Tattoo Care (click to jump to Body Piercing Care)

Proper care of your new tattoo during the healing process is critical.

Remove bandages after one to two hours then gently cleanse tattoo with warm, soapy water. If bandaging is stuck to the tattoo, due to blood drying from the tattoo, do not rip the bandage off. Soaking the bandage in water will allow for easy removal; then proceed to cleanse the tattoo. Pat the tattoo dry, then apply a thin coat of bacitracin, constantly checking the tattoo, and keeping it covered with a thin coating of bacitracin as needed until completely healed (approximately 7 - 10 days).

Do not re-bandage the tattoo. Your tattoo needs air to heal, but must not be allowed to dry out, or to soak in water, until healed. When showering, apply a heavier coat of bacitracin; this will allow the water to bead up and roll off the tattoo, washing around the tattoo area. Remove the excess bacitracin after showering. If the tattoo is allowed to dry out, or to soak in water, a scab will form and color will be lost in the scab.

If you find you must cover the tattoo while it is healing, due to clothing, work, etc., use a gauze bandage, which will allow air to pass through.

If properly cared for while healing, your tattoo will not form a scab. However, a thin film will form which will flake off; much as a sunburn will flake or peel away when healing. The result will be a tattoo which looks as good and as vibrant as when it was first done.

If your tattoo becomes red and irritated, or forms a rash while healing, you may be allergic to bacitracin. If this occurs, discontinue using bacitracin, gently cleanse the tattoo removing all the bacitracin and use A & D ointment instead. However, we recommend using bacitracin, if possible, as it is an antibiotic and will facilitate the healing process, and keep the tattoo from drying out.

Thank you for choosing this studio to do your tattoo work. Enjoy your new tattoo!!! It's a Masterpiece!

Body Piercing Care (Click to jump to Tattoo Care)

Congratulations on your new piercing! A professional, qualified piercer who only uses pre-sterilized single use piercing needles and autoclaved instruments has just pierced you. Now that the piercer has done his or her job, it's time to do yours.

Even though the human body has a remarkable system for healing, it does required some help from you. During the healing process, the piercing is in its most delicate state. After care is crucial to maintain a healthy piercing. If properly cared for, this piercing can provide you with a lifetime of happiness. The following are some guidelines to help you get started. If you ever have any questions or concerns regarding your new piercing or any others, give us a call. Enjoy your piercing!

1. New piercings should be cleaned thoroughly twice a day. This step is very important. To clean your piercing use an antibacterial soap such as Dial, Lever 2000, or Safeguard. Do not use soaps, which contain deodorants, cold creams, strong perfumes, or other additives.
During the healing process, matter secreted from the piercing will dry on the jewelry and around the openings of the piercing.

Use only warm water to rinse the secretion off the jewelry and piercing. Then lather the piercing with the antibacterial soap, moving the jewelry back and forth under running water. Make certain that all traces of soap are removed. We recommend following this procedure twice daily while showering. Hydrogen peroxide, alcohol and any ointments including bacitracin and triple antibiotics should never be used on body piercings.

For lip, tongue and cheek piercings, rinse with Listerine antiseptic each time after eating, drinking (except bottled water) or smoking. To aid the healing process, use Gly-Oxide twice per day on the piercing.

2. According to medical sources, the overall healing process is enhanced with a well-balanced diet and vitamin-mineral supplements. A simple 50mg zinc supplement taken three times per day with meals can accelerate healing. The dosage should be reduced or ceased when the healing process is complete.

3. Oral contact with or handling of new piercing can cause infection, and should be avoided.

4. New piercings, especially nipple piercings, should not be subjected to heavy abuse during the healing period. If this precautionary advice is not followed, serious infection can occur.

5. With proper post piercing care, infections are rare. However, a physician should examine you as soon as possible if you think the piercing is infected. In the case of nostril or septum piercing infection, it is imperative to see a physician without delay. Minor soreness may be experienced when some piercings are new and healing. If the pain continues and the piercing is very sore and/or excessive redness or discharge occurs for an extended period of time; you may have an infection.

Do not panic and remove the jewelry before consulting a physician thinking that the infection will go away. If an infection is present, removal of the jewelry can cause the passageway for the discharge of infectious secretions to be eliminated. To the best of our knowledge, a physician will prescribe an antibiotic for the infection and proceed from there with further treatment.

6. On very rare occasions, a lump behind the nipple piercing may develop. They are usually benign cysts or severe infections requiring minor surgery. Contact a physician if a lump appears and becomes painful or does not go away in a short period of time. Please note that the hard tissue, which forms around the piercing with the lump behind it, is normal and will disappear in time.

7. Body jewelry can be removed and changed when the piercing is healed. However, if the jewelry is removed too soon or before the area surrounding the piercing has toughened, the delicate interior of the piercing could be torn easily when new jewelry is inserted. Ear lobe, nostril and septum piercings require approximately 3 - 4 weeks to heal. All other piercings require at least a six-month healing process. If the jewelry must be removed for a period of time, a piece of monofilament nylon fishing line, the length of the piercing can be inserted. This will not be noticed and will keep the piercing open until jewelry is reinserted.

8. Make sure to thoroughly clean your piercing after every time you go swimming (especially in fresh water ponds and lakes) or have been in a hot tub or any other place you have exposed your piercing to a lot of chemicals.

9. MOST IMPORTANT!! No touching, licking, kissing or semen in your piercing. Only your own body fluids are sterile to you, anyone else's are a quick and sure way to end up with an infection.