GENERAL  CARE

DERMAL AND PIERCINGS

Instructions

Congratulations on getting your new piercing or dermal implant.

The time required for your piercing to heal completely varies from piercing to piercing and individual healing per immune system.

In most cases jewelry must be left in for at least the first 3 months, but can very.

Your piercing might look healed before this time, but it is important to be patient and wait the entire healing period before changing your jewelry out, or ceasing your aftercare routine, please follow your piercer instructions.

Please reference your instructions, or contact one of our Piercers on staff if you are unsure of your piercing’s healing time.

If your piercing must come out sooner for medical reasons, we can help you with this process so you don’t lose your piercing.

If proper cleaning is done, your risk of infection is greatly reduced.

Infection is rare for piercings; however, irritation is a very common occurrence.

For your aftercare routine, we recommend cleaning your piercing at least once a day, in combination with sea salt soaks on the opposite end of the schedule.

Depending on what your schedule is like you may either;

1. Clean your piercing once in the morning (following instructions), and perform a sea salt soak at night (following instructions)

Or;

2. Perform a sea salt soak in the morning, and clean your piercing at night.

Optimal frequency will depend on your skin sensitivity, activity level, and environmental factors.

If you follow this aftercare routine for the entirety of your initial healing, you shouldn’t have any issues with your piercing!

Cleaning Solutions:

 Do not use soaps that contain Triclosan as the active ingredient, such as Dial.

These soaps are much harsher on new skin cells and can damage your piercing.

As well a mild, non-iodized (no iodine) sea salt soak is recommended to help soothe your piercing, bring blood flow to the area, and soften any crusty material that might have formed on the jewelry.

See cleaning instructions below.

Cleaning Instructions:

Step 1: Wash your hands thoroughly with liquid antibacterial soap and hot water.

Never touch healing piercings with dirty hands. This is vital for avoiding infections.

Step 2: Prepare the piercing area for cleansing by thoroughly rinsing with running, warm water.

Step 3: Apply a small amount of antibacterial soap to the area with your clean hands. Make sure to be very gentle while cleansing the area and the jewelry.

You do not need to rotate your jewelry during cleaning, or anytime for that matter.

Step 4: Allow the solution to cleanse there for a minute.

Don’t purposely work anything other than the cleanser onto the inside of the piercing.

Step 5: Rinse the area thoroughly under warm running water to completely remove the cleanser from the piercing.

Step 6: Gently pat dry with either sterile, non-woven gauze, or a clean, soft, single use paper towel. Do not use cloth towels, as they can harbor bacteria.

Each body is unique, and healing times can vary considerably. If your piercing is tender, sore to the touch, secreting fluid, or accumulating any crusty material, you should continue the aftercare regimen, even if it is past the stated average healing time range.

Sea Salt Water Soaks:

Sea salt soaks are strongly recommended once a day, on the opposite end of the day to your cleansing routine to help bring blood-flow to the piercing site, reduce swelling, discomfort, and remove any crusty material or blood that may have formed on your jewelry.

Step 1: Wash your hands thoroughly.

Step 2: Dissolve 1/4 teaspoon of non-iodized sea salt into one cup (8 oz.) of distilled or bottled water. – Ensure your measurements are precise!

Step 3: Microwave your solution for 30-60 seconds, until it is warm. – Not scalding hot!

Step 4: Depending on where your piercing is located, you may soak a piece of sterile, non-woven gauze, or clean (soft) paper towel in the sea salt solution until it is saturated.

Hold the soaked dressing on either side of your piercing, applying gentle pressure, for 5 minutes. After 5 minutes, discard of the dressing, grab another, and repeat step 4 for a additional 5 minutes; totaling of 10 minutes of soaking.

*If your piercing is located in a place in which a compress is inconvenient to use, you may place your sea salt solution in a (clean) shot glass or shallow dish, and soak (ensuring you envelop all sides of your piercing!) for 10 minutes.

Step 5: Once you have soaked your piercing for a total of 10 minutes, thoroughly rinse your piercing with clean water, and pat it dry with a clean paper towel.

Not rinsing or drying it may cause dryness, itchiness, and irritation.

Congratulations! You completed your first sea salt soak!

