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Tattoo Aftercare

Once you leave the tattoo studio, it is your responsibility to ensure that your new tattoo is cared for! From this point on, your artist is not responsible for any infection or problems you may have with your tattoo if you don't take proper care of it. It is very important that you follow these guidelines. A really beautiful tattoo can turn into a disaster if the proper aftercare is not taken.

 

Leave That Bandage Alone!

Your artist took the care to cover up your new tattoo for a very good reason - to keep air-born bacteria from invading your wound. Yes, as pretty as your new tattoo is, it is still a wound. Open flesh is a breeding ground for bacteria and infection. Leave the bandage on for a minimum of two hours. Excitement of having a new tattoo will make you want to remove the bandage so you can show your friends, but your friends will just have to wait until later. If the tattoo has been covered with plastic film, then remove this after 1 hour.If you work in an environment that is dirty or dusty, its best to keep your new tattoo covered with long sleeves until it has completely healed.

 

Wash and Treat

After you remove the bandage, you will want to wash your tattoo. Use lukewarm water and mild, liquid antibacterial or antimicrobial soap 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, Bepanthen cream, created for the soft skin of babies, is a time tested product that is used the world over by tattoo artists and collectors. Never, ever use Vaseline, Savlon or any other type of cosmetic cream – these can damage your new tattoo.

 

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 may notice some peeling and possibly a little scabbing. You will also start to itch, just like 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! The only aftercare cream we recommend is Bepanthen, which can be found at any pharmacy or supermarket, close to the baby products. Bepanthen soothes and protects the skin whilst allowing it to breathe.

 

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.

 

Piercing Aftercare

PLEASE NOTE: Whenever you have a piercing there are certain risks involved. Before you contemplate having a piercing, please consider the following points......

 

Cleaning

Always wash your hands before touching your new piercing. To clean the are surrounding the jewellery, use a solution of rock salt and pre-boiled water twice a day, paying particular attention to entry and exit points. Remove any bodily fluids from the site but DO NOT TURN OR ROTATE.

In the case of deterioration, increase your routine from twice to three times daily.

For tongue and/or any other oral piercing, gargle the forementioned solution 2-3 times a day. If you are a smoker, then use and antibacterial mouthwash after smoking.

Avoid dairy products where possible.

 

Infection

A piercing is a fresh wound. If kept clean and dry at all times your piercing will heal quickly and efficiently. If it is left untreated or incorrectly cleaned regularly, then there is a chance that the wound may become infected.

If this should happen, you may use a 5% tea tree oil, which is a natural product developed to tackle minor infections.

If you are any doubt, contact your piercing artist for advice on what treatment is suitable. If the infection results in swelling, over the counter Ibuprofen can help to reduce it.

Do not use any of the stated items if you are or suspect you have an allergy to them.

 

Migration

Although uncommon, some piercings have a tendancy to migrate or move through the skin to some degree. In extreme cases, this can lead to the piercing growing out entirely. Some piercings (eg. eyebrow navel or tragus) are more prone to this than others. It is in no way dagerous or painful, but may leave a small scar.

 

Swelling

Most piercings will swell to some degree, and we will always allow space on the jewellery to accomodate for this. If the piercing swells more than 2-3mm, or you feel that the jewellery used is too short, please contact us and we will happily change it to avoid any complications in the healing process.

For tongue piercings, a long bar is always used for initial piercing, and you may change this after 4 weeks. You may find it initially useful to suck on ice, or ice lollies to help with the swelling taking care to avoid dairy products.

 

Balls

You must check the tightness of the balls on your jewellery every 2-3 days. They will work themselves loose by movement, or rubbing on clothes etc. Where possible, make it part of your daily cleaning routine.

 

General Advice

Trauma is caused by obvious pulling or catching, and less obvious chafing by movement. The best advice is to wear loose fitting clothes in the early stages. In the case of naval piercings, avoid tight waistbands or heavy piercings and in the case of eybrow piercing try to avoid hair products.

IF YOU SHOULD HAVE ANY CONCERNS WITH YOUR TATTOO OR PIERCING DURING ITS HEALING PROCESS, PLEASE CONTACT US EITHER VIA THE WEBSITE, BY EMAIL OR PHONE. WE WILL BE HAPPY TO CONSULT AND OFFER ADVICE.

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