2. Wash tattoo clean with cool to warm water and liquid hand soap or body wash. Use your hands to wash the tattoo, no rags or cloths.
3. Blot dry with a paper towel for 10 minutes.
4. Rub a SMALL amount of A&D ointment, Emu oil, or Tattoo Therepy into the tattoo 3-4 times a day for the next few days (3-5 days) until flaking or scabbing occurs. Always wash the tattoo prior to putting ointment or oil onto it. Too much ointment will clog your pores, only use a small amount. We have found with Emu Oil or Tattoo Therepy that "a little goes a long way." Use just enough to cover the area with a thin layer. We Have found that the Emu Based products keep the colors Brighter with less flaking, and faster healing. Emu Products also do not clog the pores. for more information about Emu Oil or Tattoo Therepy, check out www.desertpalmsemu.com
5. Keep tattoo clean and wash before applying ointment or Emu daily, remembering to blot the area for 10 minutes after washing.
6. Do NOT pick or scratch at your tattoo.
Avoid Windburn, Direct Sunlight, Oceans, Rivers, Lakes, Streams, Ponds, Pools, Hot Tubs or any submersion into water for at least 2 weeks. Follow these instructions to make your tattoo last a lifetime.
If you have any questions, please call the shop and ask for the artist who did your tattoo for answers.
Piercing Aftercare
Salt Water Soaks:
Salt water soaks help stimulate air and blood circulation, which facilitates faster healing. Two soaks per day should be done for 5-10 minutes. Additional soaks can be shorter. It is important that the solution be warm.
To make the solution, dissolve 1/4 teaspoon of non-iodized Sea Salt into a one-cup (8 oz) of warm water in a clean cup. (A stronger solution is not better as it can burn the piercing) Invert the cup over the area to form a seal and soak for desired amount of time. For certain pierces, a clean cotton ball or gauze pad soaked in the salt water and applied to the piercing may be easier. Follow the soak by a clear water rinse.
Cleaning Instructions:
Body piercings should be cleaned twice daily, once in the morning and once at night. Cleaning more than twice can result in a longer healing time.
1. Before cleaning, wash hands thoroughly with an anti-bacterial or anti-microbial liquid soap.
2. Soak the area with warm water and remove any crusties with a Cotton Swab.
3. Apply antimicrobial soap, Provon or Satin. Cleanse the area and the jewelry. Do NOT rotate or move the jewelry at all while cleaning the piercing area.
4. Allow the soap to cleanse the piercing for a minute, then rinse the area thoroughly with running water.
5. Pat the area dry with either gauze or tissue. Do not use cloth towels because they harbor bacteria.
Good Things to Do:
1. Leave the piercing alone unless you are cleaning it. NO PLAYING
2. Take a multi-vitamin with zinc and vitamin C for faster healing.
3. Make sure your bedding is clean and changed frequently while healing
4. Leave jewelry in at all times. Even old and well-healed piercings can shrink in a matter of minutes. If your jewelry must be temporarily removed (such as for a medical procedure), contact Lucky's for help.
5. If you suspect you have an infection, DO NOT REMOVE YOUR JEWELRY If the jewelry is removed, you can trap the infection inside resulting in an abscess. Contact your Piercer and we will advise you in what to do.
Don't Do This:
1. Don't use Bacitracin, Neosporin, Rubbing Alcohol, Peroxide, Hibiclens, or Betadine. These products will hinder healing and cause more harm than good!
2. Avoid submerging your piercings in dirty water, such as pools, lakes and Hottubs. If you have to go in the water, make sure you cover your piercing with a breathable, non-water permeable wound sealant such as Tegaderm or Clean Seals (found at your local drugstore).
3. Avoid sleeping on your piercing during healing and any other undue stress.
4. NO PLAYING!!! NO TOUCHING!!! NO LICKING OR KISSING!!!
5. Don't change out starter jewelry until piercing is fully healed unless otherwise advised by your piercer.
Special Tips for Ears and Facial:
1. Shield piercings from Gel and Hairspray.
2. Avoid getting makeup or lotion in or near your piercing.
3. Change your pillowcases frequently.
4. Clean your telephone receiver or headphones with alcohol frequently.
Special Tips for Genitals:
1. Sexual activity isn't prohibited, but it must be hygienic. Use condoms (without Nonoxynol 9) and dental dams for all sexual contact to avoid the sharing of body fluids. Even in a monogamous relationship, it is important for your piercing's health.
2. Use water based lubricants such as KYJelly.
3. Pleasure Plus condoms have extra room for jewelry.
What is Normal:
Bleeding, bruising, discoloration, and swelling are not uncommon. Some tenderness or discomfort by the new piercing is not unusual. You may experience stinging, burning, aching, or other unpleasant sensations on and of for several days or longer. You may also have some itching, which indicates healing.
Secretion of a fluid which is whitish-yellow in color and makes crusties on the jewelry is perfectly normal. This is not pus but a combination of dead cells and blood plasma and indicates a healing piercing. Piercings have a series of "ups and downs" during healing by seeming healed and then regressing. Be patient, and clean through the entire healing time even if the pierce appears to be healed. Your Piercer can answer any questions.
Oral Cleaning Instructions:
1. Rinse your mouth out with either Biotene or Tech 2000 mouthwash for 30-60 seconds when you wake up and before you go to bed.
2. Rinse with Sea Salt Water or sterile saline after everything you eat, drink, or touch with your mouth other than water for the first 2 weeks. After the 2 weeks, rinse before and after bed and after major meals.
3. Make a Sea Salt Solution using 4 Tablespoons of non-iodized Sea Salt to 1 gallon of purified or distilled water.
Good Things to Do:
1. Ice your piercing for the first 48 hours. Slushies, ice pops, anything cold... just remember to rinse with salt water or saline afterwards.
2. An over-the-counter, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory such as Ibuprofen, Aleve, or Advil can be taken to reduce discomfort and diminish swelling for the first few days.
3. Replace your old toothbrush with a fresh, clean one so you don't introduce bacteria into your new piercing.
4. Try to sleep with your head propped up for the first few nights to minimuze nighttime swelling.
5. Try to go slowly when you eat and take small bites when you are getting used to your new jewelry.
6. Leave your jewelry in at all times. Even old and well-healed piercings can close in a matter of minutes!
Don't Do This:
1. No oral or sexual contact including French Kissing for the entire healing period. Besides mouths and other parts being dirty, you have an open wound in your mouth, STD's can be passed that way (So don't lick things you shouldn't).
2. Avoid all alcoholic beverages. These can cause additional swelling, bleeding and discomfort.
3. Reducing smoking or quitting is recommended for faster healing.
4. Do not play with the jewelry for the intital healing time beyond normal talking and eating. Playing can result in migration or the formation of scar tissue.
5. Do not use Listerine or other mouthwashes that contain alcohol. They do more harm than good.
What is Normal:
Swelling of the area is perfectly normal and usually lasts for around 7 days. Some tenderness and/or discomfort is also common. You may feel aching, pinching, tightness or other unpleasant sensations on and off for several days or longer. You may experience bleeding or bruising on and off. This is perfectly normal and not indicative of any complication.
A whitish-yellow secretion may come from your piercing. This is normal. It is a combination of blood plasma and dead skin cells. On non-oral piercings, it forms crusties, but in the mouth, it doesn't get to dry out so it remains moist. This is not pus, and indicates a healing piercing.
