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TATTOO AFTERCARE
Mild liquid unscented antibacterial soap: dial, Black Cat, or Soft Soap.
Ointment or Balm: Black Cat Tattoo Balm, A&D ointment, or Aquaphor.
Unscented mild lotion: Black Cat Lotion, Lubriderm, Vaseline Intensive Care, or Aveeno.
After 3 hours, remove the bandage and gently hand wash the tattoo with warm water and mild liquid unscented antibacterial soap. Apply a THIN layer of your balm or ointment. Wash the tattoo 3 times a day and reapply ointment.
After 3 days, discontinue use of the ointment and switch to a fragrance free skin lotion (Lubriderm, Vaseline Intensive Care, etc). Do not overmoisturize. The tattoo may begin to peel on the third or fourth day. DO NOT pick, peel, scratch or otherwise interfere with the healing process. DO NOT allow the tattoo to be in direct sunlight during the healing process. DO NOT submerge tattoo in hot tub or swimming pool while healing. After 3 to four weeks the tattoo should be almost fully healed. Use sunscreen to minimize color loss when in the sun. The same artist will perform ONE touchup at no charge within three months of the tattoo application for NORMAL color loss during the healing process.
* Inksanity is not responsible for touch ups on tattoos done by artists who have *
* left our employment. *
This page was last updated: December 2, 2011
Body Piercing Aftercare
The use of the following products on or around a healing piercing will damage it and should never be used:
NO Rubbing Alcohol
- NO Hydrogen Peroxide - NO Neosporin or other ointments
- NO Hydrogen Peroxide - NO Neosporin or other ointmentsNO Make Up on or around the piercing - No Spray Tanning or other chemical tanning agent
NO mouth wash containing alcohol such as Listerine or Scope
NO Lotion - NO Perfume - No open mouth kissing (oral piercings only)
The above mentioned products have adverse effects on healing piercings and will add to your healing time, create ugly scar tissue, can cause your piercing to abscess, or could even cause irritation or infection.
What you should use:
Cleaning Solution: A mild liquid unscented antibacterial or antimicrobial soap such as Dial, Provan, or Satin.
Other aftercare products H2Ocean or sea salt soaks
Oral Rinse: H2Ocean or other medical grade antibacterial alcohol free mouth wash is best
but Crest Pro-Health or Listerine Zero are ok substitutes.
Cleaning Instructions for non-oral piercings
Body Piercings need to be cleaned once or twice daily, every day, for the entire initial healing time. Most people clean morning and/or night in the shower. Do not clean with your liquid soap product more than twice a day as this can irritate your piercing and possibly delay your healing. For once-a-day cleanings, do it at the end of your day.
Before cleanings wash hands with liquid antibacterial soap and hot water Never touch healing piercings with dirty hands, this is vital for avoiding infections.
Prepare the area for cleansing by rinsing or soaking the area with warm water and be sure to remove any stubborn crust using a cotton swab and warm water. This step is very important for your comfort.
Apply a small amount of the soap to the area with your clean hand or a fresh cotton swab. Cleanse the area and the jewelry allow the solution to cleanse there for 30 seconds. Rinse the area thoroughly under running water to completely remove soap residue from the piercing.
Gently pat dry with disposable paper products such as gauze, paper towel, toilet paper, or tissues (cloth towels can harbor bacteria). Please try to be patient, each body is unique, and healing times can vary considerably. If your piercing is tender or secreting you should continue the care regimen even if it is past the stated average healing time range.
Should I Soak or Spray?
It’s a personal choice they do the same thing so only do one as doing both will over dry your piercing.
H2Ocean
Just spray on pierced area and allow solution to dry and absorb into the skin. We recommend spraying the solution on the piercing every 3-4 hours, because the enzyme (lysozyme) will remain active killing bad bacteria for 4-5 hours. This will ensure that no infection will occur. You can not overuse this product. We recommend a mist that covers the piercing area. Do not dry the area let the solution dry and absorb in the skin.
- OR -
Sea Salt Soak
First fill a fresh disposable cup- with approximately 8 ounces of warm/hot water and add a ¼ teaspoon of non-iodized sea salt, stirring until it is dissolved. Soak your piercing for 5 to 10 minutes once daily.
Non-iodized sea salt is available in most supermarkets in the seasoning aisle and the container is marked as “not a source of iodine”.
Aftercare Guidelines for Oral Piercings
Oral Rinse
The Optimal way to care for your piercing is to rinse H2Ocean Oral Rinse for 30-60 seconds, 4-6 times a day. The ideal time to rinse is after meals, after smoking, or after drinking sugary drinks. Be careful not to over-clean your piercing, as this will also prevent proper healing. Signs of over cleaning include a white or yellow looking tongue.
If H2Ocean Oral Rinse is not available to you then Crest Pro-Health, Biotene, or other similar alcohol free antibacterial mouth wash can be used in the same manner.
Sea Salt Rinse
In addition to oral rinse, non-iodized sea salt rinses will assist in healing your piercing. First fill a fresh disposable cup- with approximately 8 ounces of warm water and add a ¼ teaspoon of non-iodized sea salt, stirring until it is dissolved. Then, rinse your mouth for approximately 30 seconds. Note: Some piercers and pierces have had much success by substituting non-iodized sea salt rinses for medical-grade oral rinses or other sterile saline solutions.
Ice
Ice and other cold liquids can help reduce swelling. Ice pops, ice cream, and frozen yogurt are also good ways to reduce swelling, but be sure to perform either a sea-salt soak or oral rinse following your snack (this is not necessary if you just use plain ice). Swelling tends to last 3-5 days.
Brushing Your Teeth
It is important to brush your teeth three times daily while your piercing is healing. Brushing your teeth will cut down on the amount of bacteria and food particles in your mouth. It is suggested that you purchase a new soft bristle toothbrush to use during the initial healing period. Also, plaque (a white crusty shell) will begin to build up on your tongue jewelry if you do not gently brush the balls and post. You should brush your jewelry daily if you want to prevent plaque build-up.
Approximate Healing Times*
Cartilage – 3 months - 1 year
Earlobe – 6 - 8 weeks
Eyebrow – 6 - 8 weeks
Genitals – 4 weeks – 6 months
Navel – 6 months – over 1 year
Nipple – 3 - 6 months
Nostril – 3 months – 1 year
Septum – 6 - 8 weeks
Cheek – 6 - 12 months
Labret – 6 - 8 weeks
Lip – 6 - 8 weeks
Tongue – 4 - 6 weeks
*Please keep in mind that these Approximate Healing Times are estimations, and should be regarded only as advisory approximations. The unique content and structure of your body may require different amounts of care and attention. It is also recommended that you keep your initial starter jewelry in your piercing for the duration of the healing period until your piercing is completely healed. Starter jewelry is intended to maintain fresh piercings with the greatest of ease of cleaning, initial wear, and care, and the lowest frequency of infection, migration, or discomfort. Changing your jewelry before a piercing is properly healed may be detrimental to the healing process, and can result in an extended, or insufficient healing period. If you have any questions or notice any developing complications, do not hesitate to contact your piercer. Most piercings heal comfortably and without hindrance, but if you are concerned with your piercing, your piercer can probably offer a few simple and quick solutions.
Micro Dermal Anchor Aftercare
Cleaning Solution: H2Ocean
Keep your Micro Dermal Anchor covered with small round band aides for the first 2 days, changing bandages during cleaning.
3 times a day get a paper towel and run it under the hottest water you can stand without burning yourself. Apply hot wet paper towel to your micro dermal anchor. Hold it there with light pressure until no longer warm.
After hot compress spray H2Ocean onto a cotton swab and wipe the area around your Micro Dermal Anchor.
* Micro Dermal Anchors look healed long before they are completely healed, please *
* continue your aftercare for at least 2 months even if it already looks healed. *
