 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
Wash and Treat
After you remove saran wrap, you will want to wash your tattoo. Use lukewarm water
and mild, liquid antibacterial or antimicrobial soap (Satin and Provon are my highest
recommendations. Dial tends to be too harsh - generic brand antibacterial soaps
are actually better) to gently wash away any ointment, blood and/or plasma and to
completely clean the area. Do not use a washcloth or anything abrasive. Your hand
is your best tool in this case. (If your tattoo feels slimy and slippery, you have
probably been oozing plasma. Try to gently remove as much of this as possible -
when the plasma dries on the skin surface, it creates scabs.)
Then pat (do not rub) the area firmly with a CLEAN towel or paper towel to get it
completely dry. Follow with a very light application of your choice of ointment. A&D
vitamin enriched ointment would be my first choice, but if you don't have any,
Bacitracin or a similar antibacterial ointment is acceptable.
**Do not use Neosporin. This is a wonderful product for cuts and scrapes, but not for
tattoos. Some can have an allergic reaction to the Neosporin, which causes little red
bumps. When the bumps go away, so does the ink, and you end up with a
polka-dotted tattoo.**
Specialty Products and Lotions
If you prefer, you can also use a specialty product such as Tattoo Goo or H2Ocean.
Use the products as directed as continue for 3-5 days.
After that, continue to keep it clean, but you can use lotion when needed instead of
ointment, to keep the skin soft. Whatever lotion you use, it should be dye and
fragrance free. A lot of artists recommend Lubriderm, but I have found that
Lubriderm stings when I apply it. Instead, I have had great success with Eucerin. See
also: Aftercare Contradictions: Why there are so many views on what product is best.
Bathing, Showering, Hot Tubs, and Swimming
Yes, you can (and should!) shower with a new tattoo. It's OK to get your tattoo wet -
just don't soak it. Submerging your tattoo in a bath or hot tub can cause serious
damage, so you'll want to avoid those for 2-3 weeks, but showering is perfectly fine
as long as you don't saturate your tattoo. If you get soap or shampoo on your tattoo,
just remove it quickly with water. Swimming - whether it be a pool, fresh water or salt
water - should be avoided for at least 2 weeks.
Scabbing and Peeling
After a few days, you will notice some peeling and possibly a little scabbing.
Excessive scabbing could indicate a poorly-done tattoo, but a little is sometimes
normal and there is no need to panic. Apply warm moist compresses to the scabs for
about 5 minutes 2-3 times a day to soften them and they will eventually come off on
their own. (Do not apply ointment or lotion to a softened scab - wait for it to dry) You
will also start to itch, just like a sunburn when it begins to heal. The advice here is,
don't pick, and don't scratch! If the skin itches, slap it. If it is peeling, put lotion on it.
And if it is scabbing, just leave it alone. Your tattoo is almost healed, and now is not
the time to ruin it!
Protection from the sun
After your tattoo is healed, from now on, you will always want to protect it from the
sun's ultraviolet rays. These can fade and damage a brilliant tattoo very fast. Before
spending a lot of time in excessive heat, protect your tattoo with a minimum 30SPF
sunblock. This will keep your tattoo vibrant for many years, and it will continue to be
a source of great pride.
Tattoos
Piercing T.L.C. - Aftercare Instructions
T.L.C. Stands for tender loving care, and that is exactly what your new piercing
is going to need. Slacking off on your aftercare or using harmful products will
only prolong your discomfort and the healing process.
Most piercers will give you aftercare instructions, but we have found that 60% of
all customers allow this information to enter one ear and exit the other. Also,
47% of all piercing clients lose their paper aftercare instructions and blame it on
their hungry dog. And then there is the 21% that go to a mall kiosk and get
pierced with a gun, and then come here to learn they shouldn't have done that.
For those of you in any of those groups, or if your piercer really didn't tell you
how to care for your new piercing, here are my recommendations.
General Piercing Aftercare
What You May Need:
Sea Salt
Anti-Bacterial or Antimicrobial Liquid Soap/Wash (Like Provon or Satin)
Cotton Balls
Cotton-tipped Swabs
Small disposable cups
Paper towels
Cleaning Your Piercing:
1. First, wash your hands thoroughly. Never touch your piercing or jewerly with
dirty hands.
2. Saturate a cotton ball with warm water, and gently wipe away any "crusties"
that have gathered around the piercing site. Throw the cotton ball away.
3. Apply a generous amount of liquid soap to your hand, and apply to the
piercing site and jewerly. Make sure you get the soap everywhere, but rotating
the jewelry is not really necessary unless you notice it trying to "stick" to your
skin.
4. Rinse the piercing and jewelry several times with warm water, ensuring that
all soap has been removed.
5. Dry your piercing with a clean paper towel, and throw the towel away.
Cleaning Tips
Many piercers will tell you to rotate your jewelry. This is not wrong, but I have
found that in many cases, this causes more problems than it solves. If you want
to rotate your jewelry, go right ahead. If it becomes a problem or is painful, try
not rotating it for a couple days.
Cloth towels, especially those that have been already used, can harbor germs
and bacteria. This is why it is safest to use a disposable paper towel. Other
one-use products such as gauze, napkins, etc. can also be used.
Sea Salt Soaks
1. Wash your hands thoroughly with liquid antibacterial or antimicrobial soap
(Satin and Provon are best).
2. Place a pinch of sea salt in the bottom of a small disposable cup. About 1/8
teaspoon.
3. Add hot tap water - as hot as you can stand - to the salt. Use about 3 ounces
of water - which is just over half-full in a 5 ounce cup.
4. If possible, invert the cup right over the piercing and allow it to stay there for
5 minutes. This usually works well for nipple and navel piercings. If you can't
create a sufficient seal against the skin with the cup, then soak a cotton ball in
the salt water solution and apply the cotton ball to the piercing. When it cools
down, throw it away and place a newly saturated cotton ball on the piercing. Do
this for 5 minutes. 5. Rinse the piercing with warm water and dry with a clean
paper towel.
Soaking Tips
Only sea salt is to be used. Table salt is not acceptable. Sea salt can be found
in many grocery stores and almost all health food stores.
If you are not sure about the solution strength, put a dab on your finger and
taste it with the tip of your tongue. It should be no saltier than a potato chip.