How to Waterproof a Tattoo for Swimming?

So, here’s the deal: you just got a new tattoo, and summer is almost here, so you might be wondering if you can still go swimming. We all know that water and new tattoos don’t go well together. Your tattoo artist must have talked to you about how dangerous it is to put a new tattoo underwater.

Now, you’re doing your own research on how to waterproof a tattoo for swimming, because, let’s be honest, we all can’t wait for summer to arrive so we can spend long, hot days at the beach and cool off in the sea.

We know how hard it is for you, so we decided to write a quick guide about how to protect your tattoo from water and give some general advice about swimming with new tattoos. So, without any more delay, let’s get started!

Why Can’t You Swim With a tattoo?

A tattoo is like a cut on your skin. So, you shouldn’t go in the sea, hot tubs, or pools until it’s healed, or better yet, learn how to waterproof a tattoo so you can swim or bathe in it.

As with any other soreness, you don’t want any germs in the water to get into your new tattoo. Even so, at least one case has been recorded of a man with liver disease who died after getting an infection from his new tattoo in the Gulf of Mexico.

There’s not much chance of swimming laps in your pool, but there’s always a chance of getting an infection as long as the wound hasn’t healed. A serious infection can ruin a new tattoo and cause more serious health problems.

Even though the pool may be cleaner than a lot of places with open water, it still has germs. When chlorine or other chemicals get into an open wound, they can cause it to turn red. For a new tattoo to heal right, it needs to breathe and dry in the air. If it scabs and peels too much, you could lose both the ink and the color.

How Long will it Take You to Get Used to Your New Tattoo?

How long will it be until you don’t have to worry about how to make a tattoo swim-proof?  What it takes for a tattoo to heal usually depends on how detailed it is. Most of the time, you can’t swim safely with a tattoo until it has fully healed.

It could take two to four weeks for each person, which is what many tattoo artists recommend.

You’ll get a bandage to cover your tattoo when you get one. After a few hours, you should be able to take off the bandage and wash away the extra blood and ink. After you wash it with your hands, give it a gentle wash with lukewarm water and antibacterial soap. Let it dry in a clean place. As the tattoo heals, skin flakes and scabs will appear. When flaky scabs fall off on their own, a new layer of skin will grow in its place.

During this time, you should also avoid baths for the same reasons as during the healing process. However, you should still clean gently, let the wound air dry, and use the aftercare lotion.

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How can I Waterproof a Tattoo for Swimming?

If you have to swim with a new tattoo, you might want to use a waterproof dressing to cover it. There is no way to completely waterproof a tattoo, but swimmers have tried waterproof bandages that can fully wrap and cover the tattoo, thick layers of Vaseline, and even plastic press n’ seal wrap.

To swim with a new tattoo, cover it and make it as waterproof as possible right before you get in the water. When you get out, take off the covers, wash the tattoo gently with warm water and antibacterial soap, and then let it dry and heal on its own. Keep using the aftercare cream until your tattoo is completely healed.

How Do I shower with a new tattoo?

That’s a great question. If your tattoo is wrapped in a waterproof bandage, you can take a shower about 3 or 4 hours after getting it. But this can depend on a number of things.

Following what your tattoo artist says is the best thing to do. They will tell you how long you should keep the bandage on and when you can wash the area.

There are a few things to keep in mind about the shower. You should never leave the new tattoo under running water or submerge it for a long time. Do not scrub it with a sponge or loofah until it has completely healed.

You should wash the area with mild, odorless soap and cool or tepid water. You should also avoid using any products with alcohol or other chemicals, which can dry out the skin.

After you get out of the shower, use a clean towel to pat the area where your new tattoo is. Then, use the aftercare cream your tattoo artist gave you and leave the area open.

So, When can I go Under Water?

We need to tell the difference between taking a quick shower and going for a swim when it comes to going underwater with a new tattoo.

We all have to shower, but it’s best to wait a few days after getting a new tattoo before showering. We’ll talk more about this in the next few paragraphs, but in general, your tattoo needs to be completely protected while you shower, and you should never let water pressure hit it directly.

