How Long After a Tattoo Can You Swim?

Your tattoo artist might have mentioned you should avoid swimming with your fresh ink. There are a few reasons — water can remove natural oil and cause skin to dry up, resulting in itching, peeling and scabbing. These issues can also cause fading, patchiness and fuzzy lines in your new ink.

Swimming with a new tattoo also increases the danger of bacterial infections. Bacteria thrive in pools, lakes and seas, and your healing tattoo is an open wound. To preserve it and guarantee a smooth healing process, you should avoid swimming until your tattoo has completely healed.

How Long Does a Tattoo Take to Heal?

Proper care is essential for the health and aesthetics of your ink. Like any other wound, a fresh tattoo needs the appropriate conditions to facilitate healing. Exposure to water can lead to infections, skin irritation and fading. Give your tattoo two to six weeks before submerging it in swimming pools, hot tubs or open waters.

The process of healing a tattoo varies depending on its location and size, along with skin type and the quality of aftercare. A regular tattoo healing process involves the following stages:

• Week one: It’s normal for a tattoo to be swollen, red and tender during the first 48 to 72 hours. Since your body is responding to injury, you might also notice slight inflammation, oozing or a burning sensation.
• Week two: At this stage, you might experience flaking, itching, peeling and scabbing. Flaky skin is a natural response, so you don’t need to be concerned. Resist scratching, rubbing or picking at the scabs to prevent more injury and slower healing. Use a moisturizer to keep the skin around the tattoo hydrated. Some moisturizers can even ease the itching.
• Weeks three and four: Your skin will dry out at this stage, and the itchiness should subside. Don’t worry if your tattoo appears less vibrant than expected — a layer of dead skin has formed over it. The dead skin will naturally exfoliate away over time. Avoid scratching, as it could cause scarring. If you still experience redness and itchiness at this stage, it could be an early sign of infection.
• Months two to six: At this point, your tattoo should be fully healed. Continue keeping it clean, hydrated and sun-protected.

Immediate Post-Tattoo Care

Proper aftercare is essential to prevent infection and encourage healing. Keep these guidelines in mind along with tips from your tattoo artist.

Keep Your Tattoo Clean

Use a fragrance-free, antibacterial soap and lukewarm distilled water to clean your tattoo. Don’t rub it with a towel to dry it — gently pat it and let it air dry completely before applying moisturizer.

Moisturize

Use a healing ointment in the first few days and switch to a lighter moisturizer afterward. Keeping your tattoo hydrated can prevent itching and aid in the healing process.

Prioritize Sun Protection

Exposing your tattoo to direct sunlight can cause it to fade. When out in the sun, cover the tattoo with loose clothing. Once the tattoo heals completely, start applying sunscreen.

Use a Breathable Bandage

It’s usually best not to rebandage your tattoo after removing the original dressing. If you’re in an environment that exposes you to the elements, cover your tattoo with a breathable bandage for the first three days to protect the wound from infection.

What Happens if You Go Swimming With a New Tattoo?

 Swimming with a new tattoo is risky for various reasons:

• Aesthetic damage: When you submerge yourself in water for a long time, your skin saturates with it — including the protective layer of dead skin that forms on your new tattoo. Tampering with this layer can delay healing by weeks and affect the look of your healed artwork.
• Bacterial infections: Bacteria thrive in water. Chlorination kills most of them in pools, but some slip through the cracks. Natural water bodies like rivers, lakes, springs and oceans are habitats for various microbes. As an open wound, a fresh tattoo is a doorway for infection. 
• Harmful chemicals: Saltwater, chlorine and other harsh chemicals can dry out your skin, irritate open wounds and delay healing. Chlorine is also a mild bleaching agent that can impact the color of your new tattoo.

Submerging your tattoo in water, whether in a pool, hot tub, ocean or bathtub, will interfere with healing.

How Long Do You Have to Wait Before Swimming With a Tattoo?

Your tattoo must be at least two weeks old before you submerge it in water. If possible, wait until after four to six weeks before being in water for prolonged periods. Several factors can influence the healing time of your tattoo and the wait time before swimming. These factors include:

• Tattoo size: The larger the tattoo, the longer it takes to heal.
• Location of tattoo: Tattoos near joints or movable parts take longer to heal than tattoos in areas that don’t move much.
• Skin types: Some skin types take longer to heal than others.

The most important thing is to monitor your ink’s healing and consult your tattoo artist with any concerns before diving into the pool.

How Do You Know Your Tattoo Is Healed Enough to Swim?

After your tattoo has healed completely, you’re free to go swimming. There are a few signs you can look for to know if your tattoo is ready to be submerged in water. One is the absence of redness, itching, scabbing and flaking. Wait until you have smooth, clear, healthy skin free of peeling.

How to Go Swimming With a New Tattoo

Waterproof dressings and bandages can help shield your tattoo from bacteria and other contaminants while swimming. When you need to get in the water, apply these bandages and ensure the edges are firmly stuck. 

Keep an eye on the dressing and adjust it when it starts lifting off the skin. Remove the dressing immediately after swimming, clean your tattoo thoroughly, pat dry with a paper towel, and moisturize.

Dive in With Quality Aftercare and Supplies

Understanding your tattoo’s healing process and the effects of swimming too soon is essential to protecting your artwork. Following proper aftercare guidelines, using protective products and waiting four weeks before prolonged water exposure will facilitate a smooth healing process and ink that remains vibrant over time.