Tattoo Aftercare Instructions

 

Make sure your hands are thoroughly cleaned with hot water and antibacterial soap before touching your tattoo. Remove bandage in 2-3 hours and wash with warm water and antibacterial soap using your hands (DO NOT USE SPONGE OR WASH CLOTH).

After washing the tattoo, allow to air dry OR gently pat dry with a clean paper towel. After drying, apply a thin coat of AQUAPHOR ointment and massage into the tattoo.

Continue these steps 4-5 times a day for the next three days. After the third day, STOP using AQUAPHOR and switch to a mild, fragrance/dye free lotion. Be sure to apply lotion whenever the tattoo feels dry. Continue to wash your new tattoo a couple times a day and apply lotion until the tattoo is completely healed, about 2 weeks.

While your tattoo is healing:

  • NO direct sunlight (including tanning beds)

  • NO spray tan

  • NO gardening

  • NO contact with animals

  • NO swimming/soaking in bodies of water (showers are OK)

The best way to avoid infection is to keep your tattoo clean. Signs and symptoms of infection include but are not limited to: redness, swelling, tenderness at procedure site, red streaks from procedure area towards the heart, elevated body temperature, or purulent drainage from procedure site.

If you think you may have an infection or allergic reaction, seek medical attention immediately.

 

Piercing Aftercare Instructions

First, wash your hands with soap and water and dry with clean paper towels. No cloth towels!

  • Soak area with sterile saline solution or a liquid anti-microbial cleanser 2-3 times daily. It may be easier to apply using saturated sterile gauze.

  • Dry the piercing area with sterile gauze. Do not use cloth towels!

  • You may shower daily, use soap and rinse thoroughly.

  • During healing one might experience some bleeding, localized swelling, tenderness, bruising, discoloration, itching, and secretion of a whitish-yellow fluid (not pus) that will form some crust around the jewelry as the piercing heals.

  • A piercing heals from the outside inward and thus may appear healed before healing is complete. Be patient!

  • Maintain clean, comfortable bedding and clothing.

Avoid the following:

  • Undue trauma or playing with the piercing

  • The use of alcohol, hydrogen peroxide, Betadine, Hibiclens or ointments,

  • Over-cleaning, Oral contact, rough play, contact with other people’s body fluids, 

  • Stress, recreational drug use, excessive caffeine, nicotine and alcohol,

  • Submerging the piercing in bodies of water such as lakes, pools, hot tubs, Jacuzzis, marine water, etc.,

  • All beauty and personal care products such as cosmetics, lotions, sprays, etc., on or around the piercing.

  • Do not pick at the crusted matter at the piercing site, this is dried lymph fluid secreted by your body to cleanse the piercing. (The crusting should come off during your routine soaking & cleansing period only.)

If one suspects, in any way, that the piercing might be infected, immediately seek medical