After getting tattoos, one must know they need to be cautious, and should not do things that are too strenuous for a couple of weeks. However, some of the fitness freaks will be itching to hit the gym immediately after inking their skin. Working out with brand-new tattoos is possible, but, one must be aware of the approach.
How Long One Must Wait?
The artist will probably advise one to rest for approximately 48 hours prior to restarting rigorous physical activities or anything that can cause heavy sweating.
According to the experts working for the Gold Coast tattoo shops, a tattoo will usually take four to six weeks to heal, so, one may have to wait longer than two days depending on a wide range of factors.
- Tattoo Age
The new tattoos are much more prone to getting damaged than the tattoos that are a few days into healing. Although some people choose to exercise on the same day they get tattoos, this is usually discouraged, since the body requires a short period to recover.
- Tattoo Placement
Tattoos that do not come in the way of exercising are less likely to get damaged, but, if the tattoos are in the location relevant to what one has been performing, there is a high chance of incidents occurring with the ink. Suppose one is playing soccer with a small design on their forearm which remains covered under a long-sleeve t-shirt, they would not face much trouble, but, if one is playing soccer with a design on the top of their foot, things become quite dangerous.
- Type of Exercise
All the types of exercises pose various challenges to new tattoos depending on the body part, and how likely it will be for a design to be involved in the concerned exercise. This ties in quite well with the aforementioned pointer - placement.
- Exercise Location
Exercising in a muddy field or dirty gym can unfortunately open the tattoos to all sorts harmful bacterial and germs that are responsible for infections.
- Exercise Intensity
The artists working for the best tattoo places in Surfers Paradise said the more intense an exercise routine is, the higher are the chances for the tattoos to be damaged. Firstly, when one works out hard, they would not pay much attention to the tattoos.
Secondly, profuse sweating can distort the ink before it gets the opportunity to settle down under the skin, leaving behind areas of fading and patchiness. Lastly, the tattooing process is exhausting and calls for lengthy healing response. Exercising too prematurely will not let the skin rest, delaying recovery times.
- Exercise Clothing
One must be extremely careful with what they wear when exercising with new tattoos. Excess tight clothing can force the freshly inked piece to rub against it, threatening the irritation and possible fading. On the contrary, loose-fitted clothing can invite bacteria and dirt beneath, opening the tattoos to a plethora of risks.
In case one plans on exercising, they must clean the tattoo thoroughly right after the routine, more so if the tattooed skin has come in contact with something dirty. It will be beneficial to use an antibacterial cleanser and apply a good moisturiser for re-hydrating the skin.