As it turns out, it’s not as simple as going under the needle this season.
If you plan on swimming the days away, you might want to pump the brakes.
Tattoos are a serious commitment that require a bit of aftercare, especially in the summer months.
On this pre-tat checklist, timing is perhaps the most overlooked.
Complications such as sun damage, scarring, and infection are more likely to arise during the summer months.
The healing process can be interrupted by excessive contact with clothing, sun exposure, and water.
In addition to affecting the ink’s vibrance, the risk of infection is quite high as well.
The main culprit for such complications is Vibrio, a bacteria that largely inhabits open bodies of water.
TheCDCreports that Vibrio is responsible for nearly 80,000 illnesses and 100 deaths each year in the United States.
The majority of these infections come from wound exposure to warm seawater, or even from consuming raw seafood.
Healing your tattoo
So, how long to avoid diving right in?
But if you just can’t keep away from the waves, there are a couple of workarounds.
You should resume your normal wound care after patting it dry."
To avoid any setbacks during tattoo recovery, keep the area dressed in an antibiotic ointment.
Here are some of thebest unscented creams to heal your new tattoo.
As a final reminder, avoid picking at scabs.
