Tattoo FAQs What should I expect from a healing tattoo?
Healing tattoos often scab, peel, itch, and seep ink onto clothing and linens. All of this is entirely normal. You can expect the tattoo to be uncomfortable for at least the first five days or until the scabbing process is finished. Some flaking, redness and swelling is also normal. If the tattoo becomes severely swollen, red, or painful…consult your physician immediately as this may be a sign of an infection, allergic reaction, or other skin disorder.
ALL INFECTIONS ARE ENTIRELY AVOIDABLE!
We don’t need to tell you how important it is to take care of your tattoos. Foreign bacteria can only be INTRODUCED to the skin by contact with unsanitary agents such as skin, counter tops, door handles, etc. Please wash your hands before touching your tattoo and continue with your aftercare as directed by your artist.
Remember, your tattoo will only heal correctly if you are attentive to its needs. Tattoos need to be moisturized 3-5 times a day, remain dry (no submersion of any kind), and are not picked at, scratched or otherwise disturbed in any way.
What should avoid while my tattoo is healing?
(1) Submersion (oceans, lakes, rivers, bathtubs, etc.) will lead to bubbling and excessive peeling of your tattoo, causing you to lose color.
(2) Picking, scratching, and rubbing the tattoo may have the same effect, as well as adding the possibility of permanently scarring the tattoo area. (If you pick at a scab, it’s going to scar…duh.)
(3) Excessive exposure to sunlight. The last thing you want to do after getting a nice, bright tattoo is to go sit in the sun for hours on end. UV rays are notorious for affecting the skin pigmentation to begin with (hence the Florida tan), a day at the beach while your tattoo is fresh can ruin your tattoo. Stay out of the sun as much as possible and be sure to wear your strongest sunblock when you have no choice.
(4) Alcohol products! STAY AWAY FROM NEOSPORIN! Gels like A&D ointment, Neosporin, and Bacitracin are NOT recommended for a healing tattoo. Isopropyl alcohol and glycerin (main ingredients) are not ideal for healing tissue. These products are designed to force infectious bacteria and all foreign agents out of your skin. While the defense against bacteria sounds like a good thing, it may lead to irritation, excessive swelling, and loss of new-forming tissue. Your ink is also a foreign agent, if it’s forced from the body, your tattoo is probably going to look faded, dull and crusty.
It is advisable to stick with products that encourage tissue growth and will not dry out the tattoo.
Use unscented lotions, not gels, for this purpose.
I have skin allergies, can I get a tattoo?
Possibly, depending on the particular skin problem. If you have a historty of staph infections, eczema, cellulitis, psoriasis, or have had a previous reaction to a tattoo, IT IS UNADVISABLE TO GET A TATTOO. Each of these skin problems tends to get worse when the skin is broken, such as with a cut or puncture wound. A tattoo will MOST CERTAINLY cause a flare up and would result in a disfigured tattoo.
If you have skin allergies, talk to your tattoo artist to be sure yours isn’t the type to avoid.
My teenager wants a tattoo, do you tattoo minors?
Although Florida State Laws allow the tattooing of minors with parental consent, Jet Set DOES NOT tatoo minors. We make absolutely NO EXCEPTIONS. Look, we understand that tattoos can be a rite of passage for young adults and that parents may even be willing to sign for the tattoo, we just prefer to avoid the complications such tattoos can cause.
(1) Teenagers are still growing. Yep, especially the boys. Males don’t reach their full height until around the age of 21. The tattoo may look great when you’re 16, but as you grow, your skin grows too…the tattoo will surely distort and fade with time.
(2) Tattoos are a HUGE responsibility. Not to pick on the young folks, but we remember what we were like as teenagers, responsibility wasn’t a top priority.
(3) What a teenager thinks is cool at 16, they will probably think is lame at 21. Look, tattoos are for life. That sweet tribal armband you want so badly now may be something you’ll be embarrassed about later…trust us. If you want the tattoo that badly, you’ll still want it when you’re 18.