If you want to swim, you should wait until the tattoo is completely healed. You might ask, “When is that?” Well, it could take up to two months for your tattoo to heal. How long it takes depends on your immune system, how you take care of your tattoo, and how strong and healthy your skin is in general. Once the tattoo is completely healed, has no more scabs, and has a matte finish. This means that, just to be safe, you shouldn’t swim for at least 2 to 3 weeks.

Let’s be honest: the sea, rivers, and ponds can have bacteria in them, and you might want to keep the tattoo from getting infected by bacteria. So, if you don’t swim for a few weeks, you’re making sure that the tattoo heals well and stays healthy. So, be patient and wait; it will be worth it.

The Dangers of Swimming With a New Tattoo

Swimming In The Pool:

The chlorine in swimming pools kills algae and bacteria that grow in the water.
But chlorine is a chemical that can make the skin around your tattoo red and itchy. This can make your skin red, rashy, and itchy.
Also, remember that chlorine is used to get rid of stains.
So, the chlorine could probably ruin the tattoo and make it look dull or faded.

Swimming In The Sea:

• You might think that since pools have chemicals that are bad for your skin, swimming in the ocean is better.
• After all, it’s just the way things are, right? Wrong!
• The water from the ocean or sea is not clean.
• It has microbes in it that can irritate your skin and make it red and swollen.
• Also, the salt in the water can irritate your skin and make it feel sore.

Conclusion

We know how tempting it is to just go swimming and show off your new tattoo. But it should be obvious that you should be patient with something that was just “carved” into your skin and will stay there for the rest of your life. Let your tattoo heal properly. Nothing will protect it from the water like your own skin that has fully healed. So, be patient and plan your tattoos carefully. If you want to go swimming in the summer, try not to get your tattoo a month or two before the vacation season. Instead, get it done in the fall or winter so that it can heal completely by the time you want to go for a swim.

Frequently Asked Question (FAQs) about How to Waterproof a Tattoo for Swimming?

Is there a way to swim with a new tattoo?

To swim with a new tattoo, cover it and make it as waterproof as possible right before you get in the water. When you get out, take off the covers, wash the tattoo gently with warm water and antibacterial soap, and then let it dry and heal on its own. Keep using the aftercare cream until your tattoo is completely healed.

Can you put Vaseline on a new tattoo to go swimming?

Don’t use alcohol, Neosporin, Vaseline, or petroleum jelly (they can trap dirt and germs and cause infection). DO NOT put on a lot of lotion (remember the skin must breathe in order to heal). For 2 weeks, DON’T put your tattoo in direct sunlight, swim, sauna, steam, or a hot tub.

Is it OK to swim with a week-old tattoo?

If you want your tattoo to heal well, you should stay out of the water at first, whether you’re at the beach or in a pool. If the tattoo comes in long-term contact with water, the ink could come out or the color could change.

What happens if you swim with a week-old tattoo?

Why it’s not a good idea to swim with a new tattoo. Your tattoo is vulnerable until it has fully healed and a new layer of skin has grown over it (read: prone to infection). “Water from a pool, lake, or ocean is not clean, and you could get bacteria or other germs on your skin from it.

Can I swim 3 weeks after the tattoo?

Before bathing or swimming in any kind of water, you should take care of your tattoo for at least three weeks so that the skin can heal and close properly. This protects the tattoo/wound from chemical irritation, the risk of infection, and the chance of getting too much water in it.

How do I protect my new tattoo at the beach?

Nexcare Sterile Bandages that are Waterproof. Before you go to the beach, put a bandage over your new tattoo to keep water, sand, and bacteria from getting into it.

What should you not put on a fresh tattoo?

Don’t put petroleum-based products on your tattoos, like A&D Ointment, Bepanthen, Aquaphor, Vaseline, Bacitracin, and Neosporin. The purpose of these six items is not tattoo aftercare or healing.

What happens if a tattoo gets too wet?

Your tattoo is an open wound, and letting it soak in water could make it more likely that it will get infected. Soaking can also dry out the skin, which can cause it to crack and make it more likely to get sick or scar.

What happens if you submerge a new tattoo in water?

To sum up, you should clean your tattoo, but you shouldn’t soak it or the scab will soften, fall off, and leave a scar.