Aftercare

Tattoos | Piercings

– permanent-makeup –

Tattoo Aftercare

  • Gently Wash Tattoo 3-4 times daily.
  • Use antibacterial soap.
  • Day 3 you can use a light layer of unscented lotion. (To prevent itching)

Cautions

  • Avoid direct exposer to sun.
  • Do not soak or submerge in water.
  • Don’t scratch or pick at tattoo.

Piercing Aftercare

What to Avoid

  • Do not play with your jewelry. Long term effects include permanent damage to teeth, gums, and other oral structures. See the APP’s Brochure. Oral Piercing Risks and Safety Measures for more information.
  • Avoid undue trauma; excessive talking or playing with the jewelry during healing can cause the formation of unsightly and uncomfortable scar tissue, migration, and other complications.
  • Avoid using mouthwash containing alcohol. It can irritate the piercing and delay healing.
  • Avoid oral sexual contact including French (wet) kssing or oral sex during healing (even with a long-term monogamous partner).
  • Avoid chewing on tobacco, gum, fingernails, pencils, sunglasses, and other foreign objects that could harbor bacteria.
  • Avoid sharing plates, cups, and eating utensils.
  • Avoid smoking! It increases risks and lengthens healing time.
  • Avoid recreational drug use.
  • Avoid aspirin, alcohol, and large amounts of caffeine as long as you are experiencing bleeding or swelling.
  • Avoid submerging healing piercings in bodies of water such as lakes, pools, etc.

 

Each body is unique and healing times vary considerably. If you have any questions, please contact your piercer.

What is Normal?

  • For the first three to five days or so: significant swelling, light bleeding, bruising, and/or tenderness.
  • After that: some swelling light secretion of a whitish-yellow fluid (not pus)
  • A piercing might seem healed before the healing process is complete. This is because they heal from the outside in, and although it feels fine, the tissue remains fragile on the inside. Be patient, and keep cleaning throughout the entire healing period.
  • Even healed piercings that you have had for years can shrink or close in minutes! This varies from person to person; if you like your piercing, keep jewelry in-do not leave the hole empty.

Cleaning Solutions

Use one or more of the following solutions for inside the mouth:

  • Antimicrobial or antibacterial alcohol-free mouth rinse.
  • Plain clean water.
  • Packaged sterile saline solution with no additives (read the label), or a sea salt mixture: Dissolve 1/2 to 1/4 teaspoon of non-iodized (iodine free), fine-grain sea salt into one cup (8 oz.) of warm distilled or bottled water. A mixture of 1/2-1 teaspoon of salt to a quart (32 oz.) of water can be made and stored in the refrigerator, than a small amount can be dispensed and warmed for use each time. A stronger mixture is not better; saline solution that is too strong can irritate the piercing.

 

(Note: If you have high blood pressure or a heart condition, please check with your doctor before using saline product as your primary cleaning solution.)

Cleaning Instructions For Inside The Mouth

Rinse mouth with your chosen solution for 30-60 seconds after meals and at bedtime (4-5 times daily) during the entire healing period. Cleaning too often or with too strong a rinse can cause discoloration and irritation of your mouth and piercing.

Cleaning Instructions For The Exterior of Labret (Cheek & Lip) Piercings

Soak in saline solution and/or wash in mild, fragrance-free liquid soap.

  • WASH your hands thoroughly prior to cleaning or touchig your piercing for any reason.
  • SALINE soak for five to ten minutes once or more per day. Simply soak directly in a cup of warm saline solution for five to ten minutes. For certain placements it may be easier to apply using clean gauze saturated with saline solution. A brief rinse afterward will remove any residue.
  • SOAP once a day while showering. Lather up a pearl size drop of the soap to clean the jewelry and the piercing. Leave the cleanser on the piercing for thirty seconds, or follow the manufacturer’s instructions for use.
  • RINSE thoroughly to remove all traces of the soap from the piercing. It is not necessary to rotate the jewelry through the piercing.
  • DRY by gently patting with clean, disposable paper products. Cloth towels can harbor bacteria and snag on jewelry causing injury.

Other Tips: To Help Reduce Swelling

  • Allow small pieces of ice to dissolve in the mouth.
  • Take an over the counter, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory such as ibuprofen or naproxan sodium according to package instructions.
  • Don’t speak or move your jewelry more than necessary.
  • Sleep with your head elevated above your heart during the first few nights.

Other Tips: To Maintain Good Oral Hygiene

  • Use a new soft-bristled toothbrush and store it in a clean area away from other toothbrushes.
  • Brush your teeth an duse your chosen rinse (saline, water, or mouthwash) after every meal.
  • During healing floss daily, and gently brush your teeth, tongue, and jewelry. Once healed, brush the jewelry more thoroughly to avoid plaque build up.

Other Tips: To Stay Healthy

  • The healthier your lifestyle, the easier it will be for your piercing to heal.
  • Get enough sleep.
  • To help healing and bolster your ability to fight infection eat a nutritious diet. If you don’t, consider taking nutritional supplements daily.
  • Avoid emotional stress, which can increase healing times by up to 40%

Permanent-Makeup Aftercare

Please visit the PMU Aftercare for more information.