TATTOO AFTERCARE: [ print this page ]

1. Leave bandage on for about two hours.
2. Wash your hands thoroughly with hot water.
3. Now wash your tattoo using only your hands and a mild fragrance-free soap (J&J Baby Soap, Dr. Bronner's) for five minutes under hot water.
4. Gently pat tattoo dry with a clean paper towel.
5. Allow tattoo to air dry for 20 minutes.
4. WITH CLEAN HANDS apply a thin layer of one of the following: Lubriderm, Vaseline Intensive Care, or Aveeno Hand Lotion. Do this 3-5 times a day.
5. DO NOT RE-BANDAGE.
6. Repeat steps 2 through 4, two or three times daily for the first three days.

THINGS NOT TO DO:
1. Do not pick, scratch, or monkey, with your healing tattoo.
2. Do not expose your healing tattoo to direct sunlight until totally healed. Even then it is suggested to use strong sunblock.
3. Do not soak (after the first soak) your healing tattoo in any water for 2 weeks.

THINGS TO REMEMBER:
Ointments and lotions do very little for the healing of your tattoo. YOUR BODY DOES MOST OF THE WORK. Applying too much lotion or ointment too often is COUNTER-PRODUCTIVE to your body's efforts and can result in rash, bumps and itching that will hinder your tattoo healing well. The best method for healing is making sure your tattoo stays clean through out the day and that you use just enough lotion to cover the area after washing.

FEEL FREE TO CONTACT YOUR TATTOO ARTIST OR CHAMELEON TATTOO AT 617-876-0412

 PIERCING AFTERCARE:  [ print this page ]

HOW YOUR PIERCING HEALS IS UP TO YOU!

INSTRUCTIONS FOR NON-ORAL PIERCINGS:

Items you need to buy (available at Chameleon or your local Pharmacy)

1) Provon Liquid Baby Soap or Dr. Bronner's Soap - Use once a day in shower; Dilute soap into a lather and surround the peircing, then rinse with hot water.
3) Sterile, Preservative-free Saline Solution (metal can) - Spray directly onto the piercing and pat dry; Use at least twice a day.

DO NOT TOUCH your piercing with your hands unless you have just washed them. No piercing infects itself. You must introduce your piercing to foreign bacteria to create an infection (i.e.: touching money, doorknobs, and/or other people's hands) so one of the most important things to remember is never touching your piercing with un-washed hands.

Never use Bacitracin, Neosporin, Rubbing Alcohol, Peroxide, Betadine, Witch Hazel, or Hibiclens unless directed by a physician. These products are too strong and will irritate your skin and piercing.

For navel piercings: Avoid wearing tight clothing and sleeping on your stomach. The ring should not be pressed from side to side as it will not heal straight.

A Zinc or Vitamin C Supplement along with proper nutrition and rest will promote healing!

You should contact a health care provider if you experience any unexpected redness, excessive tenderness or swelling, a rash, greenish discharge, or if you experience a fever within 24 hours of the procedure.

OTHER INSTRUCTIONS:

Thoroughly clean the piercing once daily (last step in the shower prior to bedtime).
Facial piercings: Clean after you wash your face with your regular facewash. Lather Dr. Bronner's Soap or Provon Liquid Soap to the piercing, cleaning away all crusty matter from the jewelry. Do not pick at the piercing, rinse away suds and any discharge, and spray the piercing with saline solution TWICE DAILY!
Navel and Nipple Piercings: Soak your piercing twice a week in sea salt and water for 5-15 minutes. Place a 1/4 teaspoon of sea salt in a shot glass or any small glass, fill with very warm water, stir, lean forward, place the glass over the piercing, press the glass towards the body, lean back and let it soak.
YOU MAY CHANGE THE JEWELRY AFTER THE HEALING TIME HAS PASSED SO LONG AS THE PIERCING IS NO LONGER RED OR DISCHARGING.

 

INSTRUCTIONS FOR ORAL PIERCINGS

Items you need to buy (available at your local pharmacy):

1. Anti-septic mouthwash
2. Sea Salt

TIPS FOR HEALING YOUR ORAL PIERCING:

Suck on ice for the first 2-3 days to reduce swelling

An Ibuprofen product such as Motrin or Advil will also assist in reducing swelling.

Always wash your hands with antibacterial soap prior to touching your piercing.

You have a direct link into your blood line while your piercing is healing, therefore, take extra care regarding oral sex and other sexual activities as you can easily contract diseases if you come into contact with an infected person.

During the first 3-4 days, avoid food which is temperature hot, spicy, crunchy, or requires a lot of chewing. Stick with soft, mild foods.

A Zinc and/or Vitamin C Supplement along with proper nutrition and rest will promote healing.

You should contact a health care provider if you experience any unexpected redness, excessive tenderness or swelling, greenish discharge, orif you experience a fever within 24 hours of the procedure.

Swelling is normal, lasting anywhere from 3-10 days.

You must rinse your mouth after anything goes in your mouth that is not water (food, drinks, cigarettes, etc.) with diluted mouthwash (25% mouthwash, 75% water). Do this for 2 weeks. Then for 2 more weeks, rinse with diluted mouthwash in the morning, after breakfast, lunch, dinner, and before bedtime. Also, soak your tounge in sea salt and water (1/4 teaspoon sea salt and 8 oz. water) 4-5 times a day for about 1 minute each time.

OTHER TIPS FOR PIERCING CARE:

It is normal for a whitish discharge to come out of your piercing. You will probably also get a white ring around the piercing on the underside of your tongue (do not pick at this!)

Once your tongue is feeling well again, you want to add this to your daily routine: prior to brushing your teeth, check the tightness of both the beads as they both can come loose. You should also brush the barbell. DO NOT TAKE THE BARBELL OUT OF YOUR TONGUE. Simply hold the barbell between your teeth and brush the bead on top and then flip the bar and brush the bottom one as well.

You may change the barbell to a shorter one (5/8" length) in 4 weeks, so long as your tongue is not swollen. This will reduce the chance of tooth damage.

FEEL FREE TO CONTACT YOUR PIERCING SPECIALIST OR CHAMELEON TATTOO AT (617) 876-0412