Can I swim after getting a piercing?

We recommend avoiding swimming for the first two weeks after a piercing.

If you must go swimming, we recommend covering your piercing with a waterproof Band-Aid and spray with Sterilear Step 1: Clean after exiting the water and removing the Band-Aid.

Piercings heal on the outside first and then on the inside. This means a piercing may look healed externally, when actually, it is not. It is important to refer to our aftercare information.

Click here to read our full piercing aftercare instructions

For piercings to heal it is important that the area remains clean and dry. Swimming also surrounds the opening of the piercing with bacteria which can cause infection by entering the opening in your skin.

Pools:

Many people assume swimming in a pool will not cause a bacterial infection due to chlorination. Chlorine does not kill the germs and bacteria immediately. Germs can survive in a chlorinated pool for days and contaminated water can enter the body causing infection.

Children’s ear piercings are much more sensitive and we understand the importance of your child’s swimming lessons, just make sure you use the Band-Aid trick and are following all aftercare instructions!

Streams, lakes and the ocean:

There are many bacterial types in water and these can enter a piercing causing a threatening infection with sensitivity, swelling, redness and pain. Swimming in stagnant water such as a lake contributes to contracting infectious microorganisms.

Many people have their piercings performed in the winter months so they are healed and ready in time for summer – winter is a great time for a belly piercing!

In summary, get pierced. However, stay out of the water until your piercing has been healing for two weeks and always follow the aftercare advice or speak to a Piercing Specialist in salon.