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Aftercare for Piercing

These extra steps of caring for your new piercing may seem tedious at first, but they will become part of your everyday routine in no time. Take no short cuts, it will only result in prolonged healing.

Never handle the new piercing unless you are cleaning it and then only with clean hands. Don't let anyone else play with it either (including pets). Use one of the recommended products for cleaning and no others. Try to stay consistent with one of the products. If you have any excessive dryness with a product try diluting it or switching to a milder version of the same product. If irritation persists, then you may try a different product. Always go milder with change.

Cleansers

For all external piercing we recommend you wash your piercing twice a day for the length of your healing time.
Antimicrobial soaps with chloroxylenol are strongly recommended and are effective against a broad spectrum of bacteria.

Antimicrobial (Chloroxylenol based) cleansers are available at your local piercing studio and medical supply companies.

-Provon Medicated Soap
-Satin Therapeutic Skin Cleanser
-Loving Lather Skin Cleanser
-AloeGuard Antimicrobial Soap

-Castille soaps are available at your local health food store. A natural alternative, but can be drying, use only if you know your body is not sensitive to castille soaps.

-Dr. Bronner’s Castille Soap
Baby Mild, for sensitive skin
Lavendar, for extra antiseptic
Peppermint, it tingles

Always wash your hands before handling your piercing. Do not touch your piercing unless you are cleaning it. If cleanser dries your skin, try diluting your cleanser with water. Do not apply any lotions, creams, or ointments as this may create a moisture rich environment for bacteria to thrive and cause an infection.

For oral piercing

We recommend rinsing the inside of your mouth with an alcohol free anti-septic mouthwash after meals, upon waking, and before sleeping.
If only alcohol based mouthwash is
available, dilute it with 3 parts water.

Smoking will prolong or even inhibit healing an oral piercing.
No kissing or oral contact for 4-6 weeks.

Avoid biting your fingernails or chewing on pens throughout your healing time.

If using mouthwash with alcohol like scope or listerine, dilute three parts water to one part mouthwash.
Smoking will prolong or even inhibit healing an oral piercing.
No kissing or oral contact for 4-6 weeks.
Avoid biting your fingernails nails or chewing on pens.

Do not use!
Rubbing alcohol
Hydrogen Peroxide
Witch Hazel
Sea Breeze
Antibiotic ointment
Any ointments gels or lotions.

Washing

Wash twice a day with a recommended cleanser, carefully follow these step-by-step instructions:

1. Wash your hands with your cleanser and hot water before cleaning your piercing.

2. Rinse piercing with hot water either in the shower or with a glass cupped against the piercing. Add a pinch or two of sea salt to the water for best results. Remove any dried discharge from the jewelry.

3. Apply a few drops of your cleanser to either side of your piercing. Wash the surface well. You may move your jewelry through the piercing only if it moves freely. Do not force it, this may damage the newly growing fistula of skin inside.

4. Be sure to rinse thoroughly with warm water. Soap residue can cause irritation.

*If you are washing in the shower, clean your piercing last to rinse away any soap or shampoo that could get into the piercing.

*If your piercing passes through the urethra, you can safeguard against urinary tract infections by drinking a glass of water before cleaning, and urinating immediately after washing to flush out the soap.

We recommend salt water be applied as part of your regular cleaning. If your piercing becomes irritated or painful an additional salt water soak can be done each day. Mix a solution of saltwater using 1/4 - 1/2 tsp sea salt per 1 cup hot water.

Let salt dissolve completely in water and cup up to piercing. Allow it to soak for 3 to 5 minutes. Rinse thoroughly with fresh water.

If you are traveling or very active, saline can be used to wipe off excess discharge from the area around the piercing. Saline is not a cleanser and should not be used in place of washing.

Things That Help

Keep dirty fingers away from your new piercing. Use a clean paper towel to pat dry your washed piercing instead of a bath towel. Cotton towels can harbor bacteria.

Your overall health will affect your healing process. Be sure to eat a balanced diet, avoid stress and get enough sleep.

Taking a supplement of zinc and/or grapefruit seed extract with a meal or in a multi-vitamin may promote healing.

Allow the piercing to breath and stay dry. Don’t keep it covered or gooped up with ointments.

For genital piercings use condoms, gloves and dental dams to protect piercing from contamination. Even if your partner is healthy, their bodily fluids can contain harmful bacteria.

Things That Can Harm

Do not take aspirin as a pain releiver during the first few days of healing as it can promote bleeding. Ibuprofen (Motrin, Advil) Naproxen Sodium (Aleve) or Acetaminophen are alternatives.

Avoid drinking alcohol for the first 7-10 days as it can promote bleeding and increased swelling.

The use of recreational drugs will slow down your healing process.

Avoid going in hot tubs, chlorinated pools, freshwater lakes and rivers until the piercing is healed. Chlorine can irritate a new wound and fresh water can contain harmful bacteria.
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Do Not Use

Table salt, epsom salt, rubbing alcohol, hydrogen peroxide, Witch Hazel, Sea Breeze, gels, lotions or any ointments.

©2007, Body Manipulations.

Aftercare for Tattooing

The healing time for a tattoo os dependant on the part of the body and the size of the tattoo. On average is can be about 4-6 weeks.

Keep your new tattoo clean with a mild antibacterial soap. If you are washing in the shower, avoid direct spray just let the water flow over the new tattoo, you may find the temperature of the water seems about 10 degrees hotter on thetattoo than the rest of your body. Start with a cooler shower than normal to get used to it. Work your soap into a lather in your hands then wash gently, no scrubbing. Rinse soap away with water. Pat dry with a clean paper towel. Within the first 5 days, after your shower, keep the tattoo from getting dry by applying a thin coat of A&D ointment. Once the tattoo has a complete layer of skin covering it, you can moisturize the surface with a mild skin lotion for sensitive skin.

Try to keep the new tattoo uncovered to prevent it from getting too moist. If clothing must cover the area, wear something clean you wouldn't mind getting stained with tattoo ink and blood. I find it helpful to sleep on a towel to avoid staining my sheets.

Do not swim in fresh water lakes or any other bacteria filled pools. Avoid hot tubs and chlorinated pools. Keep it protected from dirt, sand and large amounts of dust. Keep your new tattoo hidden from the sun, not only will this feel like exposing a bad sunburn, but it will also fade the ink right away. Do not apply sunblock to a new tattoo. In general, sun will fade tatoos over time and you can wear a good sunblock to preserve a healed tattoo. Never put sunblock on a new tattoo!

Please let us know if you are having any trouble healing your new tattoo. Check-ups are free, and we are happy to give advice over the phone.

©2007, Body Manipulations.