Tattoo Aftercare: Essential Tips for Tattoo Healing and Maintenance

At Fine Ink Studios, the healing of your Tattoo is top priority. Below you will find our recommended procedures for helping your tattoo heal beautifully. If you have any further questions or concerns regarding your tattoo, please feel free to contact us. Now it’s up to you to take proper care of it. The chance of infection or damage to your new tattoo is minimal if aftercare instructions are followed correctly 1. Leave the bandage that you received after the tattoo on for 2 hours. The bandage is there to keep air-borne bacteria and other contaminants in the environment from invading your wound. 2. Before cleaning or touching the tattooed areas, WASH HANDS thoroughly with soap and warm water. Treat your new tattoo as an open wound. 3. Carefully remove the bandage and cleanse the area with mild anti-bacterial soap and water then rinse. Do not scrub the tattoo or rub with washcloth or towel. Pat the tattoo with a clean, dry towel. 4. Let the tattoo dry completely (approx. 10 min). 5. Lightly apply a thin layer of acceptable aftercare products: - Lubriderm Lotion - Palmers Cocoa Butter Lotion - Specialty tattoo products such as TATTOO GOO You do not need to re-bandage. For 3-5 days, make sure the tattoo is kept very clean and apply lotion 3-4 times a day by cleansing any old lotion and applying a thin layer of fresh lotion –(only enough to make the skin shiny). Do not put too much on, but do not allow your tattoo too become dry. If a scab does form, do not pick at it, but allow it to heal on its’ own. Don’t panic if you have a reaction to your aftercare product. You may be sensitive to one of the ingredients. Although not a major problem, it does happen. The skin can react in a few ways, from redness, to irritable itchy skin; to white pimple like spots. If this occurs, stop using your aftercare product. Lightly wash off the remaining product from your skin. A reaction to a product should settle down within 24-72 hours. If you are still experiencing a problem after 14 days, it would be doubtful that the aftercare product was to blame and it may be a reaction to the ink. This is possible even if you have been previously tattooed without any problems. (Should this occur, contact the studio for advice from the artist.) It may also mean a visit to your physician if the problem persists. Healing generally takes 14 days in a normal healthy adult. As it heals, expect peeling similar to sunburned skin. Itching is expected. DO NOT SCRATCH THE TATTOO! Do not use Vaseline or other petroleum jellies. Do not use A&D Ointment Do not use heavily medicated antibiotic ointment such as Neosporin. Do not use iodine, peroxide, or alcohol based product. Most problems or irritations occur from: Scratching or itching a new tattoo. Tanning or swimming before the tattoo is healed. Using inappropriate amounts or types of aftercare products. You may expect some slight swelling, redness and discomfort around the site. If any of the following symptoms appear promptly consult a health care provider: Unusual drainage Excessive bleeding Excessive pain / discomfort Excessive swelling/ redness/ feeling that skin is hot to touch Temperature greater than 101°F within 24 hours of the tattoo Disclaimer: These guidelines are based on a combination of vast professional experience, common sense, research and extensive clinical practice. This is not to be considered a substitute for medical advice from a doctor. If you suspect an infection, seek medical attention.

