Visions Tattoo, Piercing & Art Gallery, Inc. suggests that you follow these easy steps to promote a healthy tattoo:

Before cleaning your tattoo, wash hands thoroughly with antibacterial soap and water.

Before bed, carefully remove the bandage.

Using an antibacterial soap and water, gently rub the area to remove all residue and dried up blood. DO NOT scrub the tattoo!! Rinse and PAT (do not rub) dry with a clean towel or cloth.

Apply fresh bandage.  Continue cleaning tattoo and applying a fresh bandage twice a day for two days.

Then, switch to a mild, unscented hand lotion such as Curel, or Vaseline Intensive Care SKIN lotion. Apply lotion 2 times a day. Be careful not to accidentally rub off any dry skin when applying lotion.

Healing time differs but is usually between 7-14 days. The tattoo will flake and peel much like a sunburn while it heals. This is normal. Do not pick the tattoo!! Some people find that after the flakes have fallen off, an opaque film may be left that hides some of the color in your tattoo. This film is the new skin growing over the tattoo and it should clear up in a few weeks.

While your tattoo is healing it is highly recommended to wear loose fitting clothing as to not damage the tattoo.

Showers are ok, but for two weeks, avoid direct sun exposure, swimming, soaking in a tub, sauna or steam bath.

After the tattoo is completely healed; when out in the sun, always put a SPF 30 to 50 sun block over the tattoo to keep colors bright and to prolong the life of your tattoo.

Itching is to be expected while healing, DO NOT SCRATCH OR PICK THE TATTOO!!

Please consult a physician at any sign of infection or allergic reaction. Report any diagnosed infection or allergic reaction to the tattooist at 508.533.1369.

How you take care of your tattoo is your responsibility once you leave the studio! If you have any questions, please give us a call or come in!

Piercing Aftercare

Aftercare Guidelines for Body Piercings
· Wash your hands prior to contact on or near the area of your healing piercing!

· Leave your piercing alone except for when you are cleaning it. It is not advisable or necessary to rotate the ring while healing except during the cleaning.

· Body piercings need to be cleaned once or twice a day, every day, for the entire initial healing time. Do not clean more often as this can irritate and possibly delay the healing of your piercing.

· Before cleaning, wash your hands thoroughly with liquid antibacterial soap and hot water. NEVER, NEVER touch healing piercings with dirty hands. This is vital for avoiding infections.

· Prepare the area for cleaning by rinsing or soaking with warm water and be sure to remove any stubborn crust using a cotton swab and warm water. NEVER PICK WITH FINGERNAILS! This step is important for your comfort.

· A mild, fragrance- and color-free liquid antibacterial soap may be used to clean your piercing if you have been in any questionable environment. Apply a small handful of cleaning solution to the area with your clean hands. Cleanse the area and the jewelry. Do Not Rotate the Jewelry! Rinse the area of any remaining soap completely. We do not recommend this as part of your daily cleaning as the soap can be overly drying and irritating to the piercing. We do recommend a mild sea salt soak as described below:

· Mild sea salt soaks help to accelerate healing and increase your comfort. This may also help to reduce irritation in the area. Dissolve a pinch (1/4 teaspoon) of sea salt into one cup (8 oz.) of warm or hot water in a clean cup. Distilled water or bottled spring water is optimal. A stronger solution is not better as you can burn your piercing with too much salt. Invert the cup over the area to form a vacuum and soak directly for a few minutes. For certain placements it is easier to use a clean cotton ball or gauze pad soaked in the salt water and applied to the pierced area. Follow with a clear water rinse or splash then pat dry with paper products.

Salt water soaks help to stimulate air and blood circulation which facilitates healing. You can do a brief salt water soak before your daily cleaning as well as several times a day. Saline Solution is the only additional product (other than the sea salt and water) we suggest you use to care for your piercing.

One soak per day should be for at least a few minutes. Additional soaks can be brief (1 minute or so) and still be effective for soothing the area and removing matter.

· Don't use alcohol, peroxide, Betadine or Hibiclens, Bactine, or Anti-bacterial soap as they can be overly strong and drying which can hinder healing.
· Don't apply any ointment such as Bacitracin, Neosporin or any triple antibiotic ointment on your piercing. These prevent oxygen from reaching the wound and form a sticky residue which can cause complications. They are not designed for use on healing piercings.
· Avoid oral contact, rough play, and contact with others' bodily fluids on or near your piercing during healing.
· Don't use Band-Aids on a healing piercing. They limit air circulation and the adhesive can irritate the surrounding area.
· Avoiding sleeping on a piercing during healing is advisable.
· Don't hang charms or any object from your jewelry until the piercing is fully healed.


Aftercare Guidelines for Oral Piercings
Cleaning Solutions
· Tech 2000 diluted with distilled or bottle water as an oral irrigator (two capfuls to one cup of water). An alternative is Biotene or other alcohol-free antimicrobial or antibacterial mouth rinse diluted 50/50 with distilled or bottled water. These are available in the oral medications section of most drug stores. Also, check with us, we sell these products for your convenience.

· Also; mild sea salt water rinses are advisable. Dissolve a pinch (1/4 teaspoon) non-iodized (iodine-free) sea salt to one cup (8oz.) warm to hot water. (Avoid hot water for the first few days.) If you have high blood pressure or heart problems, you will need to limit your frequency with the sea salt, and use only plain warm water rinses.

Cleaning Instructions
· Rinse mouth for 30-60 sec. With diluted Tech 2000 or Biotene after meals during the entire minimum initial healing time. Do not use more than 4-5 times daily and use it over intervals spaced throughout the entire day.
· Rinse mouth briefly (10-15 sec.) with the mild sea salt mixture after you are done smoking, or if you ingest anything except water or clean ice between meals. If you are cleaning too often, the top of your tongue will start to turn a white to yellowish color. Continue to clean your piercing, but reduce the number of times you are cleaning it per day.

· Never touch your piercing with dirty hands!!!
· Never share your jewerly with your friends!!!
·No oral sexual contact including French (wet) kissing or oral sex (without a condom) during the entire initial healing period, even in a monogamous relationship. (If you had a large cut you would not allow anyone to spit into it! This is essentially the same thing.)
· Reducing smoking or quitting is highly advisable. Smoking increases risks and can lengthen the healing time.
· Avoid aspirin, large amounts of caffeine, and alcohol (this includes all beer, wine and hard liquor) for the first few days. These can cause additional swelling, bleeding and discomfort. Refrain from eating spicy, salty, acidic, or hot temperature foods and drinks for a few days.
· Do not play with your piercing or click the jewelry against your teeth. Undue stress on the piercing can cause the formation of unsightly and uncomfortable scar tissue, migration, chipping of teeth, wearing of the gum tissue and other complications.
· Do not use Listerine or other mouthwash with alcohol . It can irritate the area and delay healing.

Each body is unique, and healing times can vary considerably. If you have any questions, please contact us at 508.533.1369.

DISCLAIMER:
These guidelines are based on a combination of vast professional experience, common sense, research, and extensive clinical practice. This is not to be considered a substitute for medical advice from a doctor. Be aware, however, that many doctors have no specific training or experience regarding piercings and may not be educated on how to best assist you.

We support the APP (Association of Professional Piercers - www.safepiercing.org); however, we are not members.

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