After Care

Breaking Skin Tattoo Aftercare

• Keep it clean. Use antibacterial soap, lukewarm water, and clean hands to wash it, gently. DO NOT use a washcloth. Wash it at least twice a day. Pat dry. Wait about 15-20 minutes to apply a THIN layer of recommended aftercare such as TT’s Body Balm, Aquatat, or Vitalitree. (We sell these at our shop. Just ask a receptionist on duty!)
• DO NOT clean it with alcohol, peroxide, astringents, etc.
• Continue to use your aftercare for 2-3 days, then switch to a fragrance-free lotion such as Aveeno. Too heavy of an application can suffocate the tattoo, cause a rash, increase scabbing, and/or may draw color from your tattoo. Your tattoo needs to breathe in order to heal.
• Itching is normal. Scratching will pull the ink from your healing tattoo, so gently pat it instead.
• Scabs and flakes are normal. DO NOT PICK THEM. Let them fall off on their own.
• For the next two weeks, avoid sunlight, do not soak in the bathtub, so swimming pools, saunas, hot tubs, or chlorine, do not shave over your tattoo and wear loose fitting clothes to allow the tattoo to breathe and to prevent your clothes from rubbing your new tattoo.
• Average healing time is seven to fourteen days.
• After it has healed make sure to apply sunscreens and lotions when needed to keep your tattoo vibrant.

These are suggestions to help you heal your new tattoo and are not to be substituted for medical advice. Breaking Skin Tattoo and its artists are not responsible for the healing of your tattoo. Please do not hesitate to call the shop with any questions 740-738-0746

Oral Piercing

• Listen to your piercer- we know what we are talking about.
• No brittle, salty, spicy, or acidic foods, as well as, food or drinks that are too hot, for the first couple days after getting the piercing. Stick to soft, cold, or healthy foods (yogurt, ice cream, mashed potatoes, etc.) avoid alcohol.
• Swelling is normal for the first one to two weeks. However, if you have swelling along with redness, lots of bleeding, discharge, a bad smell, rash, and/or fever see a doctor immediately.
• Use some sort of alcohol-free rinse. An antiseptic mouthwash (the light brown one) mixed half and half with distilled water is fine. Do not use alcohol. peroxide, contact solution, oils, ointments, etc. on your new piercing or anything that includes these as ingredients.
• Be careful not to over clean your piercing (signs include yellow or white looking tongue.)
• Sea salt rinses (1/4 teaspoon sea salt mixed with eight ounces of warm water) should be done at least once a day for fifteen to thirty seconds.
• Rinse your mouth every time you eat or drink anything that is not water based, with water or sea salt rinse. This will prevent food from getting stuck in your piercing and causing infection.
• Brush your teeth three times daily while your piercing is healing. A new, soft bristle toothbrush is recommended. For tongue rings, plaque will begin to build up on your jewelry if it is not cleaned properly and consistently.
• Ice and other cold liquids are encouraged to reduce swelling. Ibuprofen is also recommended if you are comfortable with taking it.
• Avoid contact with any foreign bodily fluid for at least two weeks. Keep your mouth to yourself. Also, do not share cups, plates, forks, knives, or spoons.
• Keep jewelry in place during the healing period. Removal and changing of jewelry prior to it being healed can result in infection or losing the piercing all together.
• Check the tightness of your jewelry daily to ensure it does not come out or come loose. This is important, oral piercings more than any other piercing come unscrewed. If your jewelry falls out, call us or stop in immediately, as leaving the jewelry out for long durations of time can result in losing the piercing.
• After your tongue is healed make sure to brush your tongue as well as the jewelry as it will build up calcium.

Disclaimer: These are suggestions on how to heal your piercing. We are not responsible for the aftercare/healing of your piercing. For any questions or concerns stop in and see us or give us a call at 740-738-0746

Standard Piercing Aftercare

• Listen to your piercer. We know what we’re talking about.
• Keep it clean and PAWS OFF! The only time you should be touching your piercing is to clean it or check the tightness of the balls and that should only be done with clean hands.
• Piercings should be cleaned with soap and water only once daily. Piercings should be sprayed with a good quality sea salt solution at least three times a day. You can’t overuse it.
• The only things you should use to clean your piercing are antibacterial soap and sea salt solution. DO NOT use alcohol, peroxide, ointments, oils, contact solution, etc. unless other wise instructed by your piercer.
• Bleeding, bruising and discoloration is to be expected. Crusties (a dried crust that forms around your new piercing) will also appear. DO NOT pick at them- this can cause infection. (Tip: after cleaning if you still have crusties put sea salt solution on a Q-Tip and gently remove any loose pieces)
• Check the tightness of your jewelry every time you clean them to ensure the jewelry doesn’t come loose or fall out. Do not remove or change your jewelry until the recommended healing time has passed. This varies with each piercing. This can result in infection or losing the piercing all together.
• Spinning/Rotating your jewelry is not recommended, however moving it to clean it is okay. DO NOT submerge your piercing, this includes getting into any pools, bathtubs, lakes, oceans etc. for two months minimum.