Can You Surf With A New Tattoo?  

If you’re a surfer and you’ve considered getting tattooed, you’ve probably googled some variation of “can I surf after a tattoo?” The search results vary somewhat, with the consensus among medical professionals and unqualified Redditors being up to one month out of the water.  

“You should wait for your tattoo to fully heal — which can take at least 2 to 4 weeks — before swimming in any kind of water,” says Adrienne Santos, a writer for Healthline.  

I found myself researching this again about one year after my first tattoo, foolishly hoping thate the information had changed, or that some other solution would be discovered. The first time around, I got “lucky” with a two-week flat-spell after my appointment, something not uncommon in NJ.  

As a surfer, two weeks of willfully avoiding the ocean is agonizing. It’s one thing to stay out of the water when you’re sick or injured, but not surfing when there’s waves and you’re able-bodied is a different story. With this in mind, and with a short flat-spell on the horizon (or so I thought), I decided to swing by Diving Horse Tattoo in Atlantic City for a small traditional piece.  

During the appointment, I asked the artist @dylangregorytattoos for his insight. To my amazement, Dylan told me he has surfed the same day he’s gotten tattooed. “Most articles talking about staying out of the water are written under the circumstance of the tattoo being open to air. The truth is it’s pretty safe to go in the ocean with a fresh tattoo, but only if you use a bandage like Saniderm. You need to make sure you can paddle and maneuver without opening the seal of the Saniderm. Once the seal is broken and water gets in, you run the risk of trapping bacteria.”  

After the tattoo, Dylan applied an aftercare bandage, and I went my way. Once I got home, I made sure to order some extra off-brand Saniderm in the event I’d get a chance to surf. Sure enough, there was an unexpected wave over the next few days, and I was able to test Dylan’s advice. By carefully applying the bandage before putting on my wetsuit, I was able to seal the tattoo and surf safely without risking infection. After each surf, I made sure to remove the bandage and clean the area. Each time I went to remove the bandage, I noticed that it was stuck to the wound, blocking any water from contact with the skin.  

For peace of mind, I asked my friend Anna, RN, BSN, if what I was doing was safe.

“If you are using proper ‘wound care,’ you should be okay to surf the first few days after getting your tattoo; just as long as you’re properly applying saniderm on the tattoo, making sure to take it off, washing the area thoroughly after each session, and keeping up with usual aftercare. If you had problems with wound healing or your immune system I would be giving you different advice.”

If you don’t want to choose between getting a new tattoo and staying out of the water, this can be a safe alternative. After a few months, my tattoo has healed perfectly and has shown no signs of damage.   

TLDR: Don’t trust the medical professionals, trust Stab.