new ink & swimming?

[ice4life]

Hey everybody! The Mrs. and I are driving to Massachusetts for my little sisters' graduation/party. They both want to get some ink work and my lady and I are going to take them.... My question is, they want to get it a few days before the grad party and they want to know if they'll be able to go in the pool.... It never came up when I got any of my tattoos, so I didn't know the answer.... Help a brother out 

 Ice

[Mikekoz13]

Ice-

Great to see you in the house!

Avoid swimming like the plague with a new tattoo. Chlorine is the enemy of a new tat. Once the tattoo is FULLY healed then you're good to go... but that can be about ten days or even more.

Once the tattoo is healed...... take some of that sunscreen that you're smearing on your head and cover your tats... it will help keep them from fading over time.

[ice4life]

Thanks Mike! It's great to be back.... I've been slacking for awhile, but I'm BAAAAAAACK
I guess I just tell my sisters to wait till after the party to get them...... Ever use tattoo goo or any other tattoo aftercare products?

[Alexander215]

Tattoo goo is highly over rated.

I use 30 000 IU Jamieson Vitamin E creme, it also contains fennel extract, hops, chamomile extract, mistletoe extract, yarrow extract, mint extract and elastin.

It was referred to me by a dermatologist first, and was backed up by my tattoo artist

Generally you want something that is mostly natural, has no alcohol or petroleum products in it (these will leach out the color in the first couple days depending on if you scab, and how fast you heal) and no added perfume and is preferably hypoallergenic.

You can take a quick shower by gobbing the stuff on to protect it from the water. And I would wash it very gently with with oxygenated hand soap, or an anti-bacterial hand soap.

After 3-4 days you can use an antibacterial creme if it gets irritated and you are scared of it getting infected.


That's pretty much what I do, but everyone does something different. Do what you find works best for your ink bro

[Mike]

I have looked online because I am thinking about getting a tattoo also and all the sites say no swimming in pools but what about lakes and rivers?

[Alexander215]

I have looked online because I am thinking about getting a tattoo also and all the sites say no swimming in pools but what about lakes and rivers?

I would say no, plenty of microbes. Tattoo's are wounds 

[ice4life]

OK what about salt water? would that be better than chlorine?

[Alexander215]

OK what about salt water? would that be better than chlorine?

I'd say no to that too, salt water would dry it out (which you definitely do not want to happen) and there are probably microbes in it too.

[ice4life]

OK what about salt water? would that be better than chlorine?

I'd say no to that too, salt water would dry it out (which you definitely do not want to happen) and there are probably microbes in it too.

That makes sense. Thanks for the info man!

[Mike]

So after I get a tattoo basically avoid swimming for a couple weeks?

[Alexander215]

So after I get a tattoo basically avoid swimming for a couple weeks?

I would say a week at least bro, and remember to moisturize and/or sunscreen well for at least 4-5 weeks and even as long as a couple months. Actually you should ALWAYS sunscreen your tats. Case in point, go to any beach and check out the roasted tramp stamps on the backs of blondes

[PigPen]

So after I get a tattoo basically avoid swimming for a couple weeks?

At least, then make sure you gob the sunscreen on it every time thereafter.

When I got my one lonely tat, the artist recommended Lubriderm with the blue printing on it. Can't say it was a bad thing. Healed very nicely.

[Mike]

Cool, thanks for the information.

[GASlick]

the rule of thumb is no swimming or any submersion in water until the tattoo is completely healed.  Scab gone and smooth skin is all that is left

[Mikekoz13]

Thanks Mike! It's great to be back.... I've been slacking for awhile, but I'm BAAAAAAACK
I guess I just tell my sisters to wait till after the party to get them...... Ever use tattoo goo or any other tattoo aftercare products?

Don't spend your money on all the after care products they seel in the tattoo shops. You've just dropped a pretty good amount of cash for that fine new tat so you're probably almost broke!!!!

My artist recommends a product called "Aquaphor". It is about $4 for a tube and can be bought at WalMart or many drug stores. I've used it for both of my other tattoos , as has my wife, and it's good stuff. And remember.... a little goes a long way when covering up that new tatoo..... so use sparingly...... a fine thin coat.