PRODUCTS:

- Anti microbial or germicidal soap

- Wound wash

- Antiseptic or antibacterial alcohol free mouthwash (for oral piercings, only)

PRODUCT APPLICATION:

- Once, daily, lather piercing with pea size drop of soap, thoroughly rinse and dry.

- Twice, daily, soak piercing with wound wash spray. Then thoroughly dry. If you have stubborn build up (crust), soak q-tip and gently remove by rotating soaked q-tip, until you don’t see anymore build up, then pat dry.

- For oral piercings, rinse with mouthwash for 30 seconds after meals and at bedtime.

WHAT TO EXPECT:

- Initially: some bleeding, swelling, tenderness, or bruising.

- During healing: some discoloration, itching, secretion of a whitish-yellow fluid (not pus) that will form some crust on the jewelry. The tissue may tighten around the jewelry as it heals.

- Once healed: the jewelry may not move freely in the piercing; do not force it. If you fail to include cleaning your piercing as part of your daily hygiene routine, normal but smelly bodily secretions may accumulate.

- A piercing may seem healed before the healing process is complete. This is because tissue heals from the outside in, and although it feels fine, the interior remains fragile. Be patient, and keep cleaning throughout the entire healing period.

WHAT TO DO AND WHAT NOT TO DO:

- Wash hands prior to cleaning your piercing.

- When drying your piercing, use a disposable paper product. NOT a cloth towel because they can harbor bacteria and/or snag your jewelry.

- Avoid swimming pools, hot tubs, lakes, lagoons, rivers, etc. during healing.

- Avoid/reduce your intake of aspirin, caffeine, nicotine, alcohol, and drugs during healing.

- Do NOT exceed 3 TOTAL cleanings per day (soap and wound wash).

- Do NOT use alcohol, peroxide, Neosporin, Bactine, pierced ear solution, contact solution, or anything other than what your piercer suggests.

- Do NOT remove jewelry until piercing has fully healed.

- Come in to downsize initial jewelry, as your piercer suggests (usually 4-6 weeks).

- Do NOT touch, lick, kiss (or let others) your healing piercing.

- Keep bodily fluids away from healing piercing for duration of healing.

- Avoid snagging, bumping, or sleeping on a healing piercing for the duration of healing.

- Do NOT use make-up, tanning accelerators, lotions, body sprays, perfumes or cologne.

- Oral piercings: Avoid spicy, acidic, or salty foods, straws, and milk products until healed.

- No earbuds or headphones while healing cartilage piercings.

- Make sure you change your pillowcase every 4 days to provide a clean place for sleeping. Flipping and rotating, nightly, to use a clean surface.

- When using hair products, cover cartilage piercings with a sandwich bag, and remove when hair product is completely dry.

- Wipe down anything that may come in contact with healing piercing: glasses, sunglasses, helmet, headbands, etc.

- 1st month of nipple piercings, sleep in a tank top 1 size too small or a comfy sports bra.

- Remove all bedding that is lacy, crocheted, or torn because of the potential to snag your new piercing. Be careful while getting dressed: Be wary of jewelry and clothing snagging.

- If your jewelry is threaded, you MUST keep a check on the beads! Your piercer tightened, but any that screws on, screws off. At minimum, once a week: Wash your hands, dry and turn “righty tighty” to tighten.

- Avoid sharing plates, cups, utensils while healing.

- For swelling with oral piercings: Allow small pieces of ice to dissolve in the mouth. Don't speak or move (and/or play with) your jewelry more than necessary. Sleep with your head elevated above your heart during the first few nights.

- For swelling with all piercings: You may take an over the counter, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory such as ibuprofen or naproxen sodium. Follow dosage instructions on package as it pertains to swelling.

- A hard, vented eye patch can be applied under tight clothing (such as nylon stockings) or secured using a length of Ace® bandage around the body. This can protect the area from restrictive clothing, excess irritation, and impact during physical activities such as contact sports or working out.

- All clients with new body piercings below the neck should shower instead of soaking in a bath. Baths are pools of bacteria and can cause complications for healing.

- Avoid over cleaning. This can irritate piercing and delay healing.

- Avoid unnecessary “trauma” to the healing piercing. This includes friction from clothing, excessive motion of the area, playing with the jewelry, or vigorous cleaning. These can all cause unsightly scar tissue, migration, prolonged healing, etc.

- Keep pets away from healing piercings. Pet dander and certain diseases carried by reptiles can cause complications for healing. Or even end up in a doctor’s visit.

- If you have a surgical procedure that requires you to remove your jewelry, stop in to see your piercer. She has options to use that won’t react with medications, MRI, CT scans, etc.

GENITAL PIERCINGS:

- These can bleed freely for the first few days. Sanitary pads, changed frequently, can help with protecting your undergarments and clothes.

- Use anti microbial soap twice daily.

- Urinate after using soap to clean any piercing that is near the urethra.

- In most cases you can engage in sexual activity as soon as you feel ready, but maintaining hygiene and avoiding trauma are vital; all sexual activities should be gentle during the healing period. Urinate after sexual activity.

- Use barriers such as condoms, dental dams, and waterproof bandages, etc. to avoid contact with your partners' body fluids, even in monogamous relationships.

- Use clean, disposable barriers on sex toys.

- Use a new container of water-based lubricant; do not use saliva.

Thank you for choosing Empyrean Tattoo for you body piercing experience! If you have any questions or concerns, please don’t self diagnose by using Google or asking family or friends for advice. Call the shop at 770-992-5800 or stop in to speak with the piercer. Just keep in mind we cannot, responsibly, give advice about a concern over the phone or internet.