Care for your body
How
to take care of your tattoos
 Aftercare
is critical to the healing process and the longevity of your
tattoo. Simply put, the better you look after your tattoo
within the first two weeks, the brighter the colors will be,
and the longer the detail will last.
- Remove
the bandage in 4 to 5 hours
- WASH
with HOT water and soap. Let it air dry.
- When
the tattoo is completely dry, apply a layer of ointment,
rebandage, and wear throughout the night.
- Remove
the bandage in the morning, and again wash your tattoo
in HOT water and soap, let it air dry, and then apply
ointment and rebandage.
- Keep
washing and rebandaging your tattoo throughout the
day, every 5 to 6 hours. (This will be slightly uncomfortable
but is very necessary in helping the tattoo heal well.
- After
two days of washing and bandaging, remove bandages
and leave your tattoo dry for 7 to 10 days, or until
your tattoo is fully healed. Your tattoo will be fully
healed when the peeling and flaking is completely
done.
- You
can begin to use lotion on your tattoo approximately
7 to 10 days after you get it done if no scabbing
is present.
- Tattoo
will begin to peel and flake after about 5 days.
- Do
NOT pick at you tattoo; let it heal in its own time.
- If
scabbing occurs, do not pick it or scratch it. Also
make sure not to get any lotion into the scabs.
- Do
NOT exercise or sweat until tattoo is fully healed;
sweat can cause infection and can potentially damage
your tattoo.
- After
your tattoo is fully healed, apply liberal amounts
of sun block every time you go outside.
- You
have been tattooed in a professional studio. It is
now up to you to make sure your tattoo heals properly
by following these instructions.
It
is common to have slight discomfort, redness and/or
warmth after a tattoo. SEEK PROMPT MEDICAL ATTENTION
if you have any of the following symptoms as they may
be signs of infection: PAIN, EXTREME REDNESS, SWELLING
OR PUS-LIKE DRAINAGE.
If
you have ANY questions or concerns about the way your
tattoo is healing, please give us a call IMMEDIATELY
at 480.970.5042
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How
to take care of your piercings
Healing
can be divided into two stages:
1) During the first stage your body produces a tunnel of tissue
around the piercing and the jewelry. It is during this stage
that the piercing is in fact an open wound and more prone
to infection and growing shut. This information will cover
the steps that need to be followed to reduce this. Due to
the fact that everyone heals at different paces, the healing
time could be shorter or longer than the minimum healing times
listed. So if the piercing seems healed but you are unsure,
stop by the piercing studio and ask a professional.
2) The second stage is called the seasoning or toughening period.
During this stage your body adds layer upon layer or tissue
to the tunnel to make the piercing permanent. This stage can
take 1 to 3 years to complete. removing the jewelry for long
periods of time can result in the loss or closing of the piercing.
A good rule of thumb is if you like the piercing, leave something
in it.
Everyone's
body reacts differently but common reactions are:
| |
1) |
Slight bleeding
off and on for the first few days (especially with genital
piercings). |
| |
2) |
Tenderness, itchiness, slight bruising and slight
redness for the first week to two weeks on or around the
piercing. |
| |
3) |
A secretion
of a yellowish/whitish fluid (lymph discharge) that hardens
on the ring throughout the healing time. |
| |
4) |
A tightening around the jewelry throughout the
healing time. |
Basic
Cleaning :
| |
1) |
Wash your
hands with an antibacterial soap before you even think
about touching your jewelry. |
| |
2) |
Remove the lymph discharge by spraying warm water
onto the piercing and the jewelry. this is best done under
running water in the shower. Lymph discharge is your body's
way of removing waste from the piercing. The discarge/crust
is hard and sharp and will form around the piercing holes
and onto the jewelry. If you notice discomfort when trying
to move the jewelry, repeart removal until the jewelry
moves freely. Never force the jewelry to move because
this may draw waste back into the piercing or dislodge
the piercing tunnel. |
| |
3) |
Once the
jewelry and piercing holes are free of discharge/crust
on both sides, gently apply a small amount of liquid antibacterial
soap to the piercing area. Then gently work the soap into
a later on the around the jewelry. The antibacterial soap
needs to have an active ingredient of Triclosan such as
Dial Liquid Antibacterial, Lever 2000 Antibacterial, Soft
Soap Antibacterial, or Almay Hypocare Antibacterial. If
you are sensitive to Triclosan try Clearly Nature Antibacterial
(active ingredient Iodine) or Nutribotic Antibacterial
(active ingredient grapefruit seed oil). |
| |
4) |
Rotate the jewelry through the piercing 6-10
times to work the antiseptic cleaner into the piercing.
