HOW TO CARE FOR YOUR NEW TATTOO

First 2 days (when covered with cling film at end of appointment):

✺ Remove wrap after a couple of hours

✺ Gently wash with non-perfumed antibacterial soap, and let air dry or pat dry with clean towel

✺ Apply a small amount of light, unscented moisturiser to the tattoo with clean hands

✺ Leave to air, or wear loose clothing

✺ Before bed, wash and apply cream as before then rewrap

✺ The following morning wash and apply cream and leave to air

If second skin is applied at end of appointment, leave on for no more than 48hrs then remove carefully under warm water (best to do in the shower). Wash gently with warm soapy water, let air dry or pat dry with clean towel, then apply small amount of aftercare balm.

First 2 weeks:

✺ Wash your tattoo twice a day, but don't over wash (showering is fine, baths are not)

✺ Apply cream a few times a day whenever the tattoo feels dry and tight, but be sparing and don't over moisturise

✺ A thin flaky scab will form and peel. Don't pick or scratch as this can lead to loss of ink or infection

✺ You may experience a little swelling, redness and soreness for the first few days

✺ If possible, always use clean towels, bedsheets, clothes etc during the healing process

✺ Try to wear loose clothing/shoes, and watch out for waistbands/bra straps/bags rubbing on the tattoo

✺ Do not shave the area or apply any other products (fake tan/perfume etc) until the tattoo has fully healed

✺ Don't let anyone touch your new tattoo, including pets, as this can put you at risk of infection

✺ Keep your tattoo out of the sun until it has fully healed, and use high SPF to protect it after 2-3 weeks. Sun exposure will make the ink fade.

✺ Don't soak your tattoo in water (baths/dishwater/steam rooms etc) until it has fully healed, as this can remove ink and lead to infection

Long term:

✺ Taking good care of your skin is the best long term care for tattoos. Exfoliate and moisturise regularly, and wear a high SPF anytime your tattoos are exposed to the sun.

PLEASE NOTE:

If you experience any of the following you likely have an infection and should contact your gp immediately.

✺ red itchy bumps around the tattoo site

✺ worsening pain

✺ redness and swelling after the first few days

✺ yellow/green scabbing or pus

✺ systemic chills/fever

Aftercare for second skin

Leave second skin on for 3-5 days.

Take second skin off in the shower with warm soapy water and pull the bottom corners down and away from the tattoo and the top cornering up and away (like a command strip) and it should stretch off

DON’T peel it off like a plaster/ band aid

Moisturise for the next 2-3 days after taking second skin off with any of the following moisturisers; palmers cocoa butter, or Vaseline’s Cocoa butter (not normal Vaseline)

Aftercare for cling film

Leave the cling film on your new tattoo for 1 hour (3 hours max) wash down with warm soapy water (make sure it’s not boiling hot and the soap used has no perfumes in it)

Either let the tattoo air dry or pat it dry with clean kitchen roll (do not rub)

After apply your tattoo aftercare cream. We recommend either palmers cocoa butter or Vaseline’s cocoa butter. Ensure the aftercare is moisturised into the skin and there isn’t a heavy layer top of the tattoo otherwise the skin can’t breathe

This procedure must be carried out 1-2 times daily during the healing time. Ensuring hands are washed thoroughly before hand

Do not wrap the tattoo up again unless instructed by your tattoo artist

No submerging the tattoo until it’s healed

No fake tan or sunbeds while it is healing as this can cause issue

No picking at the tattoo as this can cause ink to come out

Try avoid wearing lose clothing as tight clothes will rub against the tattoo causing friction and potentially leading to ink falling out

Be sure not to get your tattoo in the sun during the healing process as this can affect how it heals.

Once healed when put in the sun protect it with factor 50 to reduce the risk of fading

Please note areas of high use ( fingers, hands and feet) are areas of high use and are more likely to require a touch up which will be a £50 touch up fee

CLEANING SOLUTIONS

The only thing that you should use to clean your fresh piercing is sterile saline solution. We recommend Neilmed Piercing aftercare which you can purchase in the studio.

We do not recommend contact lens solution, eye drops, or other non-sterile saline products which have extra ingredients as these may irritate the piercing. We do not recommend making your own salt water solution as this can often result in the solution being too salty which can dry out the area and irritate the piercing.

HOW TO CLEAN YOUR PIERCING

Always wash and dry your hands before cleaning your piercing. Clean your piercing with sterile saline solution twice daily (morning and night). Spray the saline onto the piercing site and allow it to sit for 1 minute, then gently remove debris and dry the area with non woven gauze or a tissue that does not shed fibres. Avoid cotton buds and toilet roll.

Oral piercings should be rinsed with mild non-alcoholic mouthwash after eating and drinking.

WHAT TO EXPECT AFTER THE PIERCING IS DONE

• some tenderness and swelling around and near the new piercing

• some bleeding from the new piercing, especially if it it knocked or you have taken blood thinning medication

• some “crusties” around the piercing site

• "Piercing bumps" are common, especially on areas of cartilage. These are usually caused by irritation and if this occurs we can give advice on how to care for them so they eventually go away.

WHAT TO AVOID

• Avoid cleaning with alcohol, hydrogen peroxide, TCP, antibacterial soaps, iodine, tea tree oil and wound wash solutions. These products are too harsh for a new piercing and can irritate it.

• Avoid submerging fresh piercings in bodies of water such as pools, hot tubs, the sea and lakes. These are full of bacteria and increase the risk of infection and irritation.

• Avoid putting pressure on your new piercing such as tight clothing or sleeping on the piercing

HANDY TIPS

• Every few days with clean hands, check that the balls are tight to prevent them from coming loose during healing.

• Change pillow cases and anything that comes into close contact with the piercing regularly

• if you have a hairdressing appointment let them know you have a fresh piercing to ensure they take care not to knock or get product in it.

• if you sleep on your side, try using a U shape travel pillow to sleep. Place the pillow around your ear (so your ear is in the hole) to avoid putting the piercing under pressure.

• Look after yourself. Healing piercings is dependent on your immune system, so a healthy lifestyle can help your piercing heal without complications.

We recommend that you come back in 6 weeks for a check up so we can assess if the piercing requires a downsize. This Is important because as the swelling goes down, the bar length can become an irritation risk.

Piercings can take anywhere from 6 months to a year to fully heal. Piercings heal on the outside first, so even if your piercing appears healed, the inside may still be healing. Avoid changing jewellery regularly until the piercing is fully healed.

If you have any questions or worries, do not hesitate to come in and see us or message Sarah directly on instagram or facebook @pentacle_piercing