Ensure you keep performing these once a day for the duration of your healing, for a happy, healthy piercing!

Sea Salt Soak Tips:

· A stronger solution does not mean a better solution, or a quicker heal! Too much salt can actually cause more harm than good, such as dryness, itchiness, redness and irritation.

· Mix a new sea salt solution with every single cleaning. – Keeping your pre-made sea salt solution in a container for days can harbor bacteria, and is not advised.

· Do your sea salt soaks on opposite ends of the day to your cleaning, so you do not dry out your piercing. As well, ensure you aren’t doing them too few, or too many times a day! Moderation is key!

· It is advisable to soak before you do anything active, as it will prevent crust from being pulled inside the piercing as you move around. Pulling crust into the piercing site can damage it, and it doesn’t feel good!

· Salt water, or sterile saline is the only additional product (other than the cleanser and water) we suggest you use to care for your piercing. – General rule of thumb: If you can’t put it in your eye, don’t put it in your piercing! (No tea tree oil, peroxide, alcohol, etc.)

What To Do:

· Wash your hands prior to contact on, or near the area of your healing piercing.

· Leave the piercing alone, except for when you are cleaning it.

· Leave the starter jewelry in during the entire minimum initial healing time.

(Assuming your initial jewelry is appropriate in terms of metal content, style, and size. Inappropriate jewelry should be changed out by a professional.)

· You may change only the beads on your jewelry at any time. This includes beads on the ends of barbells (circular, curved or straight), captive bead rings, as well as any threadless ends.

· Check the tension on your ends every other day. – “Righty tighty, lefty loosey.”

· Keep your jewelry in. – Even old, well-healed piercings can shrink in minutes after having been there for years!

*This varies from person to person, and even if your ear lobe piercings stay open without jewelry your body piercing may not!

· If you remove your jewelry and are unable to re-insert it yourself , please bring your jewelry in to the studio in a plastic baggy or small plastic cup, for sanitary reasons. (Un-bagged jewelry is a risk for cross-contamination!) and we will see if we are able to reinsert it for you.

· If your piercing must be temporarily removed (such as for a medical procedure), we can insert a retainer, made of either glass or plastic material that is ISO 10993-6/10 or 10993-11 compliant.

* Materials such as PTFE (polytetrafluoroethylene) or Tygon® Medical Surgical Tubing are the only appropriate piercing retainers, aside from glass that are body safe.

Please note that these materials are meant for temporary wear only, and must be replaced with properly sized, quality jewelry as soon as possible.

· Make sure your bedding is clean and changed frequently while you are healing.

· Wear clean, comfortable, breathable fabric clothing in the area of a body piercing.

· Get enough sleep, eat a nutritious diet, avoid undue stress, recreational drugs, and alcohol consumption. The healthier your lifestyle, the easier it will be for your piercing to heal!

What Not To Do:

· Do not clean your piercing more often than twice a day, as this can irritate your piercing, and prolong your healing.

· Do not dry your piercing with material that isn’t meant for single use (such as a face cloth) as these can harbor bacteria.

· Do not use materials with fibers that can get caught or stuck on the piercing site, such as q-tips, cotton balls, tissues and the like.

· Do not rotate your jewelry, this is outdated aftercare and is not necessary if you are wearing quality material.

· Do not use soaps that contain Triclosan as the active ingredient, such as Dial.

· Do not use moisturizers, makeup, emollients or the like, on or around your new piercing.

Common Sources of Irritation Are:

· Sleeping on your new piercing – this may cause nasty “irritation bumps” – Often referred to as “keloids” – (This is a misnomer, and incorrect: keloids are a more serious skin condition which need to be diagnosed by a physician.) Sleeping on your new piercing may cause more serious issues such as: migration and rejection.

Please ensure you do not sleep on your piercing.

*Irritation bumps are not neccesarily keloids, nor are they typically infected. Please visit us if you are having any sort of lump or bump form on either side of your piercing.

We are more than happy to inspect, and give you advice on how to get rid of it!

· Not having the piercing done in a sterile environment – Our Piercers ensure to use the most up to date aseptic technique to ensure our Client’s safety!

