Can you swim in the sea 6 days after getting a new tattoo, if you cover it from the sun?

Question

i'm thinking about getting my first tattoo tomorrow (on my hip), but I have to go to the beach saturday. Now i can cover it from the sun with no problem, towel, shirt, whatever, and I was told you can use sunblock after a few days.
But what about the water? The tattoo would be one inch and a half small, and entirely black.
I won't have another occasion to get it done this summer if I don't get it done tomorrow, and being in the USA at the moment, I really wanted to get it done before going home.
so, dilemna, dilemna.
Some people says salt water does good, other say no no no swimming before two weeks. Anybody's got an idea?

Answer 1

Avoiding pools, hot tubs, oceans .. even baths for the first 3 weeks of a tattoo really is the way to go.

Salt water is good for piercings, but not for tattoos.

Answer 2

Swim After Tattoo

Answer 3

My mom ruined a good tattoo going to the beach a week after getting it. She was young and dumb, though. Don't submerge it for at least 2 weeks. If you do, it will pull color and possibly leave you prone to an infection from the ickys in the water. Either get the tattoo and don't swim, or don't get the tattoo quite yet. Its not like the design or artist is going anywhere, right?

Answer 4

Absolutely not!!! The water in bath, pool, lake, ocean, river, whatever, is teaming with bacteria, and you will get a scary and horrible infection, and probably wreck your tattoo. Do not do it.

And no you can not use sunblock until it is completely and totally healed 2 - 4 wks or more = until it feels like regular skin and does not hurt when you bump it. You will pull color out otherwise.



You must plan on not being in water, not being in the sun, and doing everything that you can to promote good healing with excellent aftercare. Otherwise your finished tattoo image will suffer.

Here's an excellent video on tattoo aftercare (I prefer Lubriderm unscented):

http://www.luckyfish.com/pages/articles/tattoocare.htm

luck~

Answer 5

no swimming or soaking it in water for 2 or 3 weeks. I would suggest waiting 3. If you swim you risk infection, the ocean is not just salt water there is a ton of bacteria in it. You will also damage,fade and you dont want that.

Answer 6

You really shouldn't submerge a tattoo for at least 2 (preferably 3) weeks after getting it done... it can pull at the ink, and mess with the healing. It can end up looking smudged and faded.

Answer 7

no! you have to wait at least 3 weeks before submerging it in water. that will puff it up and will pull the in out. either wait on the tattoo or skip the beach. its worth having a nice tattoo and missing a day at the beach.

Answer 8

Yes salt water is fine, just make sure you don't go in any pools (chlorine and other chemicals will make it fade). Keep a band aid over your tattoo to protect it from the sun, last thin you want in sun burn on it

Answer 9

Don't put sunscreen on it, too early and too harsh for the healing skin. Put a fragrance free low chemical lotion. Keep it covered and try not to be out longer than you possibly can.

Answer 10

as long as u cover it up wit ur bathin suit and dont graze it on anythin u should be fine