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Whole Addiction is not an APP member nor do we claim to be. We do follow and recommend APP aftercare guidelines for piercings.

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CLEANING SOLUTIONS

- Liquid anti-microbial or germicidal soap.*

CLEANING INSTRUCTIONS

1) WASH your hands thoroughly prior to cleaning, or touching on or near your piercing for any reason.
2) SOAP no more than once or twice a day. While showering, lather up a pearl size drop of the soap to clean the jewelry and the piercing. Leave the cleanser on the piercing no more than thirty seconds, then rinse thoroughly to remove all traces of the soap from the piercing.
3) DRY with disposable paper products such as gauze or tissues, because cloth towels can harbor bacteria and catch on new piercings causing injury. Pat gently to avoid trauma.

WHAT IS NORMAL

- Initially: some bleeding, localized 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 a part of your daily hygiene routine, normal but smelly bodily secretions may accumulate.
- A piercing may seem healed before healing is complete. This is because piercings heal from the outside in, and although it feels healed the tissue remains fragile on the inside. BE PATIENT, and keep cleaning throughout the entire healing period.
- Even healed piercings can shrink or close in minutes after having been there for years! This varies from person to person; if you like your piercing, leave the jewelry in place.

WHAT TO DO

- Wash your hands prior to touching the piercing; leave it alone except when cleaning. It is not necessary to rotate the jewelry while healing except possibly during cleaning.
- Stay healthy. Get enough sleep and eat a nutritious diet. The healthier your lifestyle, the easier it will be for your piercing to heal. Exercise during healing is fine, just “listen” to your body.
- Make sure your bedding is kept clean and changed regularly. Wear clean, comfortable breathable clothing that protects your piercing while sleeping.
- Showering is safer than taking a bath, because bathtubs tend to harbor bacteria. If you would like to take a bath, clean the tub well before each use.

WHAT TO AVOID

- Avoid undue trauma such as friction from clothing, excessive motion of the area, playing with the jewelry and vigorous cleaning. These activities can cause the formation of unsightly and uncomfortable scar tissue, migration, prolonged healing, and other complications.
- Avoid the use of alcohol, hydrogen peroxide, Betadine, Hibiclens or ointment.
- Avoid over cleaning. This can delay your healing and irritate your piercing.
- Avoid all oral contact, rough play, and contact with others’ bodily fluids on or near your piercing during healing.
- Avoid stress and recreational drug use including excessive caffeine, nicotine, and alcohol.
- Avoid submerging the piercing in bodies of water such as lakes, pools, jacuzzis, etc. Or protect your piercing using a special waterproof bandage* such as Tegaderm, which is available at drugstores.
- Avoid all beauty and personal care products on or around the piercing including cosmetics, lotions, and sprays, etc.
- Don’t hang charms or any object from your jewelry until the piercing is fully healed.

Hints and Tips

Jewelry

- Unless there is a problem with the size, style, or material of the initial jewelry, leave it in place for the entire healing period. A qualified piercer should perform any necessary jewelry change that occurs during healing. See APP website for “Picking your Piercer” brochure.
- Contact your piercer if your jewelry must be temporarily removed (such as for a medical procedure). There are non-metallic jewelry alternatives.
- Leave jewelry in at all times. Even old, well-healed piercings can shrink or close in minutes after having been there for years! If removed re-insertion can be difficult or impossible.
- With clean hands or paper product, be sure to regularly check threaded ends on your jewelry for tightness. (“Righty-tighty, lefty-loosey”).
- Carry a clean spare ball in case of loss or breakage.
- Should you decide you no longer want the piercing, seek professional help in the removal of the jewelry and continue cleaning the piercing until the hole closes. In most cases only a small indentation will remain.
- In the event that an infection is suspected, quality jewelry or an inert alternative should be left in place to allow for drainage of the infection. Should the jewelry be removed, the surface cells can closeup sealing the infection inside the piercing channel, resulting in an abscess. Until such time an infection is cleared up, leave quality jewelry in!

For Particular Areas

Navel

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

Ear/Ear Cartilage and Facial

- Use the t-shirt trick: dress your pillow in a large, clean t-shirt and turn it nightly; one clean t-shirt provides four clean surfaces for sleeping.
- Maintain cleanliness of telephones, headphones, eyeglasses, helmets, hats and anything that contacts the pierced area.
- Use caution when styling your hair and advise your stylist of a new or healing piercing.

Nipple

- The support of a tight cotton shirt or sports bra may provide protection and feel comfortable, especially for sleeping.

