“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,” says Adrienne Santos, a writer for Healthline.
You should wait at least 2 WEEKS before being in the ocean or a pool. Not just for the potential bacteria, salt or cholrine, but you want to keep the tattoo as dry as possible. Unless kept dry, it will heal poorly.
After a new tattoo heals, submerging it in water will not hurt it. HOWEVER, avoid full immersion in any hot water, salt water or water with other chemicals for the first 2-3 weeks, as it can do alot of damage during this sensitive time, particularly salt water.
Wait 24-48 Hours: After getting your tattoo, wait at least 24 to 48 hours before showering. This allows the initial healing process to begin and reduces the risk of infection.
While neither pool Chlorine nor salt-water will affect a healted Tattoo, both are sources of bacteria and other impurities that could infect your new Tattoo. But, after the first few days, the surface over the Tattoo (absent scabbing) is relatively impervious and it is OK to swim.
You can protect your new tattoo from water with a waterproof bandage. There are a variety of clear, waterproof bandages specifically designed for tattoos that will keep the area sealed and (mostly) free from water exposure. Ensure the entire tattoo is completely covered and sealed before getting it wet.
Sun Protection for New Tattoos
New tattoos fade very quickly when exposed to sunlight. In addition, if your tattoo has not completely healed yet, exposing the area to sunlight could result in blistering. In general, you should keep a new tattoo completely protected from the sun for at least three to four weeks.
Once your tattoo feels completely smooth to the touch, there is no scabbing, and it's no longer red, itchy, or flaking, it is likely healed enough to swim.
Don't worry, this is completely natural. It happens because the old skin, damaged during the tattooing process, forms a thin layer over your tattoo and masks its true appearance. In time this old skin will naturally exfoliate itself, revealing your tattoo underneath in all its vibrant glory.
Do not soak or submerge your tattoo in water following your tattoo. You risk irritation and bacterial infection and swimming is even more destructive to your tattoo than a bath because of chlorine or salt water. Regardless, it's the soaking you should be concerned about here.
Soaking your tattoo in salt water, in fact, will only cause the ink to disperse, run, or possibly fade. It won't cause your tattoo to magically vanish. It's likely your tattoo will look worse after you soak it in salt water if your tattoo is newly inked.
While surfing with a fresh tattoo may seem tempting, it's important to allow your body enough time to heal before heading back to the waves. Generally, waiting at least 2 to 4 weeks is recommended to ensure that your tattoo heals properly and is protected from infection or damage.
While infection is potentially the greatest worry when it comes to swimming, exposing your new tattoo to salt water (or chlorine for that matter) also carries other risks. One of these is the risk of causing ink to leak from a fresh tattoo, making the colour less vibrant and causing your tattoo to fade prematurely.
It's generally recommended to wait at least 24 hours before jumping into the shower. This initial waiting period gives your skin time to begin healing.
Natural migration of pigment in the skin is manifested by: lines become visually wider; a small (about a millimeter) shadow may appear near the tattoo lines; there will be less empty space between the lines.
Aftercare & Aging
Fine line tattoos are applied with less ink. While the ink is still embedded in the second layer of skin, the single needle does not penetrate as deeply or deposit as much ink. As a result, it is common for fine line tattoos to fade with age.
It is advised to wait for your tattoo to fully heal, which can take at least two to four weeks before swimming in any kind of water. Going into the pool or ocean before then may put you at risk of infection due to bacteria or germs that can enter an open wound.
“The time it takes will depend on the location of the tattoo and other factors, but expect it to take at least three weeks,” she says. In the meantime, she advises avoiding submerging a new tattoo in bodies of water including swimming pools, hot tubs, oceans, lakes, and rivers.
However, if swimming is unavoidable, the next best option is to cover your tattoo with a waterproof bandage like Sanaderm, Tegaderm, or medical retention tape. Make sure to apply the bandage immediately before swimming to avoid as much sweat buildup as possible beforehand.
The truth is it's pretty safe to go in the ocean with a fresh tattoo, but only if you use a bandage like Saniderm. You need to make sure you can paddle and maneuver without opening the seal of the Saniderm. Once the seal is broken and water gets in, you run the risk of trapping bacteria.”
Tanning with tattoos requires some extra care, but it's totally possible to maintain both a glowing tan and vibrant ink. The key is protecting your tattoos from UV rays with specialized sunscreen, moisturizing diligently, and covering fresh tattoos until they heal.
A minimum of two days and as much as a few weeks are generally recommended to hold off on more moderate and intense activity. Yet even yoga and other low-intensity exercises could be in risky territory if they lead to friction, sweating, or stretching the tattoo.