You just got some new ink and wondered to yourself, “How long after tattoo can you swim?” Fear no more; we are here to help you out. This article will provide details about the waiting time after tattooing and how to protect your ink during swimming.
Let’s get right into this post to check out the information.
What Happens If You Swim With A New Tattoo?
Skin Irritation
Certainly, skin sensitivity is normal with a new tattoo. Even though it does not seem quite as horrible as getting an intense infection or harming your new and expensive art, skin irritation might make you feel extremely uncomfortable.
To be more specific, skin that has recently been tattooed is already sensitive. It can sting and hurt when exposed to chlorine and different synthetic compounds and induce irritating contact dermatitis. This occurs when synthetic substances such as chlorine infiltrate the skin and cause aggravation.
The outcome is a bothersome red rash that can be joined by rankling, open bruises, crusting, and expanding — all of which may impact the appearance of your tattoo in the future.
Damage To Your Tattoo
Drenching your fresh tattoo may cause blurring and staining. New tattoos are particularly vulnerable to chlorine and saltwater, as both can drain pigment from a tattoo, making the shading less lively.
Additionally, swimming can cause your skin to dry out and take a longer time to repair, resulting in increased irritation, flaking, and scabbing. Fading and blurred lines are also possible side effects.
Risk Of Infection
Besides delicate washing, drenching recently inked skin is not suggested due to the danger of infection.
Like any open injury, which is basically what a new tattoo is – lowering your tattoo might potentially open it to destructive microorganisms in the water. Nevertheless, diseases can go from mild to serious.
Sepsis and demise are possible results even though they are quite uncommon.
This was the situation of a believed source for a short time who contracted Vibrio vulnificus (otherwise called the tissue-eating microbes) after swimming in the Gulf of Mexico with new tattoo.
More info: https://edition.cnn.com/2017/06/02/health/tattoo-infected-sepsis-death-vibrio-study/
Although the risk is lower in a swimming pool’s thoroughly chlorinated water than in open water such as a lake or sea, please be mindful that chlorine does not eradicate all bacteria.
How Long After Tattoo Can You Swim?
Tattoos should be permitted to heal for at least fourteen days before you stop utilizing a dressing when you are in the bath for a while or before you go swimming. In case you swim, and the water will leak in, or the swathe will tumble off, it is recommended not to do it until you have been on it for fourteen days.
However, you should continue to wait if not all peeling and flaking have been done, and not all scabs have fallen off. Since and still, you face a challenge getting in a synthetically treated pool or microbes invaded lake or lake, particularly if you plan on staying for a long time.
A tattoo is not considered entirely healed until a fresh layer of protecting skin has grown on top of it. You will have to wait roughly three months for it to happen. Until then, the tattoo is prone to microorganisms, the sun, chemicals, pollution, and other factors.
However, it is unreasonable to expect you to conceal your tattoo for three months if you get a tattoo in the middle of summer. You do not need to go over it for a long time – once you have gone over 2-3 weeks, remain alert but not overly concerned.
If you are an ordinary swimmer or a beach bum, you may want to hold off on getting that big chest piece until the winter months arrive.
Tips For Protecting Your Tattoo After Waiting Time
Apply A Waterproof Dressing
If you need to submerge your new tattoo, a waterproof dressing like Saniderm will be a great help. They are accessible in a variety of sheet and roll sizes.
To ensure your tattoo is covered, apply the gauze before getting in the water and eliminate it as soon as you are finished. Covering a healing tattoo can also slow down the healing process, so the less time you spend doing it, the better.
Clean The Tattoo As Soon As You’re Done
To prevent water from flowing over your skin, wipe it dry before eliminating the bandage. After that, carefully remove the bandage and delicately wash the tattoo with warm water and mild cleansers.
Lastly, gently wipe your tattoo off by using a clean paper towel.
Frequently Asked Question
1. What Should I Do If I Already Went Swimming?
If you swim with a new tattoo and took no precaution?
In the first few days after receiving a tattoo, expect some redness, pain, and peeling. However, if these symptoms persist or increase, it may suggest a problem.
If you see signs of tattoo degradation, such as bubbling, which occurs when a new tattoo is left moist for too long, consult your tattoo artist. It also has the potential for scarring and fading to occur.
2. Can I Swim 6 Days After Getting A Tattoo?
Probably not. Your tattoo is an open injury, and absorbing water might increase the chance of microscopic organisms and increment the danger of disease. This implies no swimming or sitting in baths, hot tubs, pools, or vast water for at any rate fourteen days.
3. How Can I Cover Up My Waterproof Tattoo?
You may require a concealer, some clear powder. Especially, ensure that you use waterproof things.
Conclusion
As we mentioned before, the important period to protect your tattoo effectively is a minimum of 2 weeks to be able to swim. Please do not rush, or you might face some consequences from mild to severe levels on your skin and tattoo.
We hope that this article on “can you swim after getting a tattoo?” is useful for you. Thank you for reading, and see you in our next post!
See also: