June 11, 2025, 3:09 pm | Read time: 2 minutes
S new tattoo gleams freshly on the skin, and you might want to show it off right away. A summer day at the lake or the pool seems like the perfect opportunity, right? Wrong! A tattoo expert explains what you need to focus on now.
A tattoo—something many quickly forget—is initially an open wound. It needs to be cared for and protected in the first few weeks. At the tattoo studio, you’ll be informed to avoid direct sunlight, and professionals strongly advise against visiting a tanning salon during the initial weeks. But what about swimming with a fresh tattoo and showing it off at the pool or lake? STYLEBOOK asked an expert.
Why Is Swimming Bad for Freshly Inked Tattoos?
Freshly inked tattoos are sensitive, so the healing process should be prioritized in the first few weeks. Swimming is counterproductive. Water softens the skin, and germs can enter the wound, potentially leading to an infection. Chlorine water is particularly harmful to fresh tattoos: It irritates the tattooed skin and strips away the fresh color.
When Can You Swim Again with a New Tattoo?
“After getting a tattoo, you should avoid swimming for two to four weeks,” advises Alexander Supper, better known as AJ, co-founder and owner of the Stuttgart tattoo studio “Mommy I’m Sorry”. It depends on the size and area of the tattoo and how well it heals, explains the tattoo expert. A small, delicate tattoo heals faster than a design that wraps around the entire arm or back.
It’s also crucial whether you swim in chlorinated, salt, or freshwater. While swimming in the sea is usually safe after two weeks, tattoo expert AJ recommends avoiding chlorinated water for at least two, preferably three weeks. Additionally, it’s extremely important to protect the tattoo with sunscreen (SPF 50+) as UV radiation can damage the pigments.
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Can You Bathe with a Fresh Tattoo?
Not only chlorinated or salt water can harm freshly inked body art. Even though you probably won’t be doing laps in your bathtub, you should initially avoid long, relaxing baths with your new tattoo. A short shower is sufficient to clean your tattoo and ensures the skin doesn’t soften too much. In the first few weeks after getting inked, use a pH-neutral, fragrance-free wash lotion to avoid irritating the skin. To prevent further drying, the water for showers should be lukewarm and not too hot.