Tattoo Healing Instructions

After receiving a tattoo, it is bandaged.  We recommend leaving the bandage on for 1-2 hours afterword.  If you are going to be somewhere that it could be exposed to dirt or contamination, you should leave the bandage on until you are away from those conditions.  When you remove the bandage, wash the tattoo with soap and water, rinse, and gently pat dry.  After drying, apply a thin layer of moisturizer such as A&D ointment, Bacitracin, or Aquaphor.  These are good products to use.  Petroleum based products such as these may be used for the first three days after receiving your tattoo, applying 4-5 times per day.  After the first three day period, switch to a fragrance free skin moisturizer, such as Lubriderm, Eucerin, or Aveeno.  These are just a few of the good dry skin moisturizers.  Continue applying 4-5 times per day, for a two week period.  Things to avoid during the first two week period include Swimming, Sun Bathing, and Tanning Booths.  It is good to wash the tattoo daily, but avoid prolonged soaking for the first two weeks.  After the first two week period, it is suggested to use a sunscreen, when in the sun, to protect your tattoo and keep it looking good.

Body Piercing Aftercare

General Aftercare

NEVER touch piercing with dirty hands.  Wash hands immediately before touching or cleaning your piercing every time, using a mild liquid antibacterial soap only to wash piercing and jewelry, while rotating the jewelry itself.  After the soap has sat in the piercing a couple of minutes, thoroughly rinse by applying water and rotating the jewelry several times, to ensure no traces of soap are left behind.  Thoroughly clean piercing 2-3 times daily, while your piercing is in the healing stage.  Estimated healing time may differ for your particular piercing.  Your piercing will not be completely healed until many weeks after the initial healing time is over. 

DO NOT use any ointments, creams, or astringents on your new piercing.  ONLY antibacterial soap and clean water.

Before washing your piercing, saturate a cotton ball with warm water and gently wipe away "crusties" that may have formed on the jewelry and around the piercing site.

Sea Salt Soaks

Use only sea salt, not table salt.  You can find sea salt in most grocery stores and almost all health food stores.  Mix 1/2 tsp with one cup of warm water, making sure the salt has dissolved.  Saturate a cotton ball with the sea salt solution and hold on the piercing for about 4-5 minutes, changing the cotton ball as soon as it becomes cool to the touch.  When you are done soaking your piercing, rinse with warm water thoroughly.  This will help with the itching you may experience while going through the healing process.

Oral Aftercare

Use ice for the first 24-72 hours, to keep swelling to a minimum.  Use Listerine, after consuming anything other than water, including cigarettes.  Gly-Oxide may also be used along with Listerine.  Gly-Oxide is an antiseptic oral cleanser.  Gly-Oxide is specially formulated to release peroxide and oxygen bubbles into your mouth.  The peroxide and oxygen-rich foam, helps to gently remove unhealthy tissues, then cleanses and soothes piercing site.  Periodically check the balls on the barbell for snugness.  Your jewelry should remain in place the average of 2-3 months before changing it.