Sun's out, pool's calling, and you've just got a fresh piercing. Can you dive in? Short answer: better not, at least while it's healing. Here's why, plus how to still have a great summer.
1. Chlorine and sea water: friend or foe?
A pool might look clean, but chlorine is a harsh chemical. It dries out your skin and can irritate the tissue around your piercing, which can slow down healing. Hot tubs and whirlpools add heat and bacteria on top of that.
The sea isn't the answer either. Sea water contains sand, bacteria, algae and sometimes pollution. Swimming in the sea is not the same as a clean wash, so it's not ideal for a fresh piercing.
Our aftercare instructions are clear: no swimming pools, hot tubs, saunas or steam baths while your piercing heals. And for the sea, a lake or a river, the safest choice is also not to swim until your piercing has healed.
2. Bacteria in water
Whether it's a lake, the sea, a pool or a hot tub: water is never completely sterile. Every kind of water contains bacteria and micro-organisms, and a healing piercing is still an open wound. That's why waiting is the smartest move.
Did water get on it anyway? Wash your piercing with lukewarm water, pat it dry gently with a clean towel or tissue, care for it with AphraHeals spray as usual, and try to keep it as dry as possible for the rest of the day. Beyond that, no ointments or other products are needed, and don't stick a plaster on it: that's only OK temporarily during sports. Everything is in our aftercare instructions.
3. Sunscreen, sweat and sunlight
On hot days, more things can irritate your piercing:
- Sunscreen should not get on or around your piercing. No creams or cosmetics on a healing piercing.
- Sweat can build up and irritate your skin.
- Sun: long hours in direct sun aren't great for a healing piercing either. Spending a long time outside? Cover your piercing loosely with a light scarf, hat or piece of clothing, as long as it's clean and not tight.
4. What to bring on holiday
Travelling with a new or healing piercing? Being prepared makes life easier. Your checklist:
- AphraHeals aftercare spray
- Clean towels or tissues to pat your piercing dry
- Our aftercare instructions, saved on your phone
- A loose, clean scarf or hat for sunny days
- A pillowcase you know is clean
- Patience: the pool will still be there next summer
Ask for AphraHeals in our studio or order it in our webshop.
Frequently asked questions
Can I swim with a three-week-old piercing? Usually not. Wait until your piercing has healed. How long that takes depends on the spot and on you; cartilage often takes longer. Your piercer will tell you what to expect.
Is sea water good for my piercing? Swimming in the sea isn't sterile and carries risks for a healing piercing. Better to wait.
What if I accidentally went in the water? Wash your piercing with lukewarm water afterwards and pat it dry. Keep an eye on it over the next few days. Worried about how it's healing? Contact your GP, as our aftercare instructions advise, or drop by so we can take a look.
Conclusion
A new piercing deserves rest and care. Swimming while it heals isn't recommended, whether it's the pool, the sea or a lake. Follow the aftercare instructions, skip chlorine and too much sun, and give your body time to heal. Planning a piercing before a trip? Get it done well in advance.
For a fresh piercing titanium is best, but gold is possible too: the first bar is longer and is later replaced with a shorter one, so we usually use a titanium bar with a gold attachment. Our gold is solid 14K and 18K gold (most in 18K). Want to know more about sizes? See All about sizes.
Between 12 and 16? Then a parent or guardian comes along and signs the consent form, and you both bring ID. From 16 you can come on your own, with your own ID. More on our minimum age page. For costs, check our studio price list.
Piercings Works has been piercing in Amsterdam since 1998, and has been on the Reguliersbreestraat since 2004. We have more than 2,000 reviews and our team speaks six languages: Dutch, English, Spanish, Italian, Croatian and Indonesian. Questions about travelling or swimming with a new piercing? Get in touch or drop by the studio.