$45.99
|
Quick Answer: How long after getting a tattoo can you swim? Wait until your tattoo is fully healed before swimming, usually about 2–6 weeks. Many professional artists recommend at least 2 weeks, but longer is safer, especially for larger or more detailed pieces. Healing time varies based on tattoo size, placement, your skin, and how closely you follow aftercare instructions. Avoid all water submersion (pools, oceans, lakes, hot tubs) until the skin is completely closed. Soaking too soon increases the risk of infection, ink fallout, and irritation. |
Let’s set the scene. It’s summer, and you just got a really cool new tattoo. You can’t wait to show it off to all your friends. They’re going swimming, and you really want to go with them. Hit the pause button.
The answer is simple: you shouldn’t swim after getting a new tattoo. Your new tattoo is going to require a lot of special aftercare to heal beautifully and last a lifetime. Swimming has the potential to disrupt the healing process. It can also leave your new tattoo vulnerable to bacteria.
Tattoos are great, and swimming is great, but that doesn’t mean the two go well together. Here’s what you need to know before you dive in.
Why Is It Bad To Swim With a New Tattoo?
Your tattoo artist probably told you not to swim or take a bath in your aftercare instructions. They may not have told you why it’s not safe. You already know what not to do.
Swimming is different from showering because it involves prolonged soaking, not quick rinsing. Long exposure to water softens healing skin and scabs, making it easier for ink to leach out and for bacteria to enter.
Pools also add chlorine and chemicals, while oceans and lakes contain microbes and contaminants that don’t belong in an open wound. Showers are brief and flowing. Swimming keeps your tattoo submerged and vulnerable. In the sections below, we’ll break down risks by type so you understand exactly why you need to be on your best behavior.
Here’s why it’s not a wise idea to do it.
New Tattoos Shouldn’t Be Submerged
Your tattoo artist probably advised you to keep your tattoo moist throughout the healing process. It seems kind of weird to say that you should regularly moisturize your tattoo but also that it’s bad to get it wet. There’s a pretty big difference between skin-moisturizing products and prolonged exposure to water.
When your skin has been submerged for a few minutes, it changes slightly. That’s why your fingertips might look like raisins after you leave the bathtub. Skin prunes and pruning changes its surface. Those changes will remain visible until you’re completely dry.
Your healing tattoo will create a protective layer of tissues to shield itself from the elements. When you get wet, this tissue layer gets soggy and emerges. This can set your healing process back quite a bit.
You Run the Risk of Bacterial Infection
Bacteria love to live in water. Even though pools are treated to keep bacteria in check, a few still slip by. Natural bodies of water, like oceans, springs, and ponds, contain more bacteria than it’s even possible to count.
If you’re a fairly healthy person without any open wounds, these bacteria are far less likely to harm you. If your tattoo is still healing, that might be a problem. A new tattoo is so beautiful to look at that it’s easy to forget it's an open wound. Bacteria and open wounds are always a no-go.
Chlorine and Other Chemicals Can Harm Your Tattoo
If you’ve ever gone swimming in a pool that’s recently been chemically treated, you probably notice that your hair and skin are very dry when you get out. Think about what those chemicals might do to an open wound.
You may not feel it while swimming, but you’ll definitely notice the effects of chemical exposure after you’ve dried off. Harsh chemicals like chlorine can irritate open wounds and undo your body's progress toward healing.
Chlorine can also have a mild bleaching effect. If your tattoo is very new, there's a slight chance that chlorine can wreck the color.
Can I Use the Hot Tub With a New Tattoo?
A pool and a hot tub are almost exactly the same in terms of the risks you’ll run. It doesn’t matter if you’re in a pool, a hot tub, the ocean, or even your bathtub. Swimming with a new tattoo is likely to mess with your healing process.
Swim Timing by Water Type
Different bodies of water carry different risks, but none are safe for a fresh tattoo until healing is complete.
Here’s how common water types compare and when (and how) it’s safe to dive in.
|
Water Type |
Risk Level |
Earliest When Healed |
Safest Way |
Here’s Why |
|
Chlorinated Pool |
Medium |
2 to 4 Weeks |
Wait until peeling and scabbing are fully done. Rinse immediately after. |
Chlorine can irritate healing skin, dry it out, and fade ink prematurely. |
|
Saltwater Ocean |
Medium High |
3 to 4 Weeks |
Avoid until skin is fully closed. Rinse with clean water if exposed. |
Saltwater contains microorganisms that raise infection risk. |
|
Lake / River |
High |
4 to 6 Weeks |
Avoid longer than pools or the ocean. Only swim once fully healed. |
Freshwater often contains bacteria, parasites, and runoff. |
|
Hot Tub |
Very High |
4 to 6 Weeks |
Skip entirely until long after healing. |
Heat opens pores and bacteria thrives in warm water. |
|
Bath |
Medium High |
2 to 4 Weeks |
Keep baths brief and avoid submerging for too long until about 2 months post-tattoo session. |
Even clean bathwater softens scabs and increases the risk of ink loss. |
A tattoo is an open wound during its early stages. Submerging it (especially for extended periods) softens forming scabs and healing skin, making it easier for ink to fall out and for bacteria to enter. Heat, chemicals, salt, and freshwater microbes all add different stressors, but the underlying issue is the same.
