If using Saniderm/Tegaderm/etc., try to leave it on for 5-7 days. During the first few days, fluid may build up underneath the bandage. This is completely normal! The fluid will eventually reabsorb, and it should look dry underneath the wrap. The bandage is waterproof, and can be worn during showers. After 5-7 days, remove the wrap in the shower under warm water. Slowly pull it away from your body. Keep in mind that the bandage is very elastic. Don't rip up roughly, as there could be scabs. Wash with water and mild, fragrance free, antibacterial liquid hand soap (like Dial Gold). You will see ink and plasma wash away. Let air-dry, or pat dry with a clean towel. Afterwards, only moisturize when the tattoo is dry. We suggest an unscented hand lotion, such as Lubriderm. Don't oversaturate the tattoo with moisturizer as it's healing, as this could cause fading.

If NOT using an adhesive wrap, remove the bandage within a few hours and clean the tattoo. Wash 3 times a day with water and mild, fragrance free, antibacterial liquid hand soap (like Dial Gold). Let air-dry, or pat dry with a clean towel. Once dry, apply a small amount of ointment, such as Aquaphor, and rub into the tattooed area. Continue this process until the tattoo begins to peel. Under no circumstances should you pick at or scratch your healing tattoo.

AVOID: Touching the unhealed tattoo with unwashed hands, exposing it to dirt/bacteria, soaking in standing water (showers are okay), excess friction, washing the tattoo with a washcloth/loofah, picking or scratching, direct sunlight or UV exposure, suffocating the tattoo and not letting it breathe.

THANK YOU for visiting! Feel free to message us with any questions or concerns.

EXPECTATIONS AND CARE:

• Wash your hands, ya filthy animal! Before cleaning or touching your piercing, always wash your hands with warm water and antibacterial soap. Your piercing was done in a clean environment with clean jewelry, but you must do all you can to keep it clean once you've left the shop!

• Don't panic. Bleeding, swelling, tenderness, scabbing, bruising, redness, and irritation are totally normal during healing.

• Be patient. Piercings heal from the outside in. They may seem healed long before the process is complete.

• DO NOT change or remove your jewelry before the end of the suggested heal time. It can close up fast, sometimes even after it has healed. If you think you need to remove the jewelry due to infection, consult a piercer first. Often, people mistakenly think their piercing is infected because of redness or swelling, or even heat from the healing area caused by simple irritation. If it is truly infected, removing the jewelry can cause the site to close up around the infection, allowing no drainage, and trapping the infection inside. Then it may form cysts or other problems…ew.

• DO NOT TOUCH IT!! Most complications are caused by contamination of the site or from irritation caused by touching. HANDS OFF!!

• DO. NOT. TOUCH. IT. DO NOT rotate the jewelry or pick at it. I promise that it will heal faster and better if you leave it be. Picking at crusties, or rotating, twisting and turning the jewelry can cause scars or bumps to form around the piercing. Not cute.

• DON'T GET MAKE-UP OR OTHER PRODUCTS IN IT! Regularly change sheets or pillowcases too.

• Avoid standing water. Showering is totally fine, but lakes, pools, hot tubs, etc., can harbor dangerous and harmful bacteria.

• DO NOT use alcohol (dries and irritates), hydrogen peroxide (kills white blood cells, eats up new tissue), ointments (clogs pores and keeps oxygen from reaching tissue), Betadine, Bactine, Dial, or “pierced ear care” solutions. Just stick to recommended products for successful healing.

WITH CLEAN HANDS, here are the recommended ways of cleaning: 1 Spray saline solution directly onto the piercing. No Q-tips. You may gently dry the area with clean disposable paper products. 2 Soak the piercing by inverting a small cup of heated saline over the piercing. For some it may be easier to make a small compress with gauze or paper towel.

SALINE WOUND WASH is available in the first aid section of any pharmacy. IT'S YOUR NEW BEST FRIEND! You can even make it with distilled water and NON-IODIZED fine grain sea salt. ¼ teaspoon to every 8 oz of distilled water, 3 teaspoons to 1 gallon.

FOR MORE INFO check out the APP website: www.safepiercing.org