The joys of Body Art
As you can see, body modification is not a trend,it has been happening for thousands of years. Getting a piercing or tattoo should mean something more than a symbol to impress your friends. Any form of body modification is a higher extension of your own being. So think about it. Just cause you see someone in a magazine with a piercing or a tattoo or a brand or some other form such as scarification, don't just run out and get something. Body modification tends to be permanent.
But just in case you do decide to permanently mark your body, here is the way to care for your new piercing or tattoo, just in case someone forgets to tell you.
New piercings should be cleaned thoroughly twice a day. This is very important. A surgical scrub is preferred. If cleansing products cause irritation, a mild low PH soap such as Dial Antibacterial or Lever 2000 can be used. Soaps that contain deodorants, cold cream, strong perfumes, or other additives should be avoided. Please note: Do not use Betadine on gold jewelry as it will discolor it.
During the healing process, matter secreted from the piercing will dry on the jewelry and around the openings of the piercing. Use warm water only to clean this secretion off the jewelry and piercing. Then lather the piercing with the surgical scrub or soap and move the jewelry back and forth a few times. Rinse the piercing thoroughly working the jewelry back and forth under running water to make certain traces of surgical scrub or soap are removed. We recommend following this procedure twice daily while showering. Hydrogen Peroxide or alcohol should not be used on body piercings.
For lip, tongue, and cheek piercings, rinse with Listerine Antiseptics each time you eat or drink anything with the exception of bottled water. To aid the healing process, use Gly-Oxide twice a day on the piercing. Sensitive Ears ear care solution should be used on the outside of the lip and cheek piercings 2 or 3 times a day.
During the first few days after the piercing, or if signs of infection become apparent, an antibiotic ointment such as Neosporin, Mycitracin, or Rexall Tri-Salve can be used. Use of these products should be limited to no more than 10 days as prolonged application may cause problems. Be careful using these products and follow directions on ointment packaging to avoid allergic reactions.
According to medical sources, the overall healing process is enhanced with a well-balanced diet and vitamin-mineral supplements. A simple 50mg Zinc supplement taken 3 times a day with meals can accelerate healing. The dosage should be reduced or cease when the healing process is complete.
Oral contact with or handling new piercings can cause infection and should be avoided. Although genital piercings do not prohibit sex during the healing process, men can promote good hygiene by wearing a prophylactic during intercourse to minimize the risk of infection.
New piercings, especially nipple piercings, should not be subjected to heavy abuse during the healing period. If this precautionary advice is not followed, serious infections can occur.
With proper post peircing care, infections in piercings are rare, however, you should be examined by a physician as soon as possible if you think the piercing is infected. In the case of a nostril or septum piercing infection, it is imperative to see a physician WITHOUT DELAY. Minor soreness may be experienced when some piercings are new and healing. If the pain continues and the piercing is very sore and/or excessive redness or discharge occurs for an extended period of time, you may have an infection. Do not panic and remove the jewelry before consulting with a physician thinking that the infection will go away. If an infection is present, removal of the jewelry can cause the passageway for the discharge of infectious secretions to be eliminated. To the best of our knowledge, a physician will prescribe an antibiotic for the infection and proceed from there with further treatment.
A lump behind a nipple piercing may develop on a rare occasion. They are usually benign cysts or severe infections requiring minor surgery. Contact a physician if a lump appears and becomes painful or does not go away in a short time. Please note that the hard tissue, which forms around the piercing with a lump behind it, is normal and will disappear in time.
Body jewelry can be removed and changed when the piercing is healed. However, if the jewelry is removed too soon before the area surrounding the piercing has toughened, the delicate interior of the piercing can be torn easily when new jewelry is inserted. Ear, nostril and septum piercings require approximately a 2 month healing period with jewelry left in at all times. All other piercings require at least a 6 month healing process. If the jewelry must be removed for a short period of time, a short piece of mono-filament nylon fishing line the length of the piercing can be inserted. This will not be noticed and will keep the piercing open until the jewelry is reinserted.
DO NOT remove your bandage for at least two (2) hours. This will give your body adequate time to form a protective barrier called a "SCAB".
DO NOT PICK SCABS ! ! ! If you pick at your tattoo, you will tear "flesh" from your body. Inside this raw flesh, is the tattoo ink your artist just spent hours tediously pounding into your precious flesh. Picking of scabs will result in scarring, color loss, and an "ass chewing" from your tattoo artist. So don't PICK!
In an attempt to keep scabbing to a minimal, it is important to give your fresh tattoo a smooth, lathery wash once a day (that means only once a day). It is especially important directly after removing the bandage.
After washing, apply a thin layer of healing lotion to your tattoo . . . such as Vaseline Intensive Care Lotion. Apply a fragrance free lotion to your tattoo 2-3 times daily. "Lotion" means nothing with petroleum, that includes Vaseline or A&D Ointment. Petroleum products don't allow the skin to breathe. Their sticky surface attracts all sorts of infectious material. So don't use anything petroleum based.
Do not soak your tattoo for any reason! No pools, no lakes, no lengthy stays in water.
The sun will peal the paint off of a car, so obviously it can have an effect on your tattoo. Keep out of direct sunlight for at least a month. There after, always apply a strong sun block to your tattoo before going into direct sunlight.
Some good body modification links: