For Tattoos Most minor swelling and redness (inflammation) from a tattoo can be treated at home.   Stop any bleeding. Minimal bleeding can be stopped by applying direct pressure to the wound. It is normal for the tattoo site to ooze small amounts of blood for up to 24 hours and clear, yellow, or blood-tinged fluid for several days.   Apply a cold pack to help reduce the swelling, bruising, or itching. Never apply ice directly to the skin. This can cause tissue damage. Put a layer of fabric between the cold pack and the skin.   Take an antihistamine, such as Benadryl or Chlor-Trimeton, to help treat hives and relieve itching. Be sure to read and follow any warning on the label. Do not use strong soaps, detergents, and other chemicals, which can make itching worse.   Protect your tattoo with a bandage if it might become dirty or irritated.   Apply an antibiotic ointment, such as Polysporin or Bacitracin, to a nonstick bandage, such as Telfa.   Apply the nonstick bandage with the ointment on it to the tattoo site. The ointment will prevent the irritated skin from sticking to the bandage. Putting the ointment on the bandage first will be less painful. If a skin rash or itching under the bandage starts, wash the ointment off and don't use that type of ointment again. The rash may indicate an allergic reaction.   Apply a clean bandage once a day and change the bandage if it gets wet. If the bandage does stick, soak the tattoo area in warm water for a few minutes or take the bandage off under running water in the shower.   Leave the bandage off with the skin open to air whenever you can.

For Piercings Stop any bleeding by applying direct pressure to the piercing site.   Apply a cold pack to help reduce swelling or bruising. Never apply ice directly to the skin. This can cause tissue damage. Put a layer of fabric or cloth towel between the cold pack and the skin.   Wash the wound for 5 minutes, 3 to 4 times a day with large amounts of warm water and any antibacterial soap, such as pHisoHex or Dial.   Elevate the piercing area, if possible, to help reduce swelling.   After the first 48 hours, if swelling and bruising are not present, soak the wound in warm water for 20 minutes, 3 to 4 times a day. The warmth of the water will increase the blood flow to the area, which helps reduce the risk of infection. If it is too hard to soak the wound, apply a warm, moist compression pack to the site.   If you have a mouth or tongue piercing, use an antibacterial mouthwash, such as Listerine or Scope, 3 to 4 times a day to help the healing process. Avoid smoking, and don't drink alcohol or eat spicy foods until the piercing site is fully healed.   Clean your jewelry with alcohol or hot, soapy water.   Use of an antibiotic ointment has not been shown to affect healing. If you choose to use an antibiotic ointment, such as polymyxin B sulfate (for example, Polysporin) or bacitracin, apply the ointment lightly to the wound. If a skin rash or itching develops, stop using the ointment. The rash may be caused by an allergic reaction.   Avoid tight clothing over the piercing area. Tight clothing may irritate the piercing site. If irritation develops, it is best to bandage the site. Piercing sites usually will heal well with or without a bandage. If the piercing site is red or you are worried about getting an infection, remove the jewelry. Soak the site in warm water for 20 minutes, 3 to 4 times a day. If it is too hard to soak the piercing site (for example, if you had your belly button pierced), apply a warm, moist cloth instead. If the site looks or feels worse during home treatment, use the Check Your Symptoms section to find out if you need to see your doctor. If the site does not get better after 48 hours of home treatment, call your doctor.