Will Sweating Affect A Tattoo? Tips On Healing Ink - Dos & Don'ts
Today's tattoo topic focuses on the effects of sweat and excercise on tattoos. Dave asks:
Q) Hi Jinxi, I work out several times a week and am worried that if I get a tattoo I might damage it by sweating. Is this an issue that tattoo collectors face? Any advice would be appreciated. - Dave
A) Hi Dave, Thanks for the great question. As an athlete training for a triathlon, I share your concern with this issue; but the good news is that the crucial period for the effects of sweat to a tattoo happens within the initial aftercare time span.
See, our skin is composed of the epidermis, dermis and hypodermis. The epidermis (the outermost layer), is about 1mm thick (on average) and is made up of five smaller layers. These layers protect the body from abrasions and foreign chemicals. 
When a tattoo needle penetrates the skin, it disrupts the barrier function of the epidermis, causing a wound as it openly deposits tattoo ink into the dermis. How the wound heals affects not only the quality of the tattoo, but also the quality of the skin function after the wound has healed.
So during those days when you are babying your skin and taking care of your new tattoo, you need to treat it like a wound, doing your best to avoid anything that would normally have adverse effects to healing an injury. It is during this initial healing period when you will want to think twice about sweating too profusely. Just as hot tubs/Jacuzzis, the ocean, chlorinated pools, and the sun should be avoided when healing your new artwork, it's best to take a few days off from the gym too.
It also might be beneficial to avoid contact sports or activities where you might be stretching and flexing the area your new tattoo is on so that you don't cause any unnecessary stress to the area.
I know it's tricky to stay away when you are training for something, or just love incorporating exercise into your daily routine, but look at it from the long-term standpoint. Taking a few days to properly let your tattoo heal and get the attention it deserves, will definitely benefit you in the long run.
Remember that the aftercare phase of tattoo collecting is important and should not be taken lightly. Aftercare is easy, but does require time and effort, so be prepared to do what it takes to assure that your new ink gets the best chance at looking and staying beautiful from the start. You are investing areas of your body, time, and money into a lifelong piece of artwork. The healing process is just as important as the time you actually spend in the tattoo chair.
You can read more about Tattoo Healing and Aftercare here, as well as many other tattoo-related topics in the Tattoo Corner section.
Wednesday, February 17, 2010 at 9:46AM
Reader Comments (8)
I have always wondered about this. Thanks for the great information. And your aftercare instructions are awesome -- very easy to follow and concise.
Thanks Jinxi.
ha ha this is my question. cool that you picked it!!!
thanks for the response jinxi. it sounds easy enough.
rock on......
I am curious as to how much, if any sunscreen you put on your tattoos. Living in LA I cake it on mine everyday because I'm paranoid of damaging my artwork. Thanks..
I have found that if you are to work out and sweat heavily, rinsing with a bottle of water immediately help profoundly. But if you can avoid for the first day or 2 you will be fine. Brian Kelly "Tattoo Gallery"
Yout tattoo your personality
Hey Jinxi!! Great Post as ALWAYS!!
I agree with you about holding off on the gym during healing, for the same reasons you've mentioned here.
I would like to add, however, that extending and contracting a new tattoo can lead it to crack and bleed. Not to mention, if you go to a member's only or public gym, that you run the risk of "rubbing yuckies". Meaning that you can expose yourself to other people's bodily fluids and possibly contract anything from minor irritation to a full-blown infection!
I just had a client come back who COULD NOT stay out of the gym while his new tattoo was healing. Needless to say he is quite upset with the reaction his skin has given him in protest.
The tattoo is taking longer to heal than expected, and that equals a longer wait to get tattooed again!
Like You said, After care requires time and effort. As an artist, I can only guarantee the purity of the actions taken while my client is in my chair. After that, I just have to hope that they are as diligent in following their aftercare, as I have been in creating their tattoo.
NOTHING is more disappointing than putting countless hours of effort into a tattoo, only to have the client neglect the tattoo.
And as small as it MAY seem, every action you take (or don't take) in being proactive about the healing of your tattoo DOES MATTER!!!
Thanks Again, Jinxi!! You rule.
with love,
Nickhole
Hey, thanks again for the great post.
The last time I had a large part of my back tattoo'd we had a heatwave for three days afterwards.
The tattoo healed fine, but about 2 weeks later my tattoo developed like welts on the outline and it was really burny and uncomfortable.
Luckily it turned out fine, but I'm sure it from the perspiration...
So I generally try and keep cool now :)
this is exactly why i try and do most of my major tattoo time during the fall and winter months if possible. not only am i scared my fresh ink will get ruined but sweat in the basicly open wound stings. when it's so hot that sweat is inevitable, i put a clean papertowel w cold water on it lightly to cool it down and remove the sweat. thanks for more great info =)