Obviously, there are so many days you’ve been excited about. Getting married, landing a new job, and we possibly cannot forget getting your first child. Do you know what else can be really exciting? Getting a new tattoo.
If you have one, then you know how thrilling your first few months are. But hold on a sec; you are a fitness buff with a love for the open outdoors and gym parlors. So you must be wondering, is it safe to work out after getting a new tattoo? Well, we’ll be getting down to that in a moment.
A quick tip: Tattoo aftercare doesn’t end in the shop. It goes on at home and can take longer depending on the type of tattoo.
Is Exercising With A New Tattoo Recommended?
The simple and straightforward answer is no. You see, most workout activities clearly involve stretching and moving of body parts. And as you would know, some tattoos go pretty deep and bleed or ooze ink during the first few days.
Now, when you excite your skin too much, it becomes tender and painful. Plus, it could bleed more and this only lengthens the healing period. And let’s assume you don’t bleed much but the ink leaks more than it should; won’t your tattoo look 20 years old?
There’s more. High-octane exercises result in the body temperature going berserk. The next thing you know your body is sweating like you’ve been kept in a boiler tube. Sweat not only has salts and minerals but could consist of bacteria, yeast, even fungi which you pick up when in contact with gym floors and walls. So basically, you could contaminate your ink job.
There are a few more warnings worth pointing out. Strive to ensure clothes, workout equipment and nothing else scratches your new tattoo. Watch out for the sun. If you must do some light workouts, then stay indoors.
Don’t go swimming during your first week. Quite frankly, this is one of the tattoo tips every first-timer must know. Swimming can soak your tattoo, expose it to harmful elements and result in irritation and infection. Take at least two weeks before diving into pools.
Bonus Tip: Always be aware of the content of various tattoo consent forms that you may have to sign before you get inked by a professional artist. They just gotta do it.
For how long do I need to wait?
Normally, the top skin will show signs of healing after the first 4 to 6 weeks. But that does not mean you should neglect tattoo aftercare guidelines. It can take up to 6 months for the nether skin to heal fully.
Healing can depend on a lot of things. The first one is the size of your tattoo. The larger it is, the longer you’ll have to wait before resuming active workout routines. Thankfully, there are many remarkable small tattoo ideas that you can rock and enjoy faster healing times.
The location of your ink can also shorten or stretch your recovery period. For instance, the neck and arms are exposed which could lead to accidental scratches or too much time in the sun. Lastly, your own habits can determine how long the healing duration will be. This typically includes things like tattoo aftercare efforts, resisting to scratch the inked part, and doing less demanding workouts.
Tips for working out with a new tattoo
Can’t sit on the sidelines for long? Well, any ardent fitness lover won’t blame you. And since we don’t want to see you ruin your tattoo or worse, make a wound out of it, here are a few tips to guide you:
- Work out in baggy or loose outfits
If your tattoo is on the outer thighs, shoulder, calves, or outer arm, it could easily rub on your clothes (especially yoga pants). Prioritize those that protect your tattoo from sun exposure.
- Keep it clean and moisturized
Proper hygiene not only keeps bacteria at bay but speeds up healing as well. You will also need to invest in the right moisturizer so your skin doesn’t crack.
- Slow and steady wins the race
We still strongly advise you against working out tattooed parts of your body. If you must do some exercise, then attempt those that target regions without tattoos. If a tat is in the line of fire, then go easy and stick to light activities.
- Sanitize gym equipment
This may not be possible if you attend a high-traffic public gym. But if you run your own gym, then make sure to observe the best hygiene standards.
Last but most importantly, don’t forget the aftercare instructions given to you by your artist. If you were asked to check back after a while, please do so. This way, a small problem can be prevented from becoming a disaster.
Wrap up
You must have a good reason for getting your tattoo. Therefore, you must look at it so that it doesn’t get messed up with sweat, yeast, and other bacteria that gyms are notoriously known for. This means taking a few days or weeks off from your workout until your tattoo heals fully.
We already told you earlier (and your tattoo artist will remind you) that you need to hold off strenuous activities for at least 48 hours. Medically, deep wounds can take anywhere between 4 to 6 weeks to heal completely. So what exactly is the best way forward?
Simple, personal discretion and your tattoo artist’s advice.
If you are a tattoo aficionado and plan on running this kind of business, use a top-class cloud-computing tattoo shop software for efficient day-to-day operations. All in all, have a good time, won’t you?
Author Bio: Ashley Johnson drives content strategy at Tattoo Pro, a cutting-edge cloud-based software solution for tattoo studios. She’s inspired by the hustle of the artists to create more.
