Fort Wayne, Indiana
Tattoo & piercing aftercarein Fort Wayne.
Choose your guide
Aftercareguides.
Healing well protects both your health and the finished result. Start with the guide that matches your service.
Tattoo aftercare
Day-by-day healing from the first bandage through peeling, plus long-term care to keep your ink sharp.
Read guidePiercing aftercare
Saline cleaning, healing times by piercing type, do's and don'ts, and signs of infection to watch for.
Read guideLaser aftercare
Caring for your skin between laser tattoo removal sessions, and preparing for the next one.
Read guideSupport center
Answers on allergic reactions, irritation, jewelry, and when to see a doctor instead of calling us.
Read guideRead first
Why aftercarematters.
A fresh tattoo is an open wound, a new piercing is a healing channel through skin or cartilage, and laser-treated skin needs weeks to recover between sessions. How you care for each one in the first days and weeks has a big effect on how it heals and how it looks long term.
Since 1999, Grade A Tattoos & Body Piercing has helped clients across Fort Wayne and northeast Indiana heal well. The guides below reflect what our artists, piercers, and laser technicians tell clients every day. They are general best practices, though. Always follow the specific instructions you were given at your appointment.
Tattoos
Tattoo aftercareessentials.
- Leave the bandage on for 2–4 hours, or as directed by your artist
- Wash 2–3 times daily with lukewarm water and a mild, fragrance-free soap; pat dry with a clean paper towel
- Apply a very thin layer of unscented moisturizer after washing
- Don't pick or scratch; peeling around days 4–7 is normal
- No pools, baths, hot tubs, or ocean until healed; skip intense exercise for 48 hours
- Outer skin heals in 2–3 weeks, deeper layers in 4–6; use SPF 30+ once healed
Piercings
Piercing aftercareessentials.
- Clean 2–3 times daily with sterile saline solution (0.9% sodium chloride)
- Wash your hands before any contact, and don't twist or rotate the jewelry
- Skip alcohol, hydrogen peroxide, Bactine, and tea tree oil
- Leave your initial jewelry in for the full healing period
- Avoid pools, hot tubs, and lakes, and try not to sleep on the piercing
- Clear or white discharge is normal; a bump is usually irritation, not infection
Laser removal
Laser aftercareessentials.
- Follow the aftercare instructions your technician gives you after each session
- Allow 6–8 weeks of healing between sessions
- Keep the area clean and don't pick or scratch the treated skin
- Avoid sun exposure and tanning for 2 weeks before each treatment
- Shave the area and arrive with clean, product-free skin
- Downtime is minimal; most clients return to normal activities the same day
When to get help
Know thewarning signs.
Some redness, mild swelling, and clear discharge is a normal part of healing. Contact a healthcare professional immediately if you have a fever above 101°F, red streaks extending from the site, worsening swelling, yellow or green pus with a foul odor, or any symptom that is rapidly getting worse. For difficulty breathing or facial swelling, call 911. For everything else, call us first. Our support center has more detail on reactions and irritation.
Where to find us
Call the studiothat did your work.
Two studios in Fort Wayne, on North Clinton Street and inside Glenbrook Square, plus Castleton Square in Indianapolis. Laser removal follow-ups go to Clinton.
Grade A Tattoos — Glenbrook Square
4201 Coldwater Rd, Suite B-03, Fort Wayne, IN 46805
View Glenbrook studioQuestions
AftercareFAQ.
How long does a new tattoo take to heal?
The outer layer of skin typically heals within 2–3 weeks, but the deeper layers take 4–6 weeks. Keep moisturizing, stay out of the sun, and don't submerge the tattoo during that whole period.
What should I clean a new piercing with?
Sterile saline solution (0.9% sodium chloride), 2–3 times daily. Pre-made wound wash is available at any pharmacy. Avoid alcohol, hydrogen peroxide, Bactine, and tea tree oil, which can damage healing tissue.
Is it normal for my tattoo to peel?
Yes. Peeling and flaking usually begins around day 4–7 and can last up to two weeks. Let it fall off on its own. The tattoo may look cloudy until the new skin forms underneath.
How do I tell infection from an allergic reaction?
Increasing pain, yellow or green pus, hot skin, fever, and red streaks point toward infection. Intense itching, bumpy or raised skin, a spreading rash, and blistering point toward an allergic reaction. Either way, contact our team right away so we can help determine the cause.
When should I see a doctor instead of calling Grade A?
Contact a healthcare professional immediately for a fever above 101°F, red streaks from the site, excessive or worsening swelling, yellow or green pus with a foul odor, or any rapidly worsening symptom. For difficulty breathing or facial swelling, call 911. For non-emergency concerns, call us first.
Do you offer touch-ups if my tattoo heals unevenly?
Many of our artists offer complimentary touch-ups within the first year for areas that healed unevenly. Contact your artist or the studio where you were tattooed to schedule one.
Can I come in to have a healing piercing checked?
Yes. Stop by the studio or give us a call. Troubleshooting and jewelry checks are complimentary, and when you are fully healed we can swap in new jewelry safely.
Needa hand?
Questions about healing, a touch-up, or a jewelry change? Reach out any time. Ready for something new? Explore custom tattoos or body piercing.