· Dirty hands, or saliva touching your piercing before it is healed.

· Using a cleaning agent that can damage your piercing, such an an antibacterial soap, alcohol, peroxide, and the like.

· Improper aftercare routine such as stopping your aftercare routine before you are finished healing.

· Wearing makeup, moisturizers, or emollients on or around your healing piercing may cause irritation.

· “Playing” with jewelry before the piercing is healed.

· Wearing inferior quality jewelry or metals (i.e. materials which are not up to industry standard such as acrylic, or “surgical” steel.)

The only metal material which you should be inserting in your body should be:

Certified metals such as Titanium (ASTM F136, and the like), Stainless Steel (ASTM F138, and the like), Solid 14 or 18 karat White, Yellow or Rose Gold, Solid nickel-free platinum alloy, and Niobium. Any metal material of lower quality may cause irritation and is not safe to be worn in the body.

If you have any problem with healing we will be happy to help! We understand that since opening up in Columbus in 1994, people see us as the experts. We will help with piercings that we didn’t perform, however, understand we can only make suggestions, we are not physicians.

A physician must be contacted as soon as possible if a problem persists.

Is This Normal?

Bleeding, bruising, discoloration and/or swelling is not uncommon with new piercings. These are not indications of any complication.

Reduce intake of aspirin, alcohol, and caffeine. For above-the-neck piercings try sleeping with your head elevated above your heart (prop up on some pillows) to limit overnight swelling. Studies show non-steroidal anti-inflammatory products such as Ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin, etc.) can help minimize swelling.

Some tenderness, soreness or discomfort in the area of a new piercing is not unusual. You may feel stinging, burning, or aching on and off for several days or longer. During healing there may be some itching.

Secretion of a fluid which contains blood plasma, lymph and dead cells is perfectly normal.

This fluid is fairly liquid, and typically a whitish-yellow color, and forms a crust on the jewelry at the openings of the piercing. This is not pus, but indicates a healing piercing.

Once healed, your piercing may secrete a semi-solid white malodorous substance from the oil glands called sebum. This also is not pus, but indicates a healed piercing.

Piercings may have a tendency to have a series of “ups and downs” during healing by seeming healed, and then regressing. Try to be patient, and keep cleaning during the entire initial healing time, even if the piercing seems healed sooner.

Tightness is normal. Do not expect jewelry to swing freely in most body piercings, even after they are thoroughly healed.

In the event that the piercing drains a thick pus discharge instead of the normal liquid secretion, you may wish to see a physician for evaluation, and possible antibiotic treatment.

If you do have an infection, the jewelry should be left in the piercing to allow for drainage of pus. If the jewelry is removed, the holes can close up, resulting in an abscess.

LEAVE YOUR JEWELRY IN !

If you have any questions or concerns regarding your piercings, please stop in to the DARK HEART TATTOO SHOP to see one of our qualified professional body piercers on staff to have us inspect your piercing, and give suggestions on how to continue in your care of your piercings!

If at any time, please consult a medical professional if you feel infection is creeping in.

Dermals

1. First 24 hours keep covered completely with band aid, massage gently during this time every couple of hours to help anchor to adhere and alow blood flow to area, this helps with rejection, the body trying to push the anchor out.  Do not spin or rotate jewelry, this will cause the jewelry/anchor to fall out.  The new skin that forms in the pocket the dermal is placed in, this is what keeps the dermal in place, hence spinning, knocking or disturbing area cause rejection by loosing the tissue that it is supposed to be anchored in.  This is true for the life of the dermal and its longevity.
   
2. After 24 hours you may take bandage off during day, but pay attention to any area that may rub or catch on it.
3. After first 24 hours, at night always cover your dermal to prevent sheet snagging.  This will help prevent irritation and infection.
4. If you desire to have your jewel top to be replaced, changed out style/color.  This should be done 3 to 4 months after initial implant.  This will require a professional piercer to handle the area.  We do charge a 25$ fee for this.
5. No cleaning area with alcohol, bactein, neosporin, hydrogen peroxide, as these will damage dissolve away healthy tissue that is trying to heal, which is essential for anchoring process.  Disharging fluids are normal in the healing process and essential.
6. Salt water soaking....with distilled water.  Pure sea salt,  4tbs of salt per one gallon of water. 
   
