Aftercare

Aftercare Products

Piercing & Tattoo Preparation

Making your experience more comfortable:

  • Get plenty of rest the night before. Eat a good meal and drink plenty of fluids within 6 hours before getting pierced or tattooed.
  • Do not consume alcohol, large amounts of caffeinated beverages or blood-thinning medications within 12 hours prior to or 24 hours after getting pierced or tattooed.
  • If you must take blood-thinning medication discuss this with your piercer and your doctor prior to your appointment.
  • Wear clean clothes. If you are getting a navel, nipple, surface piercing or tattoos in the torso area, do NOT wear restrictive clothing.
  • If you are getting a facial piercing, do not wear makeup around the piercing site.
  • If you are getting an ear piercing, wear your hair away from your ear.
  • If you are thinking about getting more than one piercing or a large tattoo in a single session, consider factors such as your body's ability to heal multiple piercings and comfort during the healing period.

Ear Piercings

  • For an ear piercing: the only cleanser you need is Antibacterial Cleansing Solution. Use this twice a day, every day. For optimum healing, we also recommend skin paint to be used twice a week.
  • Hair should be kept away from the piercing, as it carries a lot of dirt and oil. Any contact with shampoo, hair dye and other hair products should be avoided.

Facial Piercings

  • For a facial piercing: the only cleanser you need is Antibacterial Cleansing Solution. Use this twice a day, every day. For optimum healing, we also recommend skin paint to be used twice a week.
  • Be cautious with make-up application around the piercing area. Don't use any make-up on the actual piercing. Don't be tempted to try and cover it up - this will compromise the healing process.

Oral Piercings (Lips/ Tongue)

  • For an oral piercing: Glycerine of Thymol, is to be used every time you eat, drink, smoke, sleep or after any form of oral contact. Brush teeth gently two or three times a day with toothpaste. Ice will reduce the swelling. Kissing or any other oral contact should be avoided for at least 6 weeks.

Nipple & Navel Piercings

  • For a nipple or navel piercing: we recommend the full After Care Pack, containing Antibacterial Cleansing Solution, skin paint, zinc capsules and sterile dressings.
  • When you leave the studio, you will have a dressing protecting the piercing - leave this for 24 hours to give the piercing time to settle. Apply fresh dressings provided only during the night, for the next four nights and leave them off during the day so your piercing can breathe. Clean the piercing twice per day with Antibacterial Cleansing Solution. Apply skin paint twice a week. Zinc capsules to be taken daily.

Surface Piercings

  • For a surface piercings: the only cleanser you need is Antibacterial Cleansing Solution. Use this twice a day, every day. For optimum healing, we also recommend skin paint to be used twice a week.
  • Take the utmost care not to knock your piercing - surface piercings can take more of an aftercare commitment, as they are more vulnerable to being dislodged. Be especially cautious during any sexual contact!

Dermal Anchors

  • For a dermal anchor implants: clean with the Antibacterial Cleansing Solution twice a day, every day. Skin paint should be used at least four times a week. These need constant care for as long as you keep them.

General Advice for All Piercings

  • After a few days the piercing will start to secrete fluid, this is called lymph (don't worry - this is normal and not to be confused with an infection). When cleaning, hold the jewellery to stop it moving. Clean the jewellery and then move it gently through the skin with either cotton wool or cotton buds dipped in the cleaning solution. Clean off all the dried lymph, making sure you don't reuse the same cotton bud.
  • Women may experience an increased secretion of lymph and soreness of piercing towards the onset of menstruation. Extra care should be taken of the piercing during this time.
  • Infections can develop easily on a new piercing since it is an open skin wound. Be sure to keep dirty fingers and tight or dirty clothing away from a new piercing. Avoid excessive tugging and pulling. Refrain from oral and sexual contact until the area is well healed. Remember it is your body and an infection does hurt.
  • CAUTION: Ointments do not clean or disinfect the piercing - they are only lubricants and not a substitute for proper cleaning solution. DO NOT use soap. To ensure your piercing heals as quickly as possible, do not use antiseptic ointment e.g.: Savlon, Germoline, TCP, Dettol or surgical spirit. All of these products will slow down the healing process.
  • For any piercing except oral: Swimming in chlorinated pools or the sea should be avoided until the piercing is well healed.
  • If excessive redness, swelling, bleeding, changes of colour in tissue or soreness persists, DO NOT remove jewellery, contact Shiva Body Piercing Studio. If you are unable to contact us, visit your local GP. Do not take aspirin as pain relief. An aspirin substitute such as Ibuprofen is advised and is available from chemists.

Aftercare Products for Piercings

The following aftercare products are all available from Shiva Body Piercing Studio:

  • Antibacterial Cleansing Solution. This should be used twice a day, morning and night (for all piercings except oral piercings).
  • Zinc Capsules - Zinc promotes faster healing. Take one capsule a day with meals.
  • Mepore Sterile Dressing (for nipple and navel piercings). Use these self-adhesive dressings to cover the piercing at night, for the first four nights. Do not use these during the day - your piercing needs to breathe.
  • Skin paint - This is used once a week for the initial healing period or if the piercing appears slightly red or if it has been knocked or pulled. Paint the fluid around the piercing and let it dry. Leave it on for 8 to 24 hours (when you sleep). Always wash the brush (under hot running water) before placing back in the bottle.

Tattoo Aftercare

Aftercare Products

Care of your new tattoo

  • Leave the dressing your tattooist has applied for at least 2-4 hours.
  • After this time, remove the dressing and wash the tattoo, ensuring it is super clean. Be gentle - DO NOT RUB - pat it dry.
  • Use cling film to keep your tattoo covered for at least 3 days after being tattooed. Use a new cling film dressing after each time you clean your tattoo.
  • Clean your tattoo twice a day for up to 2 weeks. After you have dried your tattoo well, apply a small amount of Bepanthen tattoo healing ointment (we provide this). Massage into the tattoo and ensure there is no excess left on the surface. Do not let the tattoo dry out as this can lead to bad healing and heavier scabbing.
  • When your tattoo has healed and the top layer has fallen away the area will still need attention and care. It will probably appear lighter and shinier than it should. Don't panic! This is another healing stage for the skin. It can take up to 2 months for skin to return to its normal texture. It may also be dry and itchy - DO NOT SCRATCH!! - just use the tattoo healing ointment for relief.
  • Avoid contact with the sun and other sources of UV light (eg, sun beds) as well as chlorinated water (swimming pools) for at least 4 weeks. The skin is not entirely healed at this point and this kind of exposure can lead to a patchy or uneven tattoo. If you are unable to avoid the sun, use a high factor sun block (we advise 30+ - 50+) to ensure there is no colour fading.
  • For your tattoo to heal quickly and to obtain the best results do not drink or use drugs in excess. The toxins in them do not agree with new ink! A healthy body leads to a healthy tattoo so bear this in mind during the healing process.

Tattoo Aftercare Product

  • Bepanthen tattoo healing ointment - this is sealing and healing stuff, keeping the skin soft and supple. Bepanthen is antibacterial and it forms a barrier over the skin to protect your tattoo. Don't be put off by the fact that this is also a medicinal balm for nappy rash! If it's good enough for distressed little'ns, it will definitely do the job for you!
  • Zinc tablets - to aid rapid healing. Take one capsule a day with meals.