Genital

- In most cases you can engage in sexual activity as soon as you feel ready. Comfort and hygiene are vital.
- During healing all sexual activities must be gentle. To increase comfort and decrease trauma, soak in warm saline solution or plain water to remove any crusty matter, prior to sexual activity.
- Use barriers such as condoms, dental dams, and Tegaderm, etc.* to avoid contact with a partner’s bodily fluids, even in long-term relationships.
- Use clean, disposable barriers on sex toys.
- Wash hands before touching on or near the piercing.
- Use a new container of water based lubricant.* Do not use your own saliva as a lubricant.
- After sex, an additional saline soak or clean water rinse is suggested.
- Prince Albert and Apadravya piercings can bleed freely for the first few days.
- If using soap, urinate after cleaning any piercing that is near the urethra. Each body is unique and healing times vary considerably. If you have any questions, please contact your piercer.

DISCLAIMER

These guidelines are based on a combination of vast professional experience, common sense, research and extensive clinical practice. This is not to be considered a substitute for medical advice from a doctor. If you suspect an infection, seek medical attention. Keep in mind that the removal of jewelry can lead to further complications. Be aware that many doctors have not received specific training regarding piercing. Your local piercer may be able to refer you to a piercing friendly medical professional. See the APP Brochure “Troubleshooting For You And Your Healthcare Professional”

*Consult your piercer, see Suggested Products below, or call (888) 888-1APP for current suggested products. This will allow us to keep current as advances are made in the field.

The use this information does not imply the piercer and/or company is an APP

member.

*Suggested Products
-Liquid anti-microbial or germicidal soap for cleaning: Provon or Satin or other fragrance free mild anti-microbial soap
-Waterproof bandage: Tegaderm, CleanSeals, Polyskin or other breathable, non-water permeable wound sealant bandage

Copyright © 2004, by the Association of Professional Piercers, any changes or deletions are strictly prohibited and must be approved in writing by the APP.

Whole Addiction uses Tattoo Goo brand aftercare. The following information is direct from their aftercare page.

A tattoo is one of the most dynamic symbols of self expression ever created and it's important to rely on the expert guidance of your artist for the proper aftercare of your life-long treasure.

You were tattooed in a modern studio with sterilized instruments and pigments and, after the process, the artist may have dressed the tattoo with a small amount of Tattoo Goo. The long life of your tattoo depends upon the care you give it during the critical first few days and weeks.

Quality parlor operators worldwide have helped compile these simple directions for quick healing. However, we urge you to consult your own tattoo artist for any special instructions related to the aftercare of your specific tattoo.

• Do not re-bandage the tattoo.
• Do not apply Vaseline, lanolin or petroleum based products.
• Do not apply alcohol.
• Do not rub, scratch or pick at the tattoo.
• Do not expose the tattoo to direct sunlight, swim or soak in sauna, steam bath or bathtub for two weeks.
• Be sure clothing touching your tattoo is clean and soft.

A tattoo is considered minor surgery. It may bleed a bit at first but it will stop within a couple of hours. Most artists recommend the tattoo be kept bandaged overnight or for at least two to five hours. If the gauze sticks to the skin, soak the area with cold water until the gauze loosens, then remove carefully.

Once the tattoo is exposed, wash it carefully in cold water, gently applying antibacterial soap with fingers (never use a cloth) to remove all surface blood. Rinse with cold water, pat dry with a clean towel, and air-dry for 15 minutes. Then, gently and sparingly apply a thin layer of Tattoo Goo salve. Repeat 3 or 4 times a day for 7 to 10 days.

After 5 to 14 days, the tattoo may start to peel (this is normal - like a sunburn) and scab. DO NOT pick or peel the skin away. Let it fall off naturally during washing or application of Tattoo Goo. Fresh skin will soon replace the dead skin. Colors may fade during the process, but will return when healing is completed.

Tattoo Goo salve and lotion keep your tattoos from drying and the skin areas soft and moist. Always apply sparingly. Too much prevents the skin/tattoo from breathing, and can cause leaching of the colors. If this happens, discontinue use, wash the tattoo, pat dry, and consult your tattoo artist at your earliest convenience.

After a few weeks, all scabbing will be gone, but the area may still be sensitive. Continue regular cleaning and application of Tattoo Goo "The Original" or "The Lotion", for proper aftercare of your tattoo.