7. Once or twice a day take a coffee/shot class cup, warm in microwave..(WARM).  Please do so over a sink.  Place cup with water gently over area and keep there in place with pressure to form light suction.  Hold the salted water there in cup, cupping would for at least 15 minutes, this will provide a healing soak.
8. Shot glasses are the preferred methods of soaking smaller areas like the face, as it is easier to hold.
   

Hand washing

Hand washing is the single most important

method of reducing infection. Hands must

be washed prior to touching the affected

area, therefore reducing the risk of infection.

Wash your hands in warm water and liquid

soap, always dry your hands thoroughly

with a clean towel or paper towel. This

should remove most germs and prevent

them being transferred to the affected area.

A new piercing can be tender, itchy and

slightly red and can remain so for a

few weeks.  A pale, odorless fluid may

sometimes discharge from the piercing and

form a crust. This should not be confused

with pus, which would indicate infection.

Keeping the implant piercing clean

The implant needs to be cleaned twice

each day. Cleaning more frequently may

damage the skin and slow down the

healing process.

Salt water solution

can be also dabbed the area to make sure the

area under the disc is cleaned as this may

become encrusted.

This will soften any discharge and allow

you to clean the piercing points with a

cotton bud or gauze dipped into the warm

salt water solution.

If the area around the implant becomes

encrusted soak the piercing for a few

minutes by submerging the area of skin

containing the piercing in a clean jug

or bowl containing the warm salt water

solution and loosen the discharge using a

the corner of a paper towel, be cautious of fibers left behind, as they can hold bacteria.  Fibers left behind during cleaning are the number one reason for anchors to be rejected by body and cause of infection.

Always dry the area thoroughly after

cleaning your implant using ONLY fresh

disposable paper towel/kitchen roll.

A communal hand/bath towel should

never be used.

Do not over clean the site as this may

damage the skin around the implant

Do not change the cap of the microdermal

implant until fully healed. If in any doubt take

advice from your operator

Do not use cotton wool to clean the

piercing as the fibres in the cotton wool

may get caught in the piercing.

Your practitioner is:

Do not pick at any discharge and do

not move, twist or turn the piercing

whilst dry. If any secreted discharge has

hardened then turning jewellery may

cause the discharge to tear the piercing,

allowing bacteria to enter the wound and

prolonging the healing time.

Do not wear clothing that will rub against

the piercing as this may irritate the

wound and delay healing.

Do not use sunbeds for the first two

weeks, or if you decide to then cover the

wound area with a breathable plaster

during tanning.

Do not swim for the first 24 hours

following a piercing.

Accidental damage or loss of disc

Contact your practitioner if the implant

gets caught in anything or the piercing

becomes damaged.

In the unlikely event the disc breaks or

comes off, return to the practitioner and

have a new disk fitted immediately. If the

disc is not replaced the implant may get

lost under the skin and will require removal.

Signs of infection

If appropriate aftercare is not followed

infection may occur. The signs of

infection are:

• Swelling and redness that increases

around the wound.

• A severe burning and throbbing

sensation round the site.

• Increased tenderness and increasingly

painful to touch.

• An unusual discharge (yellow or green)

with an offensive smell.

Speak to your practitioner or seek medical

attention immediately If you suspect an infection

XXX

Genital female & Prince Albert Piercing Aftercare

. Below is a list of the average healing times for most male and female genital piercings.

Female Genital Piercing Average Healing Times

Christina Piercings: 3-4 months

Clitoris Piercings: 4-6 weeks

Fourchette Piercings: 2-3 months

Horizontal Clitoral Hood Piercings: 6-8 weeks

Inner Labia Piercings: 4-6 weeks

Outer Labia Piercings: 2-3 months

Princess Diana Piercings: 4-8 weeks

Triangle Piercings: 2-3 months

Vertical Clitoral Hood Piercings: 4-8 weeks

Male Genital Piercing Average Healing Times

Ampallang Piercings: 4-6 months or more

Apadravya Piercings: 4-6 months or more

Dolphin Piercings: 4-8 weeks

Dydoe Piercings: 2-3 months or more

Frenum Piercings: 4-6 months or more

Guiche Piercings: 2-3 months

Hafada/Scrotal Piercings: 2-3 months

Lorum Piercings: 2-3 months

Prince Albert & Reverse PA Piercings: 4-6 weeks

Pubic Piercings: 2-3 months

 You should understand which types will best suit your desires and anatomy, as well as how their healing will impact your daily life.