At Fine Ink Studios, the healing of your piercing is top priority. Below you will find our recommended procedures for helping your piercing/heal beautifully. If you have any further questions or concerns, please feel free to contact us. Cleaning Instructions for Body Piercings: WASH your hands thoroughly prior to cleaning or touching on or near your piercing for any reason. Use ANTIBACTERIAL SOAP no more than once or twice a day. While showering, lather up a pearl size drop of the soap to clean the jewelry and piercing. Leave the cleanser on the piercing no more than thirty seconds, then rinse thoroughly to remove all traces of the soap from the piercing. DRY with disposable paper products such as gauze or tissues. Cloth towels can harbor bacteria and catch on new piercings causing injury. Pat dry gently to avoid trauma. What is Normal? Initially: some bleeding, localized swelling, tenderness, or bruising. During healing: some discoloration, itching, secretion of a whitish-yellow fluid (not pus) that will form some crust on the jewelry. The tissue may tighten around the jewelry as it heals. Once healed: the jewelry may not move freely in the piercing; DO NOT force it. If you fail to include cleaning your piercing as a part of your daily hygiene routine, normal, but smelly bodily secretions may accumulate. A piercing may seem healed before healing is complete. This is because piercings heal from the outside in, and although it feels healed the tissue remains fragile on the inside. BE PATIENT, and keep cleaning throughout the entire healing period. Even healed piercings can shrink or close in minutes after having been there for years! This varies from person to person; if you like your piercing, leave the jewelry in place. What To Avoid: Avoid undue trauma such as friction from clothing, excessive motion of the area, playing with the jewelry and vigorous cleaning. These activities can cause the formation of unsightly and uncomfortable scar tissue, migration, prolonged healing, and other complications. Avoid the use of alcohol, hydrogen peroxide, Betadine, Hibiclens or ointments. Avoid over cleaning. This can delay your healing and irritate your piercing. Avoid all oral contact, rough play, and contact with others’ bodily fluids on or near your piercing during healing. Avoid stress and recreational drug use including excessive caffeine, nicotine and alcohol. Avoid submerging the piercing in bodies of water such as lakes, pools, Jacuzzis, etc. Or protect your piercing using a special waterproof bandage such as Tegaderm, which is available at drugstores. Avoid all beauty and personal care products on or around the piercing including cosmetics, lotions, and sprays, etc. Don’t hang charms or any object from your jewelry until the piercing is fully healed. Hints and Tips: Jewelry Unless there is a problem with the size, style or material of the initial jewelry, leave it in place for the entire healing period. A qualified piercer should perform any necessary jewelry change that occurs during healing. Contact your piercer if your jewelry must be temporarily removed (such as for medical procedure). There are non-metallic jewelry alternatives. Leave jewelry in at all times. Even old, well-healed piercings can shrink or close in minutes after having been there for years! If removed, re-insertion can be difficult or impossible. With clean hands or paper product, be sure to regularly check threaded ends on your jewelry for tightness. “Righty-tighty, lefty-loosey” Carry a clean spare ball in case of loss or breakage. Should you decide you no longer want the piercing, seek professional help in the removal of the jewelry and continue cleaning the piercing until the hole closes. In most cases only a small indentation will remain. For Particular Areas: Navel: A hard, vented eye patch (sold at pharmacies) can be applied under tight clothing (such as nylon stockings) or secured using a length of ace bandage around the body (to avoid irritation from adhesive). This can protect the area from restrictive clothing, excess irritation and impact during physical activities such as contact sports. Ear/Ear Cartilage and Facial: Use the t-shirt trick: dress your pillow in a large, clean t-shirt and turn it nightly; one clean t-shirt provides four clean surfaces for sleeping. Maintain cleanliness of telephones, headphones, eyeglasses, helmets, hats and anything that contacts the pierced area. Use caution when styling your hair and advise your stylist of a new or healing piercing. Nipple: The support of a tight cotton shirt or sports bra may provide protection and fell comfortable, especially for sleeping. Genital: In most cases you can engage in sexual activity as soon as you feel ready. Comfort and hygiene are vital. During the healing all sexual activities must be gentle. To increase comfort and decrease trauma, soak in saline solution or plain water to remove any crusty matter, prior to sexual activity. Use barriers such as condoms, dental dams and Tegaderm, etc. to avoid contact with a partner’s bodily fluids, even in long-term relationships. Use clean, disposable barriers on sex toys. Wash hands before touching on or near the piercing. Use a new container of water based lubricant. Do not use your own saliva as lubricant. After sex, an additional saline soak or clean water rinse is suggested. Prince Albert and Apadravya piercings can bleed freely for the first few days. If using soap, urinate after cleaning any piercing that is near the urethra. Disclaimer: These guidelines are based on a combination of vast professional experience, common sense, research and extensive clinical practice. This is not to be considered a substitute for medical advice from a doctor. If you suspect an infection, seek medical attention. Keep in mind that the removal of jewelry can lead to further complications. Be aware that many doctors have not received specific training regarding piercing. Your local piercer may be able to refer you to a piercing friendly medical professional.