When Can I Go To The Beach After A Tattoo?

When Can I Go To The Beach After A Tattoo
2 to 4 weeks Frolicking on the beach or at your local pool may seem like the perfect opp to show of some fresh ink, but don’t bust out the swimwear just yet. You should wait for your tattoo to fully heal — which can take at least 2 to 4 weeks — before swimming in any kind of water.

Can I go in ocean after tattoo?

Despite how pervasive tattoos are these days, they’re still kind of a big deal. At the risk of sounding like your grandma, getting inked with that work of art is a procedure that can actually be quite risky, which is why it’s so important to follow tattoo guidelines to a T.

  1. As a report published earlier this month details, ignoring them can be fatal;
  2. In a definite worst case scenario, an unidentified 31-year-old Hispanic man died after ignoring tattoo artists’ warnings not to go swimming with fresh ink, reports the Daily Mail;

Five days after getting a cross tattoo on his calf, the man reportedly went for a dip in the Gulf of Mexico, where he contracted a bacterial infection. A day after exposing his ink to the ocean, he developed a fever, chills and a nasty rash near his tattoo.

Despite treatment, the infection ultimately killed him. Warning: the images are graphic. According to tattoo guidelines, you’re supposed to wait two weeks before swimming in the pool or ocean to allow the ink to heal — up until that point, your tattoo is still an open wound and needs to be cared for like one.

Submerging your wound in water, which is often swimming with all different types of bacteria, can lead to some serious infections. The bacteria in this case, was a particularly nasty flesh-eating strain called Vibrio vulnificus, according to the official report published in BMJ Case Reports , which affects the immune system and can be contracted by exposing an open wound to seawater or by eating raw shellfish.

  1. Even with aggressive treatment from doctors, a pre-existing liver condition made the man more susceptible to developing sepsis from the infection and he ultimately died two months after entering the hospital;

Daily Mail.

How do I protect my new tattoo at the beach?

Nexcare Waterproof Sterile Bandages – Bandages, $7. 44, jet. com Applying a bandage over your new tattoo prior to heading to the beach is a great way to prevent water, sand, and bacteria from infecting the site.

How do I know my tattoo is fully healed?

You will know that your tattoo is completely healed when there are no scabs, the texture of your skin where the tattoo was placed is the same as a similar surface of skin, and the colors on your tattoo are no longer faded.

How long until a tattoo is fully healed?

After getting a tattoo, the outer layer of skin (the part you can see) will typically heal within 2 to 3 weeks. While it may look and feel healed, and you may be tempted to slow down on the aftercare, it can take as long as 6 months for the skin below a tattoo to truly heal.

Can I wrap my tattoo to go to the beach?

First and foremost, do NOT head to the beach, pool, or lake without protecting your new tattoo. If you are still wrapped, then cover the area with lighweight, loose, 100% cotton clothing – period. Stay out of the sun as best you can and definitely stay out of the water.

Is a little sun OK for new tattoo?

How to Protect Your Tattoo From the Sun – @ girlknewyork Wear sunscreen: Sunblock is the number one form of protection for your tattoo. Applying sunblock will help prevent skin cancer, wrinkles, blotchy complexions, and other skin-caused damage. Any sunblock is better than no sunblock when it comes to preparing your ink for the sun, but most artists will suggest using a fragrance-free sunscreen with 30-50 SPF (try to stick to natural ingredients if possible, too).

You might be interested:  What Does A Lioness Tattoo Symbolize?

Whatever sunscreen you would normally use without a tattoo is fine — whether chemical or physical. According to Nussbaum, SPF is a critical part of protecting your tattoo against UV rays. “The most important thing when choosing a sunscreen is to make sure it is broad-spectrum, meaning it protects against both UVA, which penetrates deeper than UVB rays, causing free radical damage, and UVB rays, which damage the cell’s DNA and burn the skin,” she says.

“Sunburns and chronic UV exposure can damage the appearance of tattoos over time and lead to fading, wrinkles, and dullness/dryness. ” Nussbaum also says it’s safe to put sunscreen on a healed tattoo, but fresh ink will need to heal first (instead, cover it with a bandage or loose clothing).

  1. Be sure to reapply your sunblock every two hours to ensure a continuous and solid layer of protection;
  2. Cover up: If you don’t want to deal with the hassle of reapplying sunscreen , the second-best option for sun protection is to ultimately keep your new ink out of the sun;

At the very least, make sure not to expose a new tattoo to direct sunlight for the first month of having it—especially the first two weeks. Not only will sun exposure cause the tattoo’s colors to fade, as previously mentioned, but it may also burn your skin and scar it from sun damage.

  • Keeping your tattoo out of the sun doesn’t mean you have to stay inside all day, though;
  • Maintain your ink’s vibrant colors and linework by always wearing at least one layer while in the sun;
  • It can be light—as long as it covers the tattoo design completely;

Get your tattoo during the winter : One of the easiest ways to prevent sun damage to your tattoo is to consider what time of year you’ll be getting inked. Getting your tattoo in the winter will reduce your bare exposure to sun, as chilly weather means more clothing to cover up with.