You should also be aware that some of these piercings (such as Christina piercings, frenum piercings, dydoe piercings, hafada piercings, and pubic piercings) are surface piercings, which are more prone to migration and rejection. For these piercings it is important that your piercer use the largest-gauge jewelry possible and pierce as deep as they can for your specific anatomy.

  Recovery saline solution in a spray bottle should always be readily available.

Keep your Piercing Clean: The best way to keep your genital piercing clean is by doing sea salt solution (SSS) soaks 2-3 times per day for the duration of the healing process. You can soak your piercing by fully submerging it in SSS for at least 5 minutes (which is convenient for penile head or shaft piercings) or by soaking a clean cotton ball in SSS and applying it to your piercings until they have each been saturated for at least five minutes. Between full soaks, you should rinse your piercing with a saline rinse like Recovery Aftercare Spray 2-3 times per day to keep the fistula clear of debris and your skin hydrated.

You can buy SSS or make your own by mixing ¼ teaspoon of sea salt with one cup of sterile water.

 If you make your own SSS you can also add 2-3 drops of tea tree oil, which is a natural antiseptic

Take Care of Yourself: Good general health and hygiene will aid healing significantly. Drink lots of water, wash your hands often, try to get 8 hours of sleep per night, and eat nutritious foods. These practices will bolster your immune system and allow your body to focus on healing your piercing.

Be Gentle on Your Genitals: While your genital piercing heals, it is important to treat it gently and avoid any trauma that could prolong your healing or increase the risk of infection and rejection. That means wearing comfortable clothes that aren’t too tight against your piercing, refraining from sexual activity (see Resuming Sexual Activity, below), and avoiding unnecessary handling of your piercing or jewelry.

Image of a prohibited symbol to indicate the wrong things to do during genital piercing recovery

What Not to Do:

Don’t Drink Alcohol or Take Blood Thinners: Alcohol, excessive caffeine, and aspirin all thin your blood, making it more likely that your genital piercing will bleed and be unable to clot effectively. If you want something to manage pain and discomfort while you heal, take a small dose of acetaminophen.

Don’t Smoke: Nicotine hinders the immune system and prolongs healing, so if you’re a smoker, it’s best to curb or quit smoking before you get your piercing. You may also try lower-nicotine alternatives such as e-cigarettes or nicotine patches, gum, or lozenges.

Don’t Submerge Your Piercing in Water: Immersion in non-sterile water, such as in a bathtub, hot tub, pool, or other body of water, can expose your piercing to bacteria that could increase the risk of infection.

Don’t Handle Your Piercing or Jewelry Unnecessarily: It is best to keep your hands off your jewelry while your genital piercing heals, as touching it can expose it to bacteria and inflict physical trauma on the piercing. If “crusties” form around your piercing, do not move the jewelry to break them up. Rather, soak them in SSS or aftercare spray and wipe them away with a clean cotton ball. You’ll also have to wait until your piercing is fully healed to change or remove your starter jewelry.   Removal before healing time (as little as a few hours) may cause the piercing area t hole to heal over and form a plug, therefor it may have to be re pierced.

Don’t Clean Your Piercing with Normal Soap: Soap can cause skin dryness and irritation, which both increase the risk of infection. It’s okay if some soapy water runs over your piercing while you’re showering, but stick to SSS soaks and aftercare spray for cleaning your piercing. If you feel you need something stronger due to malodor or another piercing problem (see below), you could add an antiseptic solution rinse to your aftercare regimen in addition to SSS soaks.

Don’t Use Creams, Balms, or Ointments: These can all clog a piercing, trapping bacteria and increasing the risk of infection. If you’re experiencing dryness or irritation, the best remedy is sea salt solution with added tea tree oil.

