How Soon After Tattoo Can I Go To The Beach?

How Soon After Tattoo Can I Go To The Beach
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.

How long after a tattoo can you go to the beach?

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.

  • As a report published earlier this month details, ignoring them can be fatal;
  • 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.

What happens if you go to the beach after getting a tattoo?

Fashion How Soon After Tattoo Can I Go To The Beach Spotmatik/Photodisc/Getty Images If you’ve recently been inked, you may want to avoid getting into the ocean with your new tattoo. As it takes two to three weeks for a tattoo to fully heal, diving into the salty ocean might not be the best idea. According to AuthorityTattoo. com, salt water can dry out and possibly irritate the skin , which can lead to a variety of skin reactions like itching, burning, redness or even a rash around the area.

Technically, your freshly inked tattoo is still considered an open wound during the healing process, and needs to be cared for as such. In fact, many tattoo artists, like the ones at Tattoodo. com, suggest avoiding soaking your tattoo in any sort of water during the healing stages beyond a simple shower.

Submerging the tattoo in any sort of water can lead to the risk of harmful bacteria interacting with the opened skin. Swimming in the ocean heightens these chances as the ocean is often filled with millions of forms of bacteria. These germs, while harmless against closed skin, may cause negative side effects around the site of your new ink.

  1. However, if you do feel the need to hit the beach, be sure that your fresh ink is completely covered and out of the way of the elements;
  2. Consider using waterproof bandages, wearing clothing, or even using thicker healing ointments in order to keep your tattoo clean;
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Here are a few options for keeping your tattoo clean while at the beach.

Will my tattoo get infected if I go to the beach?

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.

  1. But hang on: fresh ink, bright sun, and salty water are a cocktail you won’t want to sip;
  2. 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;

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.

Certain situations—like heading to the beach or pool—may require additional caution. Both derms and tattoo artists recommend avoiding as much UV light as possible with a new tattoo. 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.

( Here are tips to treat a bad sunburn. ) 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.
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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 I go in salt water with a new tattoo?

Photographed by Rockie Nolan. Some people might assume that summer is the perfect time to get a tattoo. After ditching wool sweaters for one-piece bathing suits that double as a top and swim attire, you’re suddenly given ample opportunities to show off your existing body art, potentially inspiring you to add even more.

But there are a few things you should know before you call your tattoo artist. To start, just-tattooed skin is extra sensitive because the needle — or needles — creates micro-injuries in the skin, leaving the barrier compromised and more susceptible to burning and scarring , says dermatologist Matthew Lin , MD, FAAD.

Essentially, your new tattoo is an open wound, which is why it’s best to avoid extended sun exposure. Unfortunately, this is one circumstance when sunscreen can’t help you. In fact, putting sunscreen on a healing tattoo is a big no-no. The only products your tattoo needs to heal are Aquaphor and fragrance-free lotion.

Other than that, the rule of thumb is to leave it alone — and keep it out of the sun at all costs. If you don’t, the ink could fade and become patchy. “The risk of fading is greater when the tattoo is fresh, but fading can also occur with sunburns on older tattoos ,” Dr.

Lin adds. Photographed by Caroline Tompkins. Chlorine isn’t your friend either. Tattoo infections may not be common, but exposing your new tattoo to chlorinated water could introduce one. “It can also cause a rash known as irritant contact dermatitis,” says Dr.

Lin. Even worse, chlorine leaches ink from the tattoo, reducing the longevity of the design and the vibrancy of the ink. Salt and ocean water is just as harmful to new tattoos. Just like chlorine, the water can increase the risk of infection and fading, while the salt will dry out the skin and prolong the healing process.

You’ll know your tattoo is healed after the ink fully settles into the skin and there’s no sign of scabbing or peeling. According to dermatologist Robert Finney , MD, this could take a few weeks for tiny tattoos , but a little longer for anything large, like a sizable thigh or back tattoo.

  • Once it’s done healing, it’s safe to put sunscreen on your tattoo and soak up the sun, just don’t forget to reapply every two hours;
  • If your tattoo doesn’t heal within four weeks, or you notice it beginning to swell or ooze, call your doctor — this could be an infection;

Moral of the story? If you plan on spending most of your summer by the pool, consider moving your next tattoo appointment until after your sun-soaking days are behind you. If not, invest in a really big umbrella..

Is it bad to get a tattoo before vacation?

Egnew says, ‘ We recommend waiting at least two weeks, or until the tattoo is fully healed. ‘ Therefore, it may be wise to either postpone your beach trip or reschedule your tattoo appointment to give your tatt time to heal.

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.

How do I know if my 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 wrap my tattoo to swim?

How Can I Waterproof a Tattoo for Swimming? – If you absolutely have to swim with a new tattoo, then you might want to try covering it with a waterproof dressing. There is no way to fully waterproof a tattoo, but there are some methods swimmers have tried: waterproof bandages that can fully wrap and cover the tattoo, heavy layers of Vaseline, or even plastic press n’ seal wrap.

To swim with a new tattoo, cover it and waterproof it as best as possible right before you get in the water, remove the covers after, and gently wash it with warm water and antibacterial soap, then let it air dry and heal.

Continue using the aftercare cream throughout the post-tattoo healing process. .

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How do I protect my tattoo from the sun from the beach?

How Soon Can YOU Swim AFTER Getting A NEW TATTOO?

Be Careful During Healing – However, coming out of the tattoo salon it is very important to be careful for the first 4 to 6 weeks. There are many risks, starting with possible alteration of the tattoo or post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation that causes unsightly dark spots that persist for months and are not easy to get rid of.

During the healing process, it is best to keep it out of the sun. If you have to, double up your protection. Cover the tattoo with clothing or a bandage, and use sunscreen, preferably with mineral screens.

Indeed, unlike chemical filters, they block UV rays at the surface of the skin. As your skin has recently been damaged (by the tattoo needle, itching…) the sun can tarnish or degrade your tattoo. How Soon After Tattoo Can I Go To The Beach Finally, while it is healing, do not go in the ocean and apply reparative care generously. Our Reparative Tattoo Aftercare Cream is perfect because it repairs, sanitizes, and protects thanks to its exclusive ingredient, Alga Sendatu® made from red seaweed. How Soon After Tattoo Can I Go To The Beach.

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 put sunscreen on a new tattoo?

Can You Put Sunscreen on a New Tattoo? – The answer is a resounding NO! New tattoos should not be exposed to sunlight until they are fully healed, and tattoo experts say that putting some sunscreens on new tattoos can do more harm than good. Since the top layer of your skin is wounded by tattooing, chemicals in some sunscreens can enter the lower layers of the skin and cause reactions.

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.

How do I know when 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 do I protect my new tattoo while swimming?

Is it OK to get a tattoo in the summer?

Summer is often looked at by many people as the best time of year to get a new tattoo — there’s something about wearing less clothing that seems to inspire people to get body art. But we’ve also heard contradictory reports that getting a tattoo in the summertime can be a little riskier than during other seasons because sun exposure can increase the possibility of fading.

Of course, whether or not you should get one all depends on who you ask. “It’s fine to get a tattoo in any season you want,” dermatologist Elliot Love, DO , told POPSUGAR. According to Dr. Love, the main factor to consider when getting a tattoo is making sure you’re protecting it from the sun’s harmful UV rays.

“It’s important to remember that whether it’s the winter or summer, it’s not the temperature that matters, it’s sun exposure. ” Tattoo artist Gianna Caranfa , on the other hand, doesn’t recommend it: “There are definitely more rules to follow when healing a tattoo in the summertime,” she said.