However, the winter season also means dry skin. If your skin tends to feel dry, flakey, and itchy during the colder weather months, load up on moisturizing lotions. To protect your new tattoo, we love the original, unscented Aquaphor formula.

Slather on day or night for intense moisture and protection. (Or, try one of these tattoo artist-approved lotions ). If you get the tattoo too close to a vacation or beach day, you’ll spend the whole time out of the water with your ink-covered. While saltwater may seem like it’ll help ( chlorine water —not so much), any kind of soaking during your initial healing period may cause infection and damage the design work you paid for.

  • If you really want to get a tattoo during the summer, at least wait until you know you won’t be going on vacation for a month or so;
  • And if you want to get tattooed while on vacation ? Just wait until the latter half of your trip, so you can still have fun in the sun and worry about aftercare once you’re home;

Moisturize often, inside and out: Nussbaum also suggests moisturizing often and drinking water every day. “Keep your skin well hydrated so that it can protect itself from external damage and maintain your skin’s natural moisture barrier,” says Nussbaum.

  • She also notes that hydration doesn’t mean more showers, though;
  • “Skip the long, hot showers, which can strip the skin of its natural oils and lead to dry skin, and instead opt for a shorter shower (five minutes maximum) with lukewarm water;

” Check-in with your skin: Another essential thing to do if you expose your tattoo to the sun is to check your skin for any visible signs of damage. Aside from spot-checking regularly for any mole additions or changes (this should be a weekly thing, regardless of the season!), make sure to give your tattoo a good once over to ensure that the design hasn’t majorly warped.

Can sand infect a tattoo?

You planned the tattoo design for months—or maybe even years. You booked the appointment a month or two ago. You saved up and dropped big money for a hygienic and highly rated tattoo artist. You sat in the chair at the tattoo parlor, distracting yourself from the pain by dreaming about how that new ink would look in your bikini at the beach this summer.

But hang on: fresh ink, bright sun, and salty water are a cocktail you won’t want to sip. If you’re not careful, beach days may both damage your new tat *and* put you at risk for infection and complications—and some of them are life-threatening.

What to Know About Tattoos in the Summer In general, dermatologists say that tattoos can be safe with proper care. Being informed before getting your tattoo is the best way to ensure healthy skin and body during and after the inking process. That star or arrow on your ankle may seem like just ink on your skin, but the anatomy of a tattoo is more complicated than that.

  • The ink is actually in the deeper layer of your skin—the dermis—which is where your nerves and blood vessels are located;
  • To deliver the ink through the epidermis (the top layer of skin) and into the dermis, a machine repeatedly drives several tiny needles with ink about one to four millimeters into the skin;
You might be interested:  How Much Are Tattoo?

Because of this, the new tattoo is not simply ink, but an open wound that may easily become infected. New tattoos require around two weeks to heal, and your tattoo artist should go over after-care instructions for a new tattoo to promote healthy healing and avoid scarring or infections.

  1. Certain situations—like heading to the beach or pool—may require additional caution;
  2. Both derms and tattoo artists recommend avoiding as much UV light as possible with a new tattoo;
  3. First of all, UV rays are the main reason tattoos fade over time;

Day 2 is way too early to start fading your new ink, right? More importantly, new tattoos (and other wounds) are more susceptible to sunburn, which increases your risk of skin cancer. Even a small amount of sun is more likely to severely burn and blister on a wound than under normal conditions.

  1. ( Here are tips to treat a bad sunburn;
  2. ) How to Take Care of Your Tattoo at the Beach If possible, get your tattoo in the winter, when your new ink is least likely to have exposure to UV rays or water;

That said, if you find yourself going to the beach after getting a new tattoo, use these tips to take care of your fresh tat.

  1. Avoid water (sorry). No swimming, soaking, or putting your tattoo directly under a water stream. Water—especially seawater or pool water—is harsh on your tattoo water and can increase your risk of infection. Keep your tattoo dry, except when doing your twice-a-day cleanings.
  2. Wear sunscreen. If you absolutely cannot avoid the sun, be sure to use sunscreen. Use a broad-spectrum, water-resistant sunscreen with SPF 30 or more, according to the American Academy of Dermatology. Learn more about how to choose the right sunscreen here.
  3. Cover your tattoo. Wrap your tattoo site with gauze and tape. (Your tattoo artist should demonstrate how to do this before you leave the parlor. ) This helps block both UV rays and infectious materials—like dirty sand—from getting into your wound.
  4. Wear loose clothing. A tight swimsuit over a new tattoo may irritate the wounded skin. Make sure any clothing that touches your tattoo site is loose and comfortable.
  5. Cleanse the tattoo site when you get home. As demonstrated by your tattoo artist, rinse the tattoo site using clean water and unscented soap. Don’t put the soap or water stream directly on the tattoo; use gravity to let the water and suds “fall” across the skin of your tattoo. Rinsing off any sand or sunscreen that may have gotten in your tattoo wound may help prevent infections.

If you’re gonna be heading to the beach on the reg this summer, you’ll definitely want to know these other beach day tips.

