How Long Until You Can Swim With 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.
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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.
What happens if I swim with a new tattoo?
Keep it dry for the first 3 weeks – Whether in the sea or in the pool , you should avoid contact with water to begin with to allow your tattoo to heal without issues. Any extended contact with water should be avoided , as it risks displacing the ink of the tattoo or altering the colour.
Baths, rivers, jacuzzis, etc. , it’s better to avoid all forms of bathing if you want to preserve the design of your tattoo ! The water in a swimming pool, for example, can pose an infection risk to your wound.
The water in swimming pools is treated with products to disinfect the pool, which doesn’t mix well with a wound. Another important piece of advice: avoid gyms ! When you exercise, your muscles stretch your skin and you sweat. Stretching the skin and sweating excessively in the area of your tattoo can impede the healing process.
Can I swim 3 weeks after tattoo?
Proper tattoo aftercare should be performed for at least three weeks before bathing or swimming in any type of water so the skin can recover and close properly, in turn guarding the tattoo/wound against chemical irritation, risk of infection, and the chance of water saturation.
Can you put Vaseline on a new tattoo to go swimming?
DON’T apply alcohol, Neosporin, Vaseline, or petroleum jelly (they can trap dirt and germs and cause infection). DON’T apply a heavy coat of lotion (remember the skin must breathe in order to heal). DON’T expose your tattoo to direct sunlight, swim, sauna, steam or tub for 2 weeks.
Can I swim 2 weeks after getting a tattoo?
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.
How do I protect my tattoo while swimming?
How do you tell if a tattoo is 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.
Can I drink 2 days after getting a tattoo?
Drinking before or after – That drink beforehand is not smart. Bruno Vincent/Getty Images If you’re thinking about downing some liquid courage before taking the plunge, think again. Drinking before and after getting a tattoo is a no-no. Alcohol thins your blood, which means excess bleeding. When you bleed more than normal, it can cause visibility issues for the artist, potentially compromising the quality of the design.
- Excess bleeding can also thin the ink;
- Of course, there’s also the fact that alcohol impairs judgment, and you don’t want to make permanent decisions while impaired;
- And it’s not cute if you have to stop and puke in the middle of a four-hour tattoo session;
Furthermore, drinking after the fact can compromise the healing of the tattoo because of its effects on your blood, so take it easy for a bit.
Can you swim in chlorine with a new tattoo?
How Long Before You Can Swim With a New Tattoo? – The temptation is real when it comes to showing off fresh ink—but proceed with caution. “Any [new] tattoo is essentially a fresh wound, and needs time to heal without being exposed to the elements,” Forte tells us.
- This includes protecting it from bacteria, sun, chemicals, pollution, and water—particularly when it comes to swimming;
- “Both saltwater and chlorine are harsh on new tattoos, especially if you had a lot of work done,” he explains;
Translation: You shouldn’t swim until your tattoo is fully healed, advises Fenton. “For most people, that is two weeks, but it can be longer depending on the size, location, and how quickly you heal. If after two weeks, the skin does not appear fully healed (any scabbing, crusting, or redness), then I would recommend waiting longer,” he says.
Can you swim in chlorine with a new tattoo?
How Long Before You Can Swim With a New Tattoo? – The temptation is real when it comes to showing off fresh ink—but proceed with caution. “Any [new] tattoo is essentially a fresh wound, and needs time to heal without being exposed to the elements,” Forte tells us.
This includes protecting it from bacteria, sun, chemicals, pollution, and water—particularly when it comes to swimming. “Both saltwater and chlorine are harsh on new tattoos, especially if you had a lot of work done,” he explains.
Translation: You shouldn’t swim until your tattoo is fully healed, advises Fenton. “For most people, that is two weeks, but it can be longer depending on the size, location, and how quickly you heal. If after two weeks, the skin does not appear fully healed (any scabbing, crusting, or redness), then I would recommend waiting longer,” he says.
How do you waterproof a tattoo for swimming?
How Can I Waterproof A Tattoo For Swimming? – While there is no way of fully waterproofing a tattoo for swimming, there are a few things you can do to prevent damage. If you’re going to go swimming with a new tattoo, make sure it is fully covered with either a waterproof bandage, some Vaseline, or both.
- Then, once you’re out of the water, quickly remove the cover, and rinse the tattoo with fresh water;
- Your tattoo artist will also have given you some aftercare cream to put on the area with the tattoo;
Once you have washed it after swimming, simply apply some of this cream to the tattoo. 
While you may long for your next swim, waiting for your tattoo to heal is crucial.
How do you wrap a new tattoo for swimming?
How do you tell if a tattoo is 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.
