Can I swim or go to the beach after getting a tattoo?

No — your tattoo is an open wound. Swimming or soaking the tattoo can cause the skin cells to swell and affect how the ink settles in the dermis. You should also avoid sun and UV exposure, as sunburn creates a second wound on top of the tattoo and can trigger inflammation that pushes ink out. Ignoring this advice can lead to patchy tattoos that require additional time and cost to repair.