Don't leave the bandage on for more than 1 hour, if gauze is stuck to the tattoo, saturate the gauze with cool water and gently peel it off. Wash your tattoo with cool water and a mild soap, using your hand only. Be sure to work to the soap into a lather before putting it on your tattoo as it will be easier to rinse. Continue rinsing your tattoo until it no longer feels slimy. Try to wash your tattoo at least 4-6 times a day for the first 4-7 days or until your tattoo begins to peel. After washing the tattoo and rinsing it thoroughly, pat it dry gently, DON'T WIPE!! Put a very small amount of A&D Ointment (provided for you) or Tattoo Goo and gently work it into the skin. Blot off any excess ointment if needed, too much can cause the tattoo to heal poorly. Switch to a non-scented lotion such as “Lubriderm” or “Eucerin” when the tattoo begins to peel. Apply lotion as needed so that the tattoo does not dry out or scab. Be sure not to submerge your new tattoo in standing water such as your bath tub, hot tub, lake, pond, swimming pools, etc. Keep your tattoo out of direct sunlight as it heals. Do not allow clothing to rub on the healing tattoo, as it can cause permanent damage to the tattoo. Full healing time can vary from 4-8 weeks depending on what kind of work you had done. It is generally healed when the skin is no longer shiny. To keep your tattoo looking new, protect with sunscreen once it is fully healed. If you have any questions, please feel free to call us at 847-281-9168 or contact us on the website.
In order to enjoy your new piercing, you will need to follow these instructions to the best of your ability. Failure to do so can and probably will result in infection. If your piercing becomes infected, do not take the jewelry out, contact us as we can help you get it healed.
We recommend you pick up the following items: cotton balls, Q-tips, uniodized sea salt, saline solution (sterile, pH balanced, not for storage and disinfecting, a pressurized metal can is recommended, NOT a plastic squeeze container!!) and liquid castille soap. If this is not available substitute with clear, anti-bacterial “Softsoap”.
Sea salt soak
Use rounded ? tsp of uniodized sea salt to 8 ounces (1 measuring cup) of hot water. Fully dissolve the salt in the water and then transfer the salt mixture to a clean shot glass, preferably non-porous glass or ceramic. Soak piercing for 10-minutes. After soak, wipe the piercing down with clean Q-tips and saline solution. Use as many Q-tips as needed to remove all solid material from jewelry. Do not cross contaminate your piercing by using the same side of the Q-tip twice. When clean use a new Q-tip to dry the area. Do not use any ointments on your piercing!!!
Sea salt hot compress
Prepare salt mixture as described above, except use cotton balls to submerge into the salt mixture and apply the hot compress to the piercing sites and hold it there for 10 minutes. Remove the cotton balls and rinse with the saline solution as stated above. You must use a clean cotton ball every time you do the soak or you will contaminate the piercing.
These soaks and hot compresses should be done 3-4 times a day until the piercing is completely healed. You will know your piercing is healed when: 1) the piercing sites are no longer producing pus, 2) there is no discoloration of the skin and 3) there is no tenderness associated with it. For the first 3-4 days after getting pierced only do the soak or compress. Do not rotate the jewelry; it will just slow down your healing process. After the first 3-4 days the skin around the piercing will start loosening up. You will know this is happening when the jewelry starts to move around on its own. Remove all of the solid material from the jewelry and clean the piercing in the shower by lathering the soap in your hands before you put it on the piercing. Very gently rotate the ring so that it pulls the soap through the piercing, do this a couple times (15-20 seconds). Allow the clear water run over the piercing and rotate the jewelry so it removes all of the soap. After you get out of the shower, spray saline over piercing site and rotate the ring to flush out any soap and water, and dry with clean Q-tips to restore the proper pH balance of your skin.
Oral Piercings
We recommend an antiseptic mouthwash such as Tech2000 or Biotene. Use full strength on inside of mouth after eating, drinking or smoking until piercing heals.
The most important factor in healing your piercing is to keep your hands off of it!!! The only time you should be touching your piercing with your fingers is when you are in the shower and you have soap on your hands. For piercing in a mucous membrane (nostril, septum, lip, labret, Monroe, P.A.), only wash the skin on the outside surface with soap. Don't pull it through the piercing, rinse the inside area with saline and clean Q-tips. Do not wear clothing that is going to irritate your piercing. Keep hair from hanging on piercing sites as hair harbors bacteria. If you think you are having problems with your piercing, feel free to call us anytime, and do not take advice from your friends, as they are not experienced piercing artists.
Remember: The only true sign that your piercing is getting infected is that the pus will change to a dark yellow or neon green color and area will produce heat. White to light yellow pus is completely normal and will be produced until your piercing is completely healed.
If it doesn't say it on this sheet, don't do it. Please remember the golden rule: If you wouldn't put it in your eye, don't put it on your piercing. For example, Bactine, rubbing alcohol or hydrogen peroxide.
All soft-tissue piercings have the potential of being rejected by the body; this can leave you scarred. Do not go in pools, hot tubs, ponds or lakes until your piercing shows all three signs of being healed, unless you want to run the risk of bacterial and viral infections.
Thank you for choosing Liberty Tattoo!
