisturizer as needed.
Once flaking has stopped, apply SPF 50 sunscreen daily and re-apply as needed. Continue use throughout the life of the tattoo. UV rays WILL fade tattoo ink and will also darken the pigment of your skin over the tattoo, resulting in more dull or muted colors. Reds, oranges, yellows, and browns are especially prone to fading from UV exposure.
Avoid prolonged sun exposure to the area for at least 8 weeks. This includes sun tanning or tanning beds. If you will be working or spending time out in the sun for an extended period, consider wearing UV-blocking clothing or a bandage to cover the area.
CARE & HEALING OF YOUR PIERCING
This is just a brief summary of APP (Association of Professional Piercers) suggested aftercare for piercings. For the complete information, please visit their website at the link below.
CLEAN YOUR PIERCING
Spray Both Sides w/ Sterile Saline Wound Wash (NeilMed, Steriwash, etc.)
Spray both sides of the piercing TWICE per day
This acts as a Ph-neutral irrigation to wash away contaminates and dried secretions, and is the standard of care for puncture wounds.
Do NOT Use Any:
Soaps
Cleansers
Astringents
Alcohol
Hydrogen peroxide
Eye contact solution
Homemade saltwater
“Piercing Care” solutions that contain additives or preservatives, or
ANY other product other than Sterile Saline Wound Wash or plain water.
Keep it simple, your body knows exactly how to heal itself.
Rinse Well at the End of EVERY Shower
This will help flush dried blood and secretions from the area.
Spray with sterile saline after your shower to return it to a Ph-neutral state.
Dry the Area CAREFULLY
Use a disposable paper product or the cool setting of a blow dryer.
A constantly wet piercing is an unhappy piercing!
Avoid cotton swabs on the piercing directly, as they can leave fibers behind that will cause irritation.
LEAVE IT ALONE!
There is no need to twist or rotate your jewelry. The less movement and contact with germy fingers, the better!
The only time you should be touching your piercing is to check that your ball or end is still secure (with clean hands).
WHAT TO EXPECT
First Week
Swelling
Redness
Bruising
Soreness
Slight bleeding and dried blood
Rest of Initial Healing Period (2-3 months)
Tenderness
Itching
Slight redness or discoloration
White/yellowish discharge that will build up a “crust” around the jewelry
KEEP SPRAYING AND RINSING DAILY!
Full Healing
Healing happens from the outside in, so even when it seems healed and isn’t sore anymore, the inside tissue is still very delicate and sensitive.
Complete healing for nearly all piercings will take 6-12 months, so be patient and baby it.
Keep jewelry changes to a minimum, and do NOT leave jewelry out for more than a few minutes.
WHAT TO AVOID
Touching
Seriously, leave it alone!
Over-Cleaning
It can easily cause irritation and set back healing. Trust the process, and when in doubt, do less.
Sleeping or Putting Pressure on Piercing
If you tend to sleep on the side of your piercing, utilize a travel pillow to take pressure off of the area. Pressure to a healing piercing can easily cause irritation bumps and “migration”, where the angle of the piercing can shift.
Pools, Hot Tubs, Rivers, Lakes, Baths, Spray Tanning…
Basically, stay away from any conditions that are potentially dirty or unhygienic. Keep your bedding, clothing, and anything that may come into contact with the area as clean as possible.
Other Cleaning Solutions, Ointments, Creams, Or Other Substances
The only solution you should be putting on your piercing is a Sterile Saline Wound Wash. Any of the options listed above are more likely to irritate and harm the wound than help. You will hear and read tons of advice and “success” stories, but in our extensive experience, they do more harm than good. Less is more!
ORAL PIERCINGS
Rinse Your Mouth with Water after:
You eat, drink, or come into contact with anything other than water.
Brush and floss your teeth TWICE daily, and after the initial healing, gently brush the jewelry to prevent plaque buildup.
If you regularly use mouthwash, use one that is free of alcohol and peroxide (Biotene, Tom’s, etc.).
Expect Significant Swelling (especially in lip piercings)
The first 1-2 weeks of healing will be especially swollen.
Sucking on ice chips and taking anti-inflammatory OTC medication like Ibuprofen or Naproxen will help.
Downsizing once swelling has subsided is ESSENTIAL, so make an appointment to come back in about 3-4 weeks.
Use Caution when Eating!
Eat small bites, chew carefully, and avoid overly spicy, salty, or temperature hot foods for the first week.
Soft, mushy, or sticky food like mashed potatoes and oatmeal are also NOT recommended because they will stick to your mouth and jewelry.
Resist “Playing” with Your Jewelry Inside Your Mouth
The less movement the piercing is subjected to, the faster it will heal.
HINTS & TIPS
A Healthy, Happy Body WILL Heal Faster!
Get enough rest, hydrate and eat well, avoid smoking and drinking alcohol, and exercise regularly to get that blood circulating.
Check Your Jewelry!
If your jewelry is threaded, check DAILY, with thoroughly clean hands, that the balls or ends are tight and secure.
Thread-less jewelry should also be checked often to ensure it is still pushed all the way in, especially if it has been snagged. Squeeze the disk back and top together firmly and then check for tightness by pulling on the top gently while holding the disk back.
Watch Out for Snagging!
Use extra caution when removing your mask, getting changed, using wash cloths, loofas and drying off with a towel.
Snagging your jewelry can increase the changes of your jewelry coming loose and extend your healing time by weeks.