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First of all.. be careful your first shower if you havent been warned already... it SUCKS and can take you down! May i suggest slowly getting your self wet. Start by throwing water on your new scar and slowly getting in.

AFTERCARE

Where to start.... You will hear many many things regarding aftercare.

I have broken it down like this.. If the person talking didnt cut you OR doesnt even have any large scale scar work they personally healed.. i wouldnt really pay attention to what they said. Also realize with the differnces in body shapes and skin types that not everyone is going to heal the same. Your body is producing the scar, not you..alot of what we do isnt absolutly going to heal like you (or we ) want it too. That being said, there are also certain constants you can rely on for healing..

here are some different suggestion depending on procedure and desired after effect of said procedure.

Scarification

Average Healing Time:1 - 2 months depending on the proceudre. Times vary according to single line cutting, removal, etching, and branding.

General Aftercare ::

Wash your new cutting twice a day with a mild liquid antibacterial soap, such as Dial, Lever 2000, Provon, or Soft Soap. Wash your hands thoroughly before touching your cutting. Do not pick or scratch at scabs. Simply keep the cutting clean and allow it to heal naturally. Do not use any ointments (such as Neosporin) on the cutting..

For Removal ::

For most removals, wrapping the wound /body part in saran wrap as well as making sure the wound is kept and doesnt have the potential to dry out and form a scab. Use of a sesame seed, olive, or some other type of fine oil are great for lubing up a healing scar. This method allows the body to jump over the scabby part of the remodeling phase of healing , while still allowing the body to build up the collogen and create the new shiny pink skin, generally in a week or 2, all without the hard and movement limiting scab.

If you develop a rash on the opposite side of your scar under the saran wrap... wash the body part, and allow to dry out a few times a day, befor e reapplying saran wrap and oil.. Rash should go away within a few days..

For Inked Cuttings ::
An inked cutting will heal flat and not raise very much, similar to a tattoo. It is important that you do not pick, scratch, or irritate your inked cutting, or some ink fallout may occur.

For Heavy Raising ::
If you desire a heavy raised look for your cutting, Mechanical Irritation is something you can do to even out and incosistancies and almost dictate how you want it heal. Take a new soft bristled toothbrush and, while cleaning your cutting, brush the cutting. The more and longer you irritate the cutting, the more it will have a tendency to raise. Using a mixture of provon and a nuetral base such as arm and hammer baking soda , can really do wonders to get in there and help aggitate those reproducing skin cells internally. Its not always best to do this while the wound is at its freshest. sometimes a few days or weeks is nedded to see what is staying open and what has closed and needs to be aggitated.

What to Avoid ::
-- Body fluid contact. This could be a shortcut to a nasty infection. This includes keeping others' mouths and all bodily fluids off a healing cutting, even if you are monogamous. its still a wound!

-- Unwashed hands. Do keep in mind this is an open wound and bacteria and unwante dthinsg can get in your wound and give you a nastyinfection. Always wash hands before attending you your new scar.

If you think you are having any problems with your cutting, feel free to give us a call or stop by for a check-up. Remember, we are not doctors. Our advice is based upon our experience in our field. Should you have a serious concern, please see your physician

branding
:: Special Care for Brandings ::
The healing of a branding goes through two stages: a initial healing period during which the skin is open and scabbing (2 - 6 weeks), and a longer period during which the scar tissue forms and stabilizes (2 - 12 months). The aftercare will therefore go through two forms as well.

In the initial healing stage, your top priority should be to keep the area clean. Brands are third degree burns. This means that skin has actually been destroyed. Your body's ability to protect itself from infection has been compromised, so you must pick up the slack externally.

For this reason, it is particularly important that you not touch the area with dirty hands. Unless you are cleaning it, leave it alone! Do not pick at the scabs, scratch it, or otherwise get it grubby. Keep everyone else (including lovers and pets) away from it untilthe surface has sealed over.

To Clean ::
Twice a day, clean the brand with either a liquid antibacterial/antiseptic soap, or a mild antiseptic

-- If using the soap, choose a brand that is not irritating to your skin, and with as few extra chemicals (colors, fragrances, lotions) as possible. Good ones to try include: unscented Castille soap (dilute with water), Satin or Provon. First wash your hands thoroughly. Then lather the branded area with the chosen soap, taking care to gently remove any loose dried discharge. Rinse and pat dry with a clean towel or paper towel.

-- If using the liquid antiseptic, again, wash your hands first. Then saturate the area with the antiseptic. No need to rinse. You may want to blot the area with a paper towel wet with antiseptic to help remove any loose discharge.

DO NOT USE rubbing alcohol, peroxide, or any kind of ointments on the brand! These may not only be irritating, but they may interfere with your healing.

In the first day or two, you may want to put aloe vera gel (either bottled, or directly from the plant) on the brand to soothe it. However, using this past the second day or so may speed healing to the point that the brand does not raise as well. Often it is the first and second degree burns on the surrounding skin (caused by radiating heat) which are most painful. (Keeping the aloe gel in the fridge makes it especially soothing!).

Your brand will probably be excreting clear or yellowish fluid during the first few weeks, especially the first day or two. You may want to keep it lightly wrapped with sterile cotton gauze during this time, depending on the body part. If you do not, make sure the clothes covering it are clean, loose and preferably of natural fibers. Tight or synthetic clothing may rub and be irritating, and dirty clothes can harbor bacteria which may cause infections. This includes using clean bedding during healing, and keeping pets out of your bed.

After the surface skin has sealed over, the danger of infection is largely passed. You will still want to clean the brand in the shower, but you can treat it pretty much like normal skin. Now, you are mainly waiting for your body to build up new skin cells and scar tissue, to form the pattern you desire. It is at this stage that you can begin irritating your brand to cause more dramatic scarring. Do not try picking or scratching at the brand before the skin has sealed over! You may end up ripping the edges and making them uneven, or even giving yourself an infection.

To intensify your scarring, you might try ::
-- Scrubbing the area gently with a loofah sponge in the shower, or a soft bristile toothbrush

-- Lightly scratching the area with your fingernails during the day. With either of these methods, take care not to scratch the new skin open.

-- Also, nickel is a strong chemical irritant to the skin. On a fresh wound it can cause blood poisoning costume jewelry (pendants or armbands) over the area, or taping nickel pieces to the skin while sleeping at night. If you can find a way to make this work, it can be very effective in encouraging scarring. If it makes you itch, it's working. (Obviously, if the reaction becomes severe or worrisome, discontinue and consult a physician if necessary.)
It may be several months, or even a year, before your brand finishes scarring. Even then, the results will depend largely on your particular skin. Some people scar dramatically with very little effort, some people notice a color change and not much else.

Some body parts scar more visibly than others. Ideal spots include Stomach /torso, upper arms, chest, sternum, shoulder blades, butt cheeks and the pubus. Legs generally don't mark as well -and end up with recessed scars.. Anywhere with softer skin or more fat below the skin is more likely to spread and leave "smeary" scars. The more muscle tone, the firmer the skin, the more distinct your marks may be. Brandings over shallow nerves, tendons or blood vessels are trickier and may be inappropriate for many people.

In short, there are no specific guarantees with scarification or branding. They are organic modifications , rather than an exact one like piercing. What you get may vary with location, skin type, body fat, care, etc.. Do keep this in mind when chosing your new mod.

Do not reproduce without permission!!