This document provides information about tattoos and piercings, including how to choose designs and locations, health risks, and proper care. It discusses choosing a reputable tattoo or piercing studio and ensuring clean equipment. Healing times for various piercing locations are listed, ranging from 4-6 weeks for ear lobes to over a year for some cartilage piercings. Proper aftercare involves cleaning and moisturizing tattoos or using saline for piercings until fully healed.

1. Durham InkTattoos and Body Piercings Making Informed Decisions Office of Health Education and Promotion Health Services University of New Hampshire www.unh.edu/health-services Facebook/Twitter: UNHHealth

2. Tattoos

4. Discuss size and color with the artist.

5. Learn all you can about tattoos before actually getting inked.

6. Remember that a tattoo is permanent .

9. Sterile needles should be taken from an a clave bag in front of you.

10. Check artist’s certifications.

11. Fresh ink should be poured into a small cup just for you.

12. Take the time to shop around. Check out many different artists.

14. Do not drink alcohol before getting a tattoo because it can cause excess bleeding.

15. Autoclaves are the only acceptable sterilizers.

18. Wash tattoo with your hand using warm soapy water. Pat dry, do not rub.

19. For 3-5 days, or until healed, apply vitamin A & D ointment or Bacitracin or zinc oxide ointment 3-4 times daily after washing tattoo. Keep tattoo moist. If allergic to these ointments, use water based lotion (Curel).

20. Tattoo will flake. DO NOT pick at the flakes or you may pull the color out. Try not to let clothing rub on your tattoo while it is healing.

21. Stay out of the sun or use sunscreen.

22. Piercings

24. Is it clean?

25. Are the instruments properly sterilized?

26. Does the artist wear new latex gloves for each client?

27. Does the artist use sterile, disposable needles?

29. Clean hands thoroughly before cleaning or touching piercing.

30. Clean twice daily, using a Q-tip: clean piercing on both ends of hole, working soap in by sliding ring barbell through.

31. Rinse well with WARM water.

32. When crusty, rinse with saline solution.

34. Piercing Healing Genitalia Male: Prince Albert 4-6 weeks Frenum/Scrotum 6-8 weeks Female: Hood 4-6 weeks Labia Minora 2-3 months Labia Majora 4-6 months Christina/Clitoris 4-6 months * Healing times are approximate, human bodies vary greatly. Source: HP_Server/SEXUALHEALTH/SexualHealthPE’s/PEWorkshopsandevaluations/CurrentPEworkshops/Tattooingandpiercing/Piercing Healing Times.doc

35. More Information University of New Hampshire Office of Health Education and Promotion, Health Services (603) 862-3823 http://www.unh.edu/health-services Facebook/Twitter: UNHHealth