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Aftercare

Tattoos

Remove the dressing in 3 to 4 hours. Wash your hands thoroughly before you wash, apply lotion, or touch your tattoo. Wash your tattoo with warm water and a mild cleanser such as Dial Antibacterial soap. Do not use a washcloth. After the tattoo has been cleaned, pat it dry with a clean towel – do not rub. Wash your tattoo at least once a day.

Keep your tattoo moisturized. Never apply alcohol, peroxide, Vaseline, Neosporin or any other type of petroleum based ointment to your tattoo. Threshold Tattoo recommends Ink Fixx tattoo aftercare products for your tattoo. Apply a thin layer of Ink Fixx 3 to 4 times a day for 14 days.

Most tattoos heal in 2-3 weeks. When properly cared for, most tattoos heal with only a light flaking. Occasionally a scab will form; do not pick or scratch at it. If you remove the scab, a new one will form and you will probably suffer some color loss. It is normal for itching to occur – do not scratch your tattoo. A thin coating of Ink Fixx will usually ease the itching. After the initial flake falls off, a secondary flake, known as milky skin, may occur. If, after healing, the color of your tattoo seems to be cloudy, but brightens when Ink Fixx is applied, you have milky skin. This will go away in a few days with regular applications of Ink Fixx.

Avoid soaking your tattoo in water; which means no swimming, hot tubs, saunas, chlorinated water, or salt water. Do not expose your new tattoo to direct sunlight or sun blocking lotions. A new tattoo has no sun-blocking capabilities and will sunburn quickly. A sunburn can increase healing time, and result in excessive scabbing and color loss. Avoid exposing your new tattoo to the various conditions mentioned above for at least 2 weeks. If a touch-up is necessary, please come back within 6-8 weeks.

Piercings

New piercing’s should be cleaned thoroughly twice a day. Wash your hands thoroughly, never touch your piercing with dirty hands! This is very important. Do not use alcohol, hydrogen peroxide, Betadine (which will discolor gold jewelry), or petroleum based products on your piercing. A mild low pH medicated soap such as those sold by Threshold tattoo can be used. Soaps which contain deodorants, cold cream, strong perfumes or other additives should be avoided.

During the healing process, matter secreted from the piercing will dry on the jewelry and around the openings of the piercing. To remove this secretion it may be necessary to first soak your piercing in warm water. Once the outside of your piercing is clean, lather the piercing with soap and move the jewelry back and forth a few times. Rinse the piercing thoroughly, working the jewelry back and forth under running water to make certain that all traces of the cleanser are removed. We recommend following this procedure twice daily while showering.

For tongue piercing’s, rinse with an alcohol free antiseptic after eating, drinking (except water) or smoking. To help reduce the initial swelling, suck on ice. Avoid foods that are hot, spicy or excessively salty, and keep dairy to a minimum. Avoid alcohol, it can cause dehydration which will result in swelling. Avoid smoking and any oral contact. For lip piercing’s, rinse with an alcohol free antiseptic after eating, drinking (except water) or smoking. Remove any dried matter from your piercing, swab the outside of the piercing with an alcohol free antiseptic and rinse thoroughly. This procedure should be performed twice daily.

Additional methods of cleaning your piercing involve the use of saline solutions. Sea salt soaks are recommended for maintenance of new piercing’s. In a small cup, mix Sea Salt with warm water (1/4 teaspoon salt to 1 cup. of warm water) and soak the piercing for 3-5 minutes once or twice a day for the first six weeks. Make sure to rinse with clean water after salt soaks so there is no residue left. Sea Salt can be purchased at grocery stores in the salt section. You can also purchase saline solutions such as those sold by Threshold Tattoo.

Oral contact, exposure to bodily fluid, or handling of new piercing’s can cause infections and should be avoided. New piercing’s should not be subjected to heavy abuse during the healing period. Keep make-up and restrictive clothing away from new piercing’s. New piercing’s should never be subjected to hot tubs, bathes, swimming pools, rivers, lakes or oceans. If this precautionary advice is not followed, serious irritations can occur.

With proper post piercing care, infections are rare. Minor soreness may be experienced while piercing’s heal. If the pain continues and the piercing is very sore and/or excessive redness or discharge occurs for an extended period of time, you may have an infection. If you think you have an infection, see a physician as soon as possible. In the case of nostril or septum piercing infections, it is imperative to see a physician without delay.

Body jewelry may be removed and changed when the piercing is healed. However, if jewelry is removed too soon or before the area surrounding the piercing has toughened, the delicate interior of the piercing can be easily torn when new jewelry is inserted. Ear, nostril and septum piercing’s require at least a two month healing period with jewelry left in at all times. All other piercing’s require at least a six month healing period. Check the accessories (balls, and gem-ends) on your jewelry for tightness at least once a day.