Piercing Aftercare

First and foremost, if you ever have any piercing questions you should always consult the professional that performed your piercing.  In this case that would be your piercer at Poked You Too LLC.   When you have questions, concerns, etc. please call instead of listening to friends and family. They are unfortunately not professionals, so their advice may hinder the healing ability of your new piercing.

What should you expect after the piercing:

• Swelling
• Redness
• Itching
• Burning
• Bleeding
• General Irritation
• **Lymphing

**During the healing process you will notice a white and sometimes yellowish discharge escaping from your piercing.  This is nothing more than excess lymph material. This is completely NORMAL. You do not have an infection, and it is not puss.  During the initial healing time, your body pushes out this excess healing material. So, no worries.

How to care for your new piercing

External Care

Keep things simple…the less you do is better when it comes to piercing.  With that in mind, use a regular antibacterial hand soap on a Q-tip twice a day.  Nothing fancy, just keep it clean.  As well, keep your hands away from it, your hands are always dirty unless just washed.  Keep it clean, and don’t touch it…Pretty easy.

Oral Care

Use any alcohol free mouthwash, dilute it 50/50 with water and rinse 4-6 times a day, after every time you eat something, so you can keep food particles and other harmful obstructions away from your fresh piercing.

Things to avoid while healing

• Swimming - In general, avoid all bodies of water not your bath or shower. This includes the hottub.
• Tanning - This includes tanning beds and natural sunshine exposure without the proper SPF sunblock
• Tight clothing - A new piercing that is under clothing needs to breath to heal properly.

Everything else can be assessed by common sense.  Use your first gut instinct. If you think it sounds like a bad idea, it probably is. If you still have questions or concerns, then Rule #1 is your best friend. Give us a call and we’ll be happy to discuss any issues or questions you may have.

Tattoo Aftercare

First and foremost, if you ever have any questions you should always consult the professional that performed your ink.  In this case that would be your artist at Poked You Too LLC.   When you have questions, concerns, etc. please call instead of listening to friends and family. They are unfortunately not professionals, so their advice may hinder the healing ability of your new work.

What should you expect after your tattoo:

• Swelling
• Redness
• Itching
• Burning
• Bleeding
• General Irritation
• **Peeling

** After about 3-5 days, you’ll notice your tattoo will start to peel, kind of like a sunburn. This is absolutely normal, so don’t fret! Make sure not to pick or scratch this peeling skin as this may cause scabbing and color to come out of your beautiful new tattoo.

How to care for your new tattoo

• Wash the area 3-5 times a day, using an unscented soap. We recommend Rebecca’s Unscented Goat Milk Soap, sold here at Poked You Too. NEVER scrub the area with a washcloth or loofah, as this may cause you to scab and lose ink, leaving blank spots in your tattoo. Your bare hand works best to cleanse the area.
• B lot dry with a paper towel. DO NOT wipe or scrub area…this may also cause problems with the healing process.
• A pply a very thin amount of AQUAPHOR clear healing ointment. Applying too much can make the area break out, and cause further healing issues. Apply whenever the tattoo feels dry, which is around 3-5 times a day. You can purchase this product pretty much anywhere i.e. Walgreens, Wal-Mart, Kroger, etc. Using any unscented, clear ointment works in the healing process, but AQUAPHOR is the best on the market to ensure your new tattoo heals properly.
• After you are peeled and healed, use any unscented lotion i.e. Vaseline Intensive Care, Shea Butter, Cocoa Butter, etc. to keep the area moisturized and looking as good as the day you got your tattoo done.

Typically, the total length of the healing process is between 7 and 10 days. This of course will vary depending on age, your immune system, etc.

Things to avoid while healing

• Neosporin/Antibacterial Creams - These products are designed to pull foreign materials from the skin. Your new tattoo is a foreign material. Using these products will result in a faded, or even blotchy tattoo
• Scented or Dyed Lotions – These products usually contain alcohol which will dry your skin. You want to keep your skin moist after a new tattoo, not dry it out further.
• Tanning – Avoid the tanning bed, or direct sunlight on your new tattoo. Exposure to UV rays can quickly fade and muddle the colors in your new tattoo. If you must go outside with your tattoo exposed, please use a high SPF sunscreen.
• Tight clothing - A new tattoo that is under clothing needs to breath to heal properly.

Everything else can be assessed by common sense.  Use your first gut instinct. If you think it sounds like a bad idea, it probably is. If you still have questions or concerns, then Rule #1 is your best friend. Give us a call and we’ll be happy to discuss any issues or questions you may have.