Buddy Storm

RULES:

1) Don't make a thread asking us how old you need to be to get something. Laws are different everywhere. Do some research and call a local shop to find out. We're not here to look things up for you. And chances are if you're asking us this, you're not old enough.

2) Please don't post threads asking what you should get. Make your own decisions about your body mods. You're the one who has to live with them.

3) DO NOT flame people for posting something against board rules. Instead, either post something constructive/informative, or don't post. If the thread is against the rules, let it sink- a board moderator will take care of it. If you aren't a mod, don't act like one.

4) Please do not ask us how you can convince your parents to let you get something pierced. If you're not old enough, you're just not old enough. Deal with it.

5) Please don't ask us if something is infected unless you're going to post pictures of it and give a detailed description.

FAQs:

Aftercare Information

Sea Salt Soaks:

Sea salt soaks are commonly used for the healing process of piercings. Sea salt naturally draws the impurities out of your skin and helps the piercing heal without interfering with your body’s natural healing process. They help prevent and clear up infections. Sea salt can be found in any grocery store, usually in the "spices" aisle and it's usually about 2 dollars for a container that'll last you well over a year of frequent use. They're usually recommended to be done two to three times a day for the first two weeks you have the piercing and then gradually stepped down after that. Each "soaking" should be about 5 to 10 minutes. Here is a "general" rule of thumb on how to make your own sea salt mixture.

Note: Table salt is NOT the same as sea salt and is generally not advised to be used as a "substitute". In a pinch, it is better to just leave the piercing alone for a day until you can run to the store and get more.

-Mix 8 ounces of warm water for every 1/4 teaspoon of sea salt.

-If you're planning on making a "big" mixture of it that's 1 quart of warm water for every teaspoon of sea salt.

-To "test" your sea salt mixture, it should taste about as salty as tears.

Antibacterial Soap

Antibacterial soap or antimicrobial soap is often recommended for cleaning new piercings. Dial and Softsoap both work well. Just make sure the soap you choose is free of dyes and scents.

Clean your piercing twice daily. The best way to clean your piercing is either during or immediately following a hot shower. The hot water and steam will help soften your skin and loosen any crusties you may get. While in the shower, wash your hands thoroughly with anti-bacterial soap. Next, gently remove the crusties from your piercing and jewelry. If you need to, use something disposal to get the "gunk" off. I recommend a cotton ball or a qtip. Do NOT use a hand towel. They can hold onto germs and be a breeding ground for infections. Once you've removed the crusties, lather your hands up with soap and gentle work the soap over the piercing. Rinse thoroughly. Try not to pull or tug on the piercing too much and you don't need to go crazy spinning the jewelry either. You'll only irritate the piercing. Pat the piercing dry.

Cleaning Solutions

A lot of places like to sell aftercare solutions to clean your body mods with. Although they're not usually harmful, it doesn't hurt to do some sea salt soaks and antibacterial soap washes. They're just as affective and usually cheaper.

Tattoo Aftercare

Normally a tattoo will ooze (lymph) when it's freshly done. This is normal. It's a sign of healing. Leave it alone.

The best way to take care of your tat is to follow your artist’s instructions… however, some artists are hacks who’ll give you crappy instructions, and some really bad places won’t tell you what to do at all. In any case, keep the tat covered with plastic wrap for the first few hours and keep it moist. Your tattoo place SHOULD do this for you before you leave. If left alone with no cream and no plastic wrap the tattoo will dry up leaving a scab (because of the lymph) that will take a long time to fall off and will cause discomfort.

You want to wash your tat with warm water and some antibacterial soap. Pat it dry if you must but do NOT rub it or scratch at it. You don't want to dig the ink out and leave a blotchy tat behind. After you wash it down you'll want to cover it again with a cream. You can ask your artist what their preferred cream is. I personally prefer A&D ointment or Tattoo Goo. You're going to want to put ointment on the tat a few times a day. Remember, you want to keep the thing moist. You only need a thin layer of ointment so there's no need to go globbing it on. Do this for at least two weeks, or however long it takes your tat to heal up. You'll know the tat is healed when it's stopped flaking and scabbing up. If you're unsure, ask your artist. Whatever you do, do NOT pick at your tat. It's going to itch. It's gonna be annoying. Just deal with it.

What NOT to use

You never want to use any of the following to clean or care for your piercing/tattoo.