Exposure to the sun is the major cause of tattoo fading, but after a few months you may sunbathe in moderation. Always use a sun block (at least SPF-30 sunscreen that provides UVA and UVB protection).

If you experience any reaction to Tattoo Goo, discontinue use and consult your tattoo artist.

It depends on the piercing. For some it starts at age 14, others at age 18. Please phone for specifics.

You must be at least 16 years old to be tattooed with parental consent. Your parent or legal guardian must accompany you. We will not tattoo minors in an area that cannot be covered by a polo/short sleeve dress shirt.

Please remember to bring a valid state issued ID (drivers license, learners permit, state id card, passport). We do ask for it and we do turn people away who don’t bring one. You must be at least 16 years old to be tattooed with parental consent. Your parent or legal guardian must accompany you. You must bring your parents/guardians ID, your ID and if your guardian is not your parent, you must bring legal documentation to prove guardianship.

We have all heard stories about people waking up the morning after a bender with a tattoo they don’t remember getting. It is so common that it has become a joke. Sadly, this is a preconception that is no laughing matter.

There are many problems with getting tattooed while under the influence of drugs or alcohol. One of the big issues is a combination of legality and ethics. If you are obviously inebriated, you are not in the proper mindset to make a decision that will affect the rest of your life. You also cannot legally sign the liability waiver and consent form that all shops should have. While that tattoo of Bowser, wearing sunglasses, wailing on a double-necked guitar, on a surfboard, with a pot-leaf, and a cross, that says “Happy Birthday Rick” may seem like a great idea when you are hammered, you will surely regret it in the morning. Most shops will turn you away if you are drunk or high although there are some shops that only care about getting your money, rather than you getting a quality tattoo.

If you have been drinking alcohol within 24 hours prior to getting your tattoo, it will increase the amount you will bleed during the tattoo. The more you have drank, the worse it will be. It is one thing if you had a glass of wine with dinner last night or a beer with lunch. It is something totally different if you were doing keg stands the night before or slammed down four or five shots at the bar across the street on your way in. If you have to go partying on the weekend, maybe you should get tattooed during the week.

Now we get to talk about drugs. I am not going to lecture about the evils of drugs. There is plenty of that in the world. I am going to talk about them in relation to tattoos and why you may get denied service if you are on them. To start off, I think we need to break this down into two categories, medication and recreational drugs.

Medications include anything that you can buy at a pharmacy, whether it is available with or without a prescription. Many people think that if you can just walk into a pharmacy and buy it over the counter, it is no big deal. Not true in regard to tattoos. Many over the counter pain killers including aspirin can cause an increase in bleeding. Some older people are told to take low dose aspirin every day so that it thins their blood. Guess what, regular dose aspirin does the same thing and will thin it right out of your tattoo, taking ink with it. There are prescription meds such as Coumadin that does the same thing. Something to think about before getting tattooed.

Any medication that affects your skin can also affect your tattoo. Accutane is one of the medications that can cause major problems with your tattoo. Dermatologists tend to recommend waiting at least six months before any procedure that involves breaking the skin. This includes tattoos. The process in which this medication works can lead to severe scarring in the tattoo. If you are on it, please wait until you have been off of it for at least six months. If you are on a medication regimen that may cause a potential problem during or after your tattoo, it is always best to check with your doctor. While some doctors may not approve of tattoo, they should still tell whether it is contraindicated with your medications.

Recreational drugs include two different types, street drugs and prescription drugs that are not prescribed for this problem. Most street drugs such as cocaine and meth will cause issues with bleeding as well as the client keeping still during the tattoo, not to mention impaired judgment. Marijuana will not cause you to bleed more does have its own interesting reaction to the tattoo process. It may relax you prior to the tattoo, once the needle touches skin, the high goes away. Some people have stated that the tattoo actually hurt more after smoking.

As previously stated, prescription drugs fall in to both categories. The pills that are most commonly abused can also lead to a bad experience. Painkillers like Vicodin, Oxycontin and Percocet may seem like a good idea to take the edge off but it can also lead to bad reactions. There have been cases where people tried to make it through marathon sessions with the help of a pill bottle and wound up overdosing. Anti-anxiety drugs such as Valium or Xanax are some of the common ones I have heard people talk about using. One of the big problems with these meds is the sedation effect that can cause you to miss important information such as proper aftercare. Next time you are in, ask about the girl who used yeast infection medicine on her tattoo because she popped a couple Xanax in her car on her first smoke break. Ewww.

Basically, if you smell like alcohol or a head shop, are slurring your words, having difficulty staying upright or are belligerent, you will be politely asked to leave and come back when you are not under the influence.

You can find the full text of this article here. The popularity of hand and foot tattoos are on the rise. Perhaps due to celebrities getting them and showing them off or possibly just because of the way they look, more and more people are looking into getting tattoos on their hands or feet. There are certain things you should be aware of before making the commitment to a piece in these locations.

First of all, is the most common question asked in tattoo shops around the world; does it hurt? In regards to foot tattoos, the answer is yes. In reality the answer is yes to all tattoos but the foot is more intense. Generally, a tattoo tends to hurt more on areas where there is less padding provided by muscle, bringing the bones and tendons closer to the surface. This causes the vibrations of the tattoo machine to resonate though those parts making the sensations more intense.

Next is the commitment to healing that you will need to make. The skin regenerates faster on your feet causing potential issues with ink rejecting during the healing process as well as premature spreading in the lines. It is best to heal your foot by keeping it uncovered. Shoes that do not touch the top of your foot such as sandals, flip-flops and ballet flats are the best. Unfortunately, this is not an option for everybody.

Some of us have to cover our entire foot for work, be it in an office, medical facility or other environment that uncovered feet are not acceptable. Not to mention, there aren’t many guys I want to see in ballet flats. There is a method to healing a tattoo while having to wear shoes but it is not ideal nor is it practical for most people. It involves washing your tattoo immediately before going to work and applying a small amount of aftercare cream. Then you will need to tape a new piece of a breathable plastic wrap such as Glad® brand plastic wrap over your tattoo and gently put on your shoes and socks, tying the laces a bit looser than normal. You will need to repeat this procedure every three hours or so, including rewashing the tattoo and using a new piece of plastic wrap. Once your work day is over, wash the tattoo, apply your aftercare and wear open shoes for the remainder of your day.

There is always the chance of infection when you make an opening in your skin such as a cut, scrape or puncture. A tattoo is essentially a scrape. It may not look like an open wound, but it is and should be treated as such. Foot tattoos may have a greater chance of infection due to the proximity with the ground and diligent care should be taken to protect your tattoo from becoming excessively dirty and to wash it multiple times a day to keep it clean. Do not soak it though, so the pedicures will have to be on hold until your tattoo is healed. Go get it done the day before you tattoo appointment. Swelling is also an issue. Many people are surprised by the amount a tattoo can swell, especially in an area like a foot. Elevation for the first few days can help along with use of anti-inflammatory OTCs such as ibuprofen. Just follow the instructions on that packaging.

There is also an issue with the ink spreading in the tattoo during and after healing. All tattoos spread with time. Foot tattoos can spread faster than other areas. Generally, it is best to keep the tattoo to the top of the foot as this holds the ink best. The closer you get to the sole of your foot, the more the lines will spread. Tattoos on the toes can also have ink loss from the flexing of the skin.

Hand tattoos are similar to foot tattoos in that they tend be more sensitive, more likely to lose ink during healing and more prone to infection. In addition to these factors, there is one other issue that needs to taken into account prior to getting that bad ass hand tattoo; prejudice. There is still a large portion of our society that looks down on hand tattoos. Many employers will not even consider a potential employee if they have tattoos that are not easily covered. If there is any doubt whether your job will allow it, ask. Also make sure that you are in a career which will allow it. It is one thing to have a job flipping burgers with a hand tattoo but if you aspire to more, think long and hard on it. While they are more common in more blue-collar jobs, most people would not want to see a hand tattoo on their surgeon, attorney or clergyman. If your future plans include a mainstream upscale career, they probably won’t include a hand tattoo.

Like the foot, you will need to keep your hands clean and apply the aftercare cream as instructed by your tattooer. If your job includes wearing gloves, you will likely have to wrap your fresh tattoo per the above instructions, unwrapping it at each glove change and re-wrapping it when you need to glove up again. Yep, it may be a pain in the neck, but having a poorly healed hand tattoo is worse.

Don’t be surprised if you need to get your hand or foot tattoo touched up after it heals. It is normal with the chances increasing the farther down the sides you go. Areas such as the heel of your hand, the palm and the sides of fingers can be very difficult to get ink to stay, if at all. There as techniques that an experienced tattooer can use to increase the chances of the ink staying in these areas. It can take longer to do the tattoo and it may be more intense but it can reduce the amount of touch up needed.

Thanks for taking the time to read this information and I hope it will help you prepare for your next tattoo. I hope to see you at Whole Addiction soon.