Does it hurt?
OF COURSE IT HURTS! What’s a little pain when the result is a kick-ass tattoo? Don’t be a sissy, it’s not that bad 😉
Piercings FAQs
What should I expect from a healing tattoo?
Healing piercings can be red, swollen, itchy or sensitive to pressure. Irritation and sensivity are a regular part of the healing process. These symptoms are a sign of irritation and DO NOT signify infection. MOST irritation and severe irritation can be ENTIRELY AVOIDED by maintaining proper care of your piercing. Touching, changing or using alcohol products on the piercing can and will most likely lead to problems in the piercing area.
Some irregular forms of irritation may be:
(1) Keloids or hypotrophic-scarring (small, whitish bumps that appear over a break in the skin) may also occur due to irritation, also NOT due to infection. Hypotrophic scarring is generally a sign of severe irritation as a result of touching, moving or otherwise distrubing the piercing before it has properly healed.
(2) Migration (the piercing area rejecting or pushing the jewelry out of the body) is also another form of abnormal irritation. If the jewelry is migrating from the piercing area, this is generally due to touching, moving, or otherwise disturbing the piercing before it has properly healed OR the result of an unforeseen skin allergy.
If either case occurs in the piercing area, consult your piercer or physician immediately.
How do I know if my piercing is infected?
Although piercings will usually be irritated and may even leak a clear fluid during the healing process, this does not necessarily mean your piercing is infected. Usually, piercings that are infected are severely discolored; leak a green or brownish fluid that has a distinctive odor and the piercing area will be severely swollen and painful to the touch.
If you are experiencing any of these symptoms, DO NOT remove the piercing jewelry. Immediately make an appointment to see a physician, antibiotics may be necessary.
ALL INFECTIONS ARE ENTIRELY PREVENTABLE!
If your piercing is infected, most often it is the result of improper aftercare and not following healing instructions.
You may avoid infection by:
(1) Maintaining the recommended aftercare regimen for the duration of the healing process.
(2) Refraining from touching, moving prematurely changing or otherwise molesting the piercing area until the healing period is over. The presence of foreign bacteria in the piercing are is almost ALWAYS the result of improper aftercare. ALWAYS wash your hands before touching your piercing!
(3) Letting your piercing heal! Yeah, we know how badly you want to put in that sparkly jewelry, but it is NEVER a good idea to change the piercing before it is properly healed. Most piercings take a few months to completely heal, so please, wait until the recommended healing time has passed before you change your jewelry.
I’m allergic to most metals, does that mean I can’t get a piercing?
Not at all. Jet Set carries only hypoallergenic metals ranging from Surgical Stainless Steel to Titanium. Most skin allergies to metals are due to the nickel content of a particular metal. All of our jewelry is either low-nickel or nickel-free. Ask your piercer for further details about which metal is right for you.
My daughter is 16 and wants to get her navel pierced. Do you pierce under the age of 18?
Yes, though conditionally. Piercing laws may differ from state to state regarding underage piercings. The State of Florida requires each underage piercee to be accompanied by a PARENT (permissible guardians on vacation must have written and notarized consent from the child’s parent) with a valid photo I.D. and birth certificate to verify parenatge and age. Generally, teenagers 16 and over already have their state I.D. or driver’s license. Piercees under 16 may need to have one issued before requesting a piercing.
Parents anticipating a vacation in Daytona, please bring your child’s identification documentation in with each piercing.
Underage piercees without aforementioned documentation WILL NOT BE PIERCED, NO EXCEPTIONS.
Do piercings hurt?
This is a silly, yet common question. Of course there will be some expected discomfort associated with piercing the skin. Discomfort levels vary from person to person, depending on each person’s individual tolerance to pain. Your piercer will have NO WAY of guessing how your piercing will feel to you personally.
However, Jet Set offers something special for piercees who are a little bit nervous about being pierced.
WE CAN NUMB ANY PIERCING ON THE BODY!
So don’t sweat it. We’ve got you covered.