Pools and Piercings | Can You Go Into a Pool with a New Piercings?

Summertime is one of the most popular times for people to get new piercings, but it’s also the season when most people are enjoying time in the pool. Oftentimes, people wonder if they can go swimming with their new piercings.

Keeping in mind that a fresh piercing is an open wound, I thought chlorine would be okay, because it is a disinfectant… so that means it would kill bacteria, right? But what I didn’t know was that chlorine does NOT kill bacteria instantly. While it does kill some bacteria, it does not kill 100% of all bacteria and viruses out there.

So though chlorine is a disinfectant, you do risk exposing your fresh new piercing to bacteria and also risk it getting infected if you go into a pool. This also includes other large bodies of water including hot tubs, lakes, and rivers. Also, keep in mind that chlorine is a strong chemical, so not only do you risk infection, but also risk irritating your piercing; irritated piercings can lead to an irritation bump.

So there are two ways to solve this problem: 1) you can wait until the healing period is over (which is different for every piercing) or 2) if you don’t want to be the person left out of the pool, there are some precautions you can take!

According to the Association of Professional Piercers, one way to protect your piercings is to use waterproof bandages, specifically the Nexcare waterproof bandages. You can find them HERE, but you can always find them at any drugstore. The bandage should cover both the entrance and exit of the piercing in order to make it waterproof.

I also would not recommend using these for a long time, because they could also irritate your piercing. Keep in mind that while this may work for some piercings, it may not work for others, such as a septum, because how are you supposed to bandage your nose? With all that being said - when deciding to get piercing, choose the timing wisely, especially if you like to swim or if you play other sports!

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*This blog does not replace the advice from a Medical Professional. If you suspect any infection, please seek advice from a medical professional.