PIERCING CARE GUIDE
We hope you enjoy your new body piercing. For a happy and healthy piercing, we sugest the following instructions during the entire healing process. This healing process will vary from person to person.

CLEANING SOLUTIONS:
Anitbacterial soap • Pierced Ear Antiseptic or Bactine • All Natural Sea Salt

1) Wash the piercing once a day in the shower. It is very important that your hands are clean before you handle the piercing. Chances of infection are higher when the piercing is continually played with or not kept clean. There is no need to bandage the piercing unless a sport or exercise will interfere. The piercing needs to breathe as much as possible. Sweat and other bolidy fluids are prone to cause infection and prolong healing if not washed away immediately.

2) In the shower, wash the piercing LAST with clean hands. Apply the soap liberally to the jewelry and pierced holes. Carefullyremove any discharge and pus away from the jewelry and surrounding area. If necessary, use cotton swabs to aid in the removal of "crusties". (CAUTION: any dried discharge that remains on the jewelry, gently grab the bead and move the jewelry back and forth between the tp and bottom holes of the piercing. This will encourage the soap to glide inside the piercing and help fight off bacteria. Continue to rotate the jewelry about ten to twenty times, keeping in mind that the first few cleanings are uncomfortable, but each one thereafter will become easier. After rotating the jewelry with soap, rinse the piercing thoroughly with warm water. If any soap remains, it may cause irritation or infection. After the shower, gently pat dry the jewelry and piercing with a paper towel (regular towels may snag, any may harbor bacteria).

3) Use antiseptic two or three times a day. This does not have to be dried or rinsed and only takes a few moments using clean hands and a cotton swab. Rotating the jewelry out of the shower is not necessary, as normal body movements will cause the jewelry to move on it's own.

4) Approxmately one to two weeks after the initial piercing has had a head start on healing, try using the sea salt. This can be beneficial in preventing further bacterial growth. Sea salt is known to be cleansing and refreshing for the pores of the skin. It's inexpensive and can be found in most health food stores.

5) As long as the above aftercare instructions are followed, infection should remain obsolete. Every individual has their own way of healing, and there are many factors involved during the healing process. Before assuming there is an infection, take into consideration your lifestyle. For instance, eating habits, sleep patterns, work or personal related stress and other human tendencies have an effect on the way we heal. (REMEMBER: your body reacts to the jewelry in the piercings as a foreign object and your body will do it's best to rid itself of the "unknown object"). Once your body realizes that the jewelry is there to stay, it will begin to heal the tissue around the jewelry. The time it takes a person to heal varies a great deal. The healing process begins with scar tissue that over time, changes from red to pink to natural skin color. Expect a translucent white discharge to seep from the piercing holes. Unless the piercing is continually red and irritated, painful or an abnomal color in discharge appears, there is no need to wrry. If an infection does occur, apply a very small amount of triple anitbiotic ointment (Bacitacin or Neosporin) to the piercing holes once a day, for three to five days ONLY!

HELPFUL HINTS

DO USE:
• ANTIBACTERIAL SOAP - unscented and moisture-free with a low pH; Triclosar based.

• BASCTINE or PIERCED EAR ANTISEPTIC which contains Benzalkonium Chloride.

* All-natural SEA SALT diluted with spring water.

• VITAMIN E GELL can be applied to the dry skin which may form around the piercing holes.
Allergic reactions may occur.

• TEA TREE OIL diluted with GRAPE SED OIL.

• 50 mg of ZINC supplement per day.

• DR. BRONNER'S CASTILLE SOAP (for sensitive skin)

• TRIPLE ANTIBIOTIC OINTMENT (used sparingly).
Prolonged use can cause desensitizing and limits oxygen to the piercing.


DO NOT USE:
• Hibiclens may be irritating if not used properly; may cause damage to eyes and ears.

• Betadine causes desensitizing, allergies and growing skin cells to saturate and rpture. It also tarnishes gold.

• Hydrogen Perozide dries and breks down newly formed tissue.

• Isoprophyl alcohol also dries tissue and is not antibacterial or antiseptic.

• Facial piercing: avoid make-up, foundations and powders. Cover the piercing with a tissue before using hairspray. For any swelling or bruising, apply ice for the first six hours.

• Ear piercings: avoid pressure caused by sleeping on new piercings and from using the telephone. Change your pillowcasse often. Prevent hair from getting caught around the jewelry.

• Genital piercings: cleaning products may irritate the urethra in both sexes. Urinate after cleaning to flush out residues in urethral opening. Women should avoid getting cleaning products inside of the vaginal opening as yeast infections may result. Clean genitals after intercourse and use a condom during the entire healing period. Oral contact should be avoided and certain lubricants and spermicides (containing Nonoxynol-9) may be irritating.