Always handle the jewelry by the bead or ball. Allow
the soap to stay in contact with the piercing for 2
to 3 minutes. |
| |
5) |
Rinse the
soap off while rotating the jewelry through the piercing
for a full minutes. With genital piercings urinate immediately
after cleaning. |
How
else can I help my body to heal the piercing?
| |
1) |
Being in
good health by eating a well-balanced diet, getting plenty
of rest and reducing stress. |
| |
2) |
Taking a Zinc Orate supplement for the first two
weeks (60mg for women/120mg for men) and 1000mg supplement
of Mineral Ascorbate of Vit. C three times daily. Always
take supplements with meals. |
| |
3) |
Hot soaks
or compresses with sea salt and warm water (1/8 teaspoon)
or sea salt per cup of warm water (should taste as salty
as your own tears). Do this about three times a week.
Soak should be done while leaning forward and pushing
a coffee cup up into the area until a vacuum has occurrred,
then you can stand or sit erect for 10 minutes while you
soak. Compresses should be done using a clean paper towel
or gauze. |
| |
4) |
With genital piercings (especially with Guiche
piercings) use a panty liner to absorb moisture and
aid in cushioning. |
| |
5) |
Use Bactine
no more than 2 times a day. Apply to piercing with a Q-Tip. |
Cross-Contamination
Prevention:
While
the piercing is going through it's first stage of healing
it is like a portal into the body, so it's important that
the following steps be taken until the healing is complete.
| |
1) |
No oral contact
(including your own saliva) or exchanging of bodily fluids
in/on or around the piercing. |
| |
2) |
WASH YOUR HANDS with an antibacterial soap, then
handle the jewelry only by the beads or the ball to clean
it. |
| |
3) |
Avoid handlgling
the piercing or jewelry after touching anything because
it will increase the chance of cross contamination. |
| |
4) |
Make sure that everything (clothing, towels,
sheets, pillow cases, hats, etc) that may come into
contact with the piercing are clean. Also avoid contact
with shampoos, cosmetics, hairsprays, etc. |
| |
5) |
Do not submerge
the piercing during the first stage of healing into any
body of water (natural waters, hot tubs, swimming pools,
etc.) Take a shower, not baths. |
Removing
Jewelry:
During
the first YEAR don't remove your own jewelry. Have a professional
do it for you. Otherwise every 2 to 3 years you should have
it replaced.
Avoid
abuse and irritation:
A
good rule of thumb is, the more you baby it and the less contact
you have with the piercing, the faster it will heal and the
less problems you will have. During the first stage of healing:
| |
1) |
AVOID Clothing that is too tight, abrasive, irritating and/or
may limit oxygen flow to the piercing. For NAVEL PIERCINGS
do NOT wear pants that have a waistband that contacts
with the piercing. |
| |
2) |
AVOID Sleeping on the piercing or other contact. |
| |
3) |
AVOID Using harsh cleaning agents like Alcohol, Witch Hazel,
Hydrogen Peroxide, Hibiclens, and Betadine. |
| |
4) |
AVOID Using antibacterial and ANY other ointments. They tend
to block the flow of oxygen to the piercing hider the
natural discharge development and/or provide a place
for contaminants to breed. |
For
tongue piercings, the first three days are the most important
:
| |
1) |
Keep ice
in your mouth CONSTANTLY for the first three days or longer. |
| |
2) |
SHUT UP!
DON'T TALK! Do NOT stick it out, play with it, or move
it around at all (if you can help it) for the next three
days or longer. |
| |
3) |
RINSE after
ANYTHING goes in your mouth of the first two weeks. The
best rinses are alcohol-free such as Tech-2000 and Biotene,
but Listerine or generic Listerine will work as well.
You can also swish with sea-salt a couple times a day. |
| |
4) |
In a few
days a small amount of pus will form around the hole.
Do not worry - it will go away by itself. |
If
you have any quesions, please call DANN, your piecing specialist.
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