138 Tattoo

Choose ONE and stick with it: • Soap: A mild, fragrance-free liquid antibacterial or antimicrobial soap such as gold Dial hand soap, or Provon available for $5. • Saline: A packaged sterile saline solution designed for wound care, or H2Ocean available for $10. • Non-Iodized Sea Salt Solution: dissolve ¼ teaspoon of non-iodized salt into one cup (8 oz) of warm distilled water. (Stronger doesn’t mean better, it may cause dryness and irritation!)

Wash your hands before you clean or touch your piercing. Soap only 1-2 times per day. Soak off any scabbing and discharge with warm water. Lather a dime size drop of soap and clean your jewelry and the piercing site. Rinse thoroughly. Saline about 3-4 times a dayby spraying a small spritz to all sides of your piercing and letting it air dry.

Sea Salt soak for 5-10 minutes once or more per day. Seal a cup of warm sea salt solution over the area. For some piercings, it will be easier to use clean gauze or paper towels. Rinse briefly to remove any residue. Pat dry with a paper towel. Alcohol-free mouthwash is recommended for all oral piercings, but the sea salt solution can also be used. Rinse your mouth for 30 seconds after eating, drinking, or smoking, and at bedtime—about 4-5 times a day.

Cleaning too often or with solution that is too strong with cause irritation and discoloration of your mouth and piercing. Dermal Anchors only require one cleaning a day to avoid irritation and sensitivity. Rinse with warm water in the shower or with a cotton swab or gauze. Then carefully clean around the site with salt water and ease off any crust with your fingers. Rinse thoroughly and air dry.
For the first week, some swelling, bleeding, bruising, and tenderness can be expected. Cold drinks and ice for oral piercings—or cold compresses for other piercings—along with OTC anti-inflammatories, such as, Ibuprofen or Advil, can help reduce your pain and swelling. We do not prescribe these medications so read and follow all instructions on the label.

Remember, piercings heal from the outside to the inside making them appear healed before they actually are. Although it may feel fine, the tissue on the inside is still fragile. Infection from a body piercing is rare, and most commonly occurs from poor aftercare. Be patient and keep cleaning throughout the entire healing period.
Avoid cleaning with rubbing alcohol, hydrogen peroxide, Bactine, and mouthwash that containsalcohol as they can damage or irritate your piercing. Avoidirritation like friction from clothing, too much motion in the piercing location, playing with the jewelry, or rough cleaning as it can cause uncomfortable scar tissue.

Avoid touching with dirty hands, contact with other’s bodily fluids and direct contact between your piercing and pets during the first 2 weeks because they are common sources of disease and infection.

Avoid submerging your piercing in a lake, pool, or hot tub without protecting it with a waterproof bandage.

Avoid all beauty and personal care products on or around the piercing, including makeup, lotions, and sprays. Remember alcohol may cause bleeding and recreational drugs can slow the healing process.