ORAL PIERCING CARE GUIDE
We hope you enjoy your new body piercing. For a happy and healthy piercing, we sugest the following instructions during the entire healing process. This healing process will vary from person to person.


CLEANING SOLUTIONS:

Internal Care:
• Antiseptic mouthwash (Carbamide Peroxide - 10%)
• Glyoxide or Peroxyl
• All-natural sea salt (diluted with spring water)

External Care:
• Antibacterial face wash washes (Phioderm, Almay, etc)
• Pierced Ear Antiseptic or Bactine (Benzalkonium Chloride)

TONGUE PIERCING:
1) For the first six to eight weeks, rinse your mouth with diluted Listerine at least 30 seconds after eating, drinking or smoking. Listerine should 50/50 with diluted water. Keep a travel bottle filled with the diluted rinse and use it as necessary. Twice a day, after brushing your teeth, apply a drop of glyoxide to the top and bottom piercing holes. Wait two to three minutes, spit, and then rinse with the diluted Listerine. After three days, rinse your mouth with a warm salt solution (1-teaspoon salt to 1-cup water). Use the salt only once a day.

2) Do not play with your piercing! Attempt to keep your tongue in your mouth in a relaxed position as much as possible while it is healing. Jarring movements and pressure on the jewelry will cause irritation, swelling and prolong the healing process. Eat soft food for the first 3 to 5 days (mashed veggies, fruit shakes, soups, etc.). Avoid salty, spicy, citrus-containing foods for two 2 to 3 weeks following your piercing. taking a multi-vitamin will help keep your body strong while you heal.

LIP AND LABRET PIERCING:
1) Both of these piercings require internal and external cleansing. After eating, drinking or smoking, you must rinse with Listerine. Twice a day, after you brush your teeth, apply one drop of Glyoxide to the internal piercing hole. Wait 2 to 3 minutes, spit, and rinse with the Listerine. After2 days, you may rinse with a warm salt solution.

2) For the external cleansing, you must first wash your hands before handling the piercing. Gently lather the antibacterial face wash onto the jewelry, removing any dried discharge from the piercing. Work the jewelry back and forth through the piercing holes. Rinse well under running water water to remove any soap residue. Pat dry and apply a few drops of antiseptic to the outside piercing hole. Use the antiseptic 2 to 3 tmes daily.

HELPFUL HINTS

• For threaded jewelry (barbells, labret studs), check to ensure the ends are secure.

• Swelling is normal and can be reduced by taking Ibuprofen and/or gently sucking on ice.

• Smoking may be irritating, but not necessarily damaging whereas chewing tobacco is highly discouraged while healing oral piercings.

• Prevent make-up, powders, lotions, perfumes, etc. from getting near the piercing holes.

• Barbells and labret studs will collect plaque. To prevent accumulations, clean the jewelry when brushing and rinse daily with an anti-plaque wash.

• Do not remove the jewelry. If you feel you have an infection, call or stop by to speak to one of the piercers. We will offer our best solutions.

• As long as the above aftercare instructions are followed, infection should remain obsolete. Every individual has their own way of healing, and there are many factors involved during the healing process. Before assuming there is an infection, take into consideration your lifestyle. For instance, eating habits, sleep patterns, work or personal related stress and other human tendencies have an effect on the way we heal. (REMEMBER: your body reacts to the jewelry in the piercings as a foreign object and your body will do it's best to rid itself of the "unknown object"). Once your body realizes that the jewelry is there to stay, it will begin to heal the tissue around the jewelry. The time it takes a person to heal varies a great deal. The healing process begins with scar tissue that over time, changes from red to pink to natural skin color. Expect a translucent white discharge to seep from the piercing holes. Unless the piercing is continually red and irritated, painful or an abnomal color in discharge appears, there is no need to worry. If an infection does occur, you may apply a very small amount of triple anitbiotic ointment (Bacitacin or Neosporin) to the outside holes of the piercing holes once a day, for three to five days ONLY!



DISCLAIMER:
Your piercer or the Baltimore Tattoo Museum, Incorporated does not directly or indirectly dispense medical advise or prescribe the aftercare suggestions as a form of treatment for body piercings. Doctors and other experts in the field of helth hold widely varying views. Our intention as piercers is to offer information based on our own experiences and those of previous clients in order to help you maintain the healing of your new piercing. Your piercer or the Baltimore Tattoo Museum, Incorporated DOES NOT assume responsibility in the aftercare of your new piercing.