Peroxide - this is not for use on puncture wounds

Rubbing Alcohol - this tends to kill all the good skin cells that are trying to regenerate to heal the wound as well as the bad ones

Mouthwash Containing Alcohol - See the above reason

Polysporin - wounds need air to heal, this smothers them

Nothing at all - duh... Body mods require the maturity to care for them properly. If you're not going to care for it properly, don't bother getting it done. Although a lot of people do advocate the "leave it  alone" healing method, there are still some minimal things you need to do to ensure a happy healthy mod.

Troubleshooting

This is infected. What should I do?

Infections happen sometimes. If a piercing you have becomes infected there is one thing that is VERY important. DO NOT TAKE THE JEWELRY OUT! I don't care how much it hurts or itches. If you take the jewelry out you run the risk of trapping the infection under you skin, which will be even more painful, and you'll have to get it lanced and drained at a doctor's office. Any time you get an infection you need to follow the instructions above for aftercare. Sea salt soaks and antibacterial soap are your friends. Keep caring for the piercing until the infection clears up and the piercing heals up. If you have an infection and you've been caring for it properly and it still isn't clearing up, go to see a doctor. Sometimes severe infections require anti-biotic intervention.

Keloid vs Hypertrophic Scar?

A keloid is a scar that doesn't know when to stop growing. When the skin is injured, cells grow back to fill in the gap. Somehow, they "know" when the scar tissue is even with the contour of the skin, at which point they stop multiplying. When the cells keep on reproducing, the result is either an overgrown (hypertrophic) scar OR a keloid.

A hypertrophic scar is a thick, raised, smooth area that is confined to the site of injury. It diminishes on its own over a period of time. Many people feel that applying an asprin paste helps speed up this process.

A keloid, by contrast, may extend beyond the site of injury. Keloids do not subside on their own. A keloid looks shiny and is often dome-shaped. It can range in color from slightly pink to red. It feels hard and thick and is always raised above the surrounding skin. Generally speaking they require removal by a doctor, but even then they are known to grow back after removal.

This is rejecting. What should I do?

Rejection happens when you place a foreign object in your body (i.e. body jewelry) and your body, for one reason or another, considers that foreign object a threat to your health and safety. In order to protect itself, your body slowly fights the object by pushing it and healing the skin behind it to eventually force the object completely out through the skin. The process of the movement that slowly brings your body jewelry closer and closer to the skin’s surface is migration. If the jewelry is not removed, the process of rejection will cause it to migrate far enough to actually create a hole large enough for the jewelry to fall out on its own. Once this happens, the possibility of healing without scarring is very unlikely.

What should you do about it?

Take the jewelry out. Once a piercing starts to migrate or reject it is doomed. Keeping it in will only make the scarring bigger.

What is that SMELL?!

That smell you're talking about is probably a build up of lymph and sebum. Basically, it's a combination of dead skin cells, oil, sweat, etc. Most piercings do smell, although some worse than others. The best thing you can do to prevent/help the smell is make sure you clean your piercings DAILY. Even if it's just with some warm water, to make sure you don't get an unnecessary build up of gunk in there that's gonna get all smelly and gross.

Body Mods in General

How is a piercing done?

This site is a great place to refer to for this information http://www.coolnurse.com/piercing.htm

How is a tattoo done?

This site is a great place to refer to for this information. http://www.coolnurse.com/tattoo.htm

Piercing guns vs. needles

Piercings with guns = bad.

Properly done piercings are done with a hallow needle that takes out a tiny bit of flesh and leaves room for the jewelry. This allows room for swelling and properly placement and for the piercing to heal. Gun piercings do not do this. They merely shove a substandard piece of jewelry through your ear and don't allow any room for swelling, etc. This will cause major problems in the healing process. The piercings are often done too tight and improperly.

On top of that, the guns, although usually wiped down (or at least ideally wiped down) cannot be "completely" cleaned of all the microscopic bodily fluids that's spattered when the piercings are done. So, they're for all intents and purposes not sterile at all. In short, piercings with guns are generally unsafe and subpar.

Finding a good tattoo/piercing parlor

The key to finding any good parlor is doing your research. Look online for parlors in your area. Visit them. Ask to see how they do things. Ask to see portfolios. Ask they're customers what they think. Also, ask your friends to refer you to places. Follow the above steps. And definitely check out www.bmezine.com for stories and information about particular parlors.

How do I become a tattoo artist/piercer?

Being a tattoo artist or a professional body piercer is not something you can do overnight. There's no magical course that trains you in a week or two. It's time consuming and it's something you really need to commit to. That being said, the best way to get into either profession is to find a competent studio/parlor in your area and ask if they have any positions for an apprentice. Bare in mind most places will probably turn you down. You may need to leave your name and info with them and wait for a vacancy, and you may need to pay for your apprenticeship/tools. Every place is different. Do your research and ask around.