What You Need To Know About Sweating and Treating New Tattoos. A new, fresh tattoo requires proper care to heal well as any tattoo artist will agree to. On average, it takes around 3-4 weeks for tattoos to heal fully. Until then, proper care must be prioritized. Taking good care of a new tattoo is not that hard and usually revolves around your daily routines. After getting a tattoo, you can practice most of the activities you did before but there are a number of things you’ll want to avoid during the healing process, including sweat and excessive moisture. Here’s what you need to know about sweating and treating new tattoos.
Since you’re only human, some degree of sweating is to be expected. However, excessive sweating is not good during the first weeks after getting a new tattoo. As such, it’s best to avoid activities that might make you too sweaty, at least for a couple of weeks.
Daily routine
Keep your tattoo clean at all times and wear clean cotton clothes as much as possible, especially during the first couple of weeks of the healing process. Proper application of an aftercare cream is also important for all the healing stages of a new tattoo. We recommend H2Ocean’s Extreme Tattoo Care Kit, an ointment-based aftercare system designed to cleanse fresh tattoos and provide nourishment to the skin.
In the gym
It’s probably best to alter your workout routine a little bit as your tattoo heals, even avoiding exercise for at least a couple of days. Try to refrain from intense workouts and the sauna and be careful of the machines in the gym. Keep the tattooed area of your skin away from gym machines to prevent it from getting into contact with dirt, bacteria and other peoples sweat, all of which can have adverse effects.
Dry skin
Some people have dry skin that may peel after they get a tattoo. During exercise, dry skin can be particularly uncomfortable and prone to cracking. This is because participants are likely to move in ways that pull and irritate the skin. Although excessive moisture might be a problem, keeping the tattooed area moist helps prevent cracking and scabbing. While there are many over-the-counter lotions and ointments that can be used to provide nourishment and moisture to the skin, H2Ocean’s Extreme Tattoo Care Kit has everything you need.
Exercise
It’s best to avoid workout routines that might pull and stretch the newly tattooed area of your skin. For instance, certain weightlifting moves can prove irritating if you’ve just had your chest tattooed. Irrespective of your workout routine, you can reduce the level of irritation and abrasion by applying a moisturizing ointment and keeping the area covered. Wash off after exercising to remove any sweat and salt. Avoid contact sports until you are fully healed to help reduce the risk of abrasion.
Sunlight
The tattooed area of your skin should not be exposed to direct sunlight before it’s fully healed. Wear some clothing item, preferably cotton, to cover up the area when exercising outdoors. After the tattoo heals, wearing sunscreen, SPF 30 or greater, can help reduce the likelihood of fading from exposure to sunlight. We recommend H2Ocen’s Surfer’s Choice SPF 50 Sunscreen Spray.
How to avoid infections
Take 2-3 showers a day and keep your skin clean. Washing off your new tattoo and freeing it from dirt and sweat can help prevent infection. We recommend H2Ocean’s Blue Green Foam Soap. Showering immediately after a workout is important.