How Long Should A Tattoo Heal Before Swimming?
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.
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How long after a tattoo can you swim?
How Soon Can YOU Swim AFTER Getting A NEW 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 long does it take for a tattoo to heal?
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.
When can you get Your Tattoo wet?
Stages of Tattoo Healing – In the first few weeks following your appointment, your tattoo will go through various stages of the healing process. While it’s healing it will form thin, dry, crackly skin, and some scabs which will eventually flake off. As it is healing, you should wash your tattoo with antibacterial soap and warm running water during your typical showering routine, but avoid soaking it. Timeline for Post-Procedure Tattoo Care:
- The new tattoo is wrapped by the artist for the journey home.
- After waiting at least two hours and no more than four (depending on your artist’s recommendation), you can wash off the plasma, blood, and extra ink. Do not use a cloth. Only use your hands.
- Allow it to air dry in a clean environment.
- Apply a small amount of tattoo aftercare cream.
- Over time, dry, flaky skin or scabs will form on the tattoo’s surface. Do not scratch or pick off the healing skin or scabs. You should allow scabs to naturally fall or flake off when they have completely dried and the skin has healed underneath.
- Continue to moisturise with approved tattoo aftercare cream.
It’s worth taking the effort to avoid infection. Besides potentially damaging your new design, an infection could cause a lot more damage to your actual limb in extreme circumstances. But they do happen. Good luck with your scabs, your healing, and your freaking awesome tattoo! 
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What happens if you Soak Your New Tattoo in water?
Your tattoo is a fresh wound that needs to be kept clean and looked after during the entire healing process. Submerging your tattoo in water for long periods can cause significant damage to your new tattoo by affecting the ink underneath your skin before it’s had a chance to heal.