  • Find out here if a base tan can help prevent sunburn.
  • Check out these derm-approved tips to apply sunscreen.
  • Here are early signs of heat stroke you should know.

Reviewed by:  Alexandra Schwarz. Review date:   January 30, 2022.

Can a tattoo heal in 2 weeks?

– The healing process is different for every person and tattoo. Most sources indicate that tattoos generally take about 2 weeks to heal. However, it may take up to 4 weeks for the skin to fully recover. Some complications may prolong the healing process. The following is what a person can typically expect.

Can I put sunscreen on my 2 week old tattoo?

When Can You Put Sunscreen on a New Tattoo – Experts advise waiting 4 to 6 weeks before applying any sunscreen on your tattoo. This time is given for the tattoo to heal fully, so that the epidermis recovers to protect the much more sensitive dermis layer of the skin.

Does shaving over a tattoo make it fade?

The Final Takeaway – There is always a chance of irritation when a routine is interrupted, however, preparing the area by gently exfoliating and moisturizing a few days before getting a tattoo might minimize any ingrown hairs, irritation, or dry skin.

Do color tattoos hurt more?

How Soon Can YOU Swim AFTER Getting A NEW TATTOO?

So, Do Color Tattoos Hurt More? – Generally speaking, ink color doesn’t determine the amount of pain you’ll feel. The color simply doesn’t have to do anything with the pain of the tattoo. As we mentioned, tattoo placement, your pain tolerance, and your tattooist’s technique are the main factors determining how painful the process will be.

Sure, there was a time when colored ink used to have a thicker consistency than black ink. This was an issue since it took the tattooist longer to pack the colored ink, which in itself hurts. The longer you’re getting tattooed, the higher the skin damage and the more painful the process becomes.

Nowadays, all inks are of similar consistency, so there isn’t an issue there. Now, if your tattoo artist takes a long time to complete the tattoo, you’ll experience more pain as the process goes on. Also, if the tattoo artist uses a dull needle, chances are the process will hurt more.

  • Sharp, new needles tend to hurt less;
  • Now, as the needle gets worn out, it remains sharp, but it dulls out a little bit;
  • This small difference in needle sharpness can promote faster skin damage and of course, cause more pain;
You might be interested:  What Does A Death Moth Tattoo Mean?

If your tattooist uses white ink highlight , you can expect more pain. This is again not because of the needle or the ink color, but rather the pain is caused by the repetition of needle penetration in one place. In order for the white ink to fully show and become saturated, the tattooist needs to go over the same area several times.

  1. That is what causes skin damage and pain;
  2. Now, after all of the information, we do have to point out that there are people who swear that the coloring/shading of the tattoo hurts more than the linework or tattoo outline;

Pain is a subjective thing, so it can be hard to be exact with the answer to whether color tattoos hurt more than regular ones.

How do tattoos heal in a week?

What should you not do after a tattoo?

Is it OK to swim with a week old tattoo?

How Long Before You Can Swim With a New Tattoo? – Most of the time, a tattoo needs to fully heal before you can safely swim. How long that takes varies from person to person, but many tattoo artists recommend anywhere from two to four weeks. When you get a tattoo, you’ll be sent home with a bandage over it.

After a few hours, you can likely remove the bandage and wash off the excess blood and ink. Use your hands to gently wash it with light warm water and antibacterial soap, then let it air dry in a clean environment and apply the aftercare cream.

As the tattoo heals, flaky skin and scabs will form. As the scabs flake and fall off naturally, a new layer of skin will heal underneath. When there’s a new layer of skin, that’s when you know you can safely swim. Throughout the healing process, you’ll also want to avoid baths for many of the same reasons, but continue to gently clean the area, air dry, and use the aftercare cream.

How do I protect my tattoo when swimming?

Can I cover my tattoo to swim?

Swimming With a New Tattoo – When it comes to swimming with a new tattoo, we have a few things to say. First and foremost, don’t even think about covering your tattoo with Vaseline or Aquaphor so you can go take a dip when the tattoo is not healed. Unless you really crave a bacterial infection, visit a doctor and a messed up tattoo design, stay away from the water (and the petroleum jelly products) until the tattoo is fully healed.

Now, if it’s been more than 4 weeks, and your tattoo is all closed and scab-free, you can try to go for a swim. Technically, there shouldn’t be any issues, and we still do advise you to wait for a few extra weeks.

But, if you really can’t wait to take a dip, we strongly recommend you use a waterproof bandage. This may prevent a tattoo infection caused by exposure to bacteria in the water. Now, you may think; hey, swimming pools are cleaned than open bodies of water; they’re less dirty, and there are fewer bacteria, I can go swimming there.

Well, sure, there might be fewer bacteria, but swimming pools contain chlorine. And, this chemical can cause its own set of issues for your new tattoo. It can irritate your skin, cause a rashing of the tattoo area, and of course, the pools aren’t bacteria-free, so the tattoo could also get infected.

Just because you change the swimming area, doesn’t mean the tattoo will react differently to the water. When Can I Go To The Beach After A Tattoo.