The bottom line: water type changes the level of risk, but the rule doesn’t change. Don’t submerge your tattoo until it’s fully healed. If there’s still peeling, flaking, tenderness, or shiny new skin forming, it’s too soon. When in doubt, wait a little longer. Damage can be hard (if not impossible) to reverse and it's always better to be safe than to be sorry.
How To Tell It’s Healed Enough To Swim
Before you even think about swimming, do a quick, honest check of your tattoo. If all of the boxes below are true, you’re likely healed enough to safely submerge.
Healed-enough-to-swim checklist:
-
No open areas: the skin is fully closed with no cracks or raw spots
-
No scabs: scabbing has completely fallen off on its own
-
No peeling or flaking: the “sunburn phase” is finished
-
No redness, swelling, or oozing: the skin looks calm and settled
-
Skin looks smooth and uniform: no shiny, fragile new skin patches
-
No tenderness or soreness: it feels like normal skin when touched
If you notice any peeling, sensitivity, lingering redness, or tightness, it’s a sign your tattoo is still healing on a deeper level, even if it looks mostly fine.
When in doubt, wait a few more days or check in with your tattoo artist. A short delay is far safer than risking infection or ink loss.
Healing often takes longer in high-friction areas like feet, hands, inner arms, waistlines, and spots that rub against clothing or bend frequently. These areas are more prone to reopening or irritation, so be extra conservative before swimming.
Swimming too early is one of the most common ways people accidentally damage otherwise great tattoos. If your skin passes this checklist cleanly, you’re good to go. If not, give it a little more time.
How Long Do You Have To Wait To Swim After You Get a New Tattoo?
Wait at least two weeks after getting a new tattoo before submerging it in water for a prolonged period. It’s even better to wait four to six weeks. Two weeks is a minimum for many, but some tattoos take longer. Use the checklist above.
Even when a tattoo looks nearly healed, your body is still working on a lot of stuff behind the scenes. Assume that your body will take six weeks to fully manage the healing process. If you can, it’s best to always wait until you’re absolutely positive that your tattoo is completely healed. Why take such a huge, tattoo-wrecking risk just for a swim?
FAQs on Swimming With Tattoos
Still have some important questions about tattoo and water etiquette? We’ve got you covered.
What if I have to get wet after getting tattooed?
There may be circumstances where you have to be in the water for an extended period. If your shower breaks and all you have is the bathtub, don’t panic or skip your bath. Just be mindful about protecting your tattoo.
Your tattoo artist might have given you some extra clear plastic sheets called SaniDerm. These waterproof bandages do a very good job of keeping your tattoo protected from outside moisture. Regularly check the sheet to ensure it isn’t lifting while in the water.
What if I already got my tattoo wet?
If you get your tattoo a little wet in the shower, that’s not a big deal. If you already took a bath or went swimming with your new tattoo, you need to watch it carefully. Never vigorously rub your tattoo dry with a towel.
Let it air dry on its own. Refer back to your artist’s aftercare instructions to determine what you should do if your new tattoo gets submerged in water.
Can I swim with Saniderm or second skin?
Nope! Don’t rely on Saniderm or second skin to make swimming safe. While these bandages are designed to protect a fresh tattoo during normal daily activity, they are not meant for swimming or prolonged submersion.
The edges can lift in water, especially with movement, and once that seal breaks, water can get trapped underneath. Trapped moisture plus warmth creates an ideal environment for bacteria, which increases the risk of infection and irritation.
When can I shower after a tattoo?
In most cases, you can shower the same day or within 24 hours of getting a tattoo. Always follow your artist’s guidance. Keep showers short and lukewarm, and avoid high-pressure water directly hitting the tattoo.
Use a gentle, fragrance-free cleanser with clean hands. This means absolutely no washcloths, loofahs, or scrubs. Let water run over the area, then pat dry with a clean towel (don’t rub). Afterward, apply your recommended aftercare product in a thin layer.
Does a small tattoo heal faster?
Often, yes. Smaller tattoos can heal faster, but size alone doesn’t tell the whole story. Placement, depth, and aftercare matter more than how big the tattoo is. A tiny tattoo on your ankle, foot, hand, or waistband may heal more slowly than a larger piece on your upper arm because of friction, movement, and blood flow.
Even if a small tattoo looks healed quickly, the deeper layers of skin may still be repairing themselves. That’s why artists recommend waiting until it’s fully healed, not just “good enough.” Peeling, tenderness, or shiny new skin are signs it’s not ready yet.
The Final Word on Swimming With New Tattoos
Swimming can be very harmful to our new tattoo. So can a bubble bath or an evening hot tub session. It’s worth going a few weeks without swimming to keep your great new tattoo safe.
If you absolutely need to get your whole body wet for more than a few seconds, waterproof plastic bandage sheets can help keep your tattoo safe.
Sources:
Sources:
Why Does My Skin Get Wrinkly in Water? (for Kids) | Nemours KidsHealth
Survey of bacteria in private swimming pools | Pub Med | National Library of Medicine
Wound Care: How to Care for an Open Wound or Cut | Health Essentials | Cleveland Clinic
Atopic dermatitis and the swimming pool | Atopika