Illustration of a heart to indicate sexual activity Resuming Sexual Activity with a Genital Piercing

Although it will be tempting to take your new genital piercing for a test run in the bedroom immediately, it is critical to abstain from all sexual activity (including oral sex and masturbation) until your genital piercing is entirely healed. Returning to sex too soon could cause physical trauma to the piercing, extending the healing time, or expose the piercing to bacteria, increasing the risk of infection. When your piercing is healed and you’re ready to resume sex, there are still a couple things to keep in mind. It’s a good idea to use a condom while the piercing is still relatively new to reduce the risk of bacterial exposure and minimize the movement of your jewelry during sex. Second, understand that there will likely be an adjustment period for both you and your partner as you discover together what sex with a genital piercing feels like. Take it slow, explore together, and if anything causes pain to your piercing or your partner, stop to figure out what’s wrong and if you can continue.

Troubleshooting Genital Piercing Problems Illustration of an exclamation point to call attention to symptoms of infection

There are a few common problems you may experience with your new genital piercing, but as long as you recognize them in time and address them quickly, they shouldn’t compromise your piercing.

Swelling

It is normal to experience some slight swelling with a new piercing, which is why your piercer will start you off with jewelry large enough to accommodate some expansion of the tissue around it. However, if the swelling is so intense that skin begins to press uncomfortably against or swallow the ends of your jewelry, you need to see your piercer immediately as prolonged pressure can lead to tissue death and infection. To help control swelling, you can take a low dose of acetaminophen or apply a cold compress wrapped in a clean cloth for 10-15 intervals.

Allergic Reaction

Before you are pierced, alert your piercer if you have previously experienced contact dermatitis with specific materials. If so, they will likely recommend using BioPlast or titanium jewelry, which are less likely to cause allergic reactions than other materials. If you develop red, itchy spots around your piercing, you may be having an allergic reaction. Contact your piercer and, if necessary, they can help change your jewelry.

Infections

Following the aftercare steps described above should go a long way in preventing infections, but they may still occur. If you develop red streaks radiating from your genital piercing site, a discharge of thick, yellow pus instead of clear lymph that dries to a white crust, skin that's extra hot to the touch, or a fever, you may be developing a genital piercing infection. In this case, you should increase your daily SSS soaks to three and add tea tree oil and an antiseptic solution rinse to your regimen. If these steps do not improve your symptoms within a couple of days, see your doctor immediately in order to obtain antibiotics to treat the infection. Medicine, along with your normal aftercare routine, should get the infection under control.

Even if you develop an infection, it is best not to remove your jewelry, as doing so may trap bacteria inside the piercing. If you want to abandon your piercing due to infection, see your piercer to help remove your jewelry and make sure that you continue with two SSS soaks per day, aftercare spray, and antiseptic rinses to keep the piercing clean and healthy until it heals.

Hypergranulation

Hypergranulation will look like either a dark red, pus-filled bump that appears alongside a genital piercing, or like a ring of red, puffy skin all around one side of the piercing. Hypergranulation is likely due to a combination of excess moisture and jewelry that is too tight as cells will migrate into area. To address excess moisture, try blotting your piercing with clean facial tissue after SSS soaks and giving your piercing time to air dry after showers before you put clothes on. If severe moisture accumulates around your genital piercing during the course of the day, you may try applying a small amount of fragrance-free baby powder around, but not on, your genital piercing. If your jewelry is digging into your skin, you should see your piercer to swap out for larger jewelry. These steps in addition to your aftercare program should bring hypergranulation under control in a week or so.

Once your genital piercing is fully healed, you’ll be ready to explore the wide variety of jewelry they can accommodate. Many genital piercings (such as clitoral hood, triangle, or labia piercings for women, and frenum, lorum, or hafada piercings for men) can accommodate straight barbells or curved barbells as well as captive bead rings. A Prince Albert piercing, the most common male genital piercing, can accommodate curved barbells, circular barbells, captive bead rings, or specialized jewelry called a Prince Albert wand. Other genital piercings, however, must take specific types of jewelry. For men, ampallang and apadravya piercings can take only long, straight barbells, while for women a Christina piercing will require a surface barbell often called a Christina bar.

Dark Heart Piercing Team