Congratulations on your new piercing, and thank you for choosing Divine Arts Tattoo.

It’s essential to remember that each healing journey is unique, influenced by individual factors like your body, diet, climate, and lifestyle. By following our aftercare instructions diligently and avoiding any unnecessary interference with your piercing, you’re setting the stage for a smooth healing process. Below are detailed guidelines to assist in your aftercare routine.

Before Touching Your Piercing:

– Always wash your hands with warm water and soap. Handling your piercing with dirty hands can introduce harmful bacteria to the area.

Cleaning Your Piercing:

– We strongly recommend using a sterile saline wound wash like NeilMed Piercing Aftercare Spray or H2Ocean, which we carry at our shop. These products are specifically designed to clean piercings effectively.

– Clean your piercing twice a day — once in the morning and once at night. Spray directly onto the piercing, no rinsing necessary. Ensure your hands are clean before each cleaning session.

– Use mouthwash and H2Ocean to clean mouth piercings.

What to Avoid:

– Touching or Twisting: Do not touch, twist, or play with your piercing. This can irritate the area and introduce bacteria.

– Chemicals and Ointments: Avoid using alcohol, peroxide, and ointments like Neosporin. These can irritate your piercing and delay healing.

– Submerging Your Piercing: Keep your piercing out of bodies of water such as pools, lakes, and bathtubs to prevent infection.

– Removing Jewelry Prematurely: Do not remove your jewelry on your own. If necessary, visit the shop for assistance.

– Ignoring Professional Advice: Trust our expertise over friends’ suggestions. Contact us with any questions or concerns.

Additional Tips:

– Be Cautious: Avoid catching your piercing on clothing, towels, and other items that may snag.

– Jewelry: If you enjoy your current jewelry, keep it in. Removing it can cause the piercing to close quickly.

Healing Times:

Your body’s natural healing process varies, but here are approximate times for common piercings:

– Ear Lobe: 3-4 months

– Ear Cartilage: 6-9 months

– Nostril: 6-9 months

– Nipple: 8-12 months

– Navel: 6-9 months

– Septum: 2-3 months

– Labret: 3-4 months

It’s crucial to continue aftercare practices until the piercing is fully healed, even if it appears healed sooner.

Signs to Watch For:

While some redness, swelling, and discharge are normal during the healing process, it’s important to monitor your piercing for signs of infection or other issues. Contact a professional if you experience:

– Persistent redness or swelling that lasts more than a few days.

– Severe pain or throbbing around the piercing site.

– Yellow or green discharge, which can be a sign of infection.

– Fever or feeling unwell, which could indicate a more serious infection.

Aftercare Methods:

Keep the area clean while your body heals itself. Expect some discharge of fluids and cells during this process. If you don’t have access to NeilMed or H2Ocean, you can temporarily use a homemade sea salt solution: dissolve ¼ teaspoon of non-iodized sea salt in one cup (8 oz.) of warm distilled or bottled water. Apply this solution with a clean q-tip, gauze or paper towel and rinse thoroughly afterward. Remember, the correct salt-to-water ratio is crucial to avoid irritation.

Questions? Problems?

Healing a piercing is a commitment. Irritation doesn’t always mean infection. For any concerns, don’t hesitate to contact us. We’re here to help with reliable advice and support throughout your healing journey.

Remember, our team at Divine Arts Tattoo is committed to ensuring your piercing experience is positive and successful. Thank you for trusting us with your body art.