Swimming and Healing Body Piercings

For many people, summer means two things: showing off their piercings and other body art they had been hiding under winter clothing, and cooling off with a dip in the pool or lake. Maybe a little boating or water skiing for good measure.  So, it shouldn't be surprising that many seek new piercings to show off at the pool, and many times, the subject of swimming and healing a piercing comes up. 

Of course, my consultation includes the phrase, "Not submerging the piercing in any body of water that you can't control the quality of. Which is pretty much everything but your own clean and maintained bathtub." I tend to add it to the end of the discussion about cross-contamination because if the client is paying attention, as most are, the idea is fresh in their mind when I ask if they have any questions. However, it has often gone as far as after the piercing is done, and I'm outlining the aftercare for them, so that they take note of the fact that I said, "no swimming." Regardless of when the client seems to take notice, they always seem puzzled by my instruction not to submerge the piercing. It's why it is included in the consultation, because, for some reason, most don't even consider the idea.

So, why no Swimming? The first thing to consider is that even though your piercing may look healthy or appear to be healed after a couple of weeks, it isn't. As I've mentioned several times before, piercings go through three stages of healing:

1. Acceptance - The stage in which your body will present several signs to tell you that you have a foreign object in your body, and you need to do something about it. Often, these signs include indications that typically suggest a possible infection, such as redness or discoloration, swelling, heat, and throbbing tenderness upon touch. Once the body realizes that you are not going to remove the jewelry, also known as a foreign object, it will begin the process of producing a layer of tissue around the jewelry to close the wound.
2. Healing - Once your body has accepted the fact that the jewelry will not be removed, it will begin forming a tunnel of tissue around the jewelry. The body forms this tissue starting at each puncture wound and then slowly adds additional tissue until the two tunnels connect in the center. Often during this period, the piercing may appear to be healed. Although there will usually be some signs of new skin growth, such as lymph discharge, there may be days or weeks when it does not appear. Additionally, the piercing is often not tender at all. However, don't be misled; the piercing is, in fact, an open wound and a pathway for foreign pathogens to enter the body. Thus, it remains susceptible to infection.
3. Strengthening - During the final stage, the piercing is no longer an open wound; however, the surrounding tissue around the jewelry remains thin and fragile. Meaning that the piercing tunnel can tear if there is abuse to the piercing, and also it is prone to closing if the jewelry is removed for long periods. During this final stage, the body adds additional tissue and increases the thickness of the piercing tunnel to make it stronger and less prone to damage. This can take up to a couple of years. 

Please note that the duration of the first two stages, depending on the piercing and its location, can range from 8 weeks to a year, which means no swimming for at least two months or, in some cases, a year.

We have all been told by someone at some point in our lives that soaking in a pool or even a lake was good for healing a scrape or cut. I'm not sure about the logic behind this, because even in the best situations, all large bodies of water contain microorganisms. The population may be less in a treated pool or hot tub, but the fact is that they are still alive and well and itching to find a new host. An axiom to go by is "If you wouldn't drink a gallon of the water without purifying it, then you shouldn't submerge an open wound(piercing) in it." I doubt that any of you would go to the local swimming pool, river, or lake and fill up your water bottle with the water, because drinking it would more than likely make you ill. So, why would you think you would be safe against foreign pathogens living in the water that enters your healing piercing and causes an infection?

Body Water Types and Risks:

Now, not all situations are equally risky. Of course, untreated water in a lake is going to have more microorganisms than the well-maintained and treated pool in your backyard, but the risks are still there. Here is a breakdown of the dangers by water body types from lowest to highest:

1. A clean Bathtub in your own house - Since you can clean and control the water source, there should be extremely low risk of exposing the piercing to foreign pathogens. However, if you share the bath with others, there is a higher risk of contamination. Even if you live alone, the bathtub should be sanitized before use by cleaning it with a 10% bleach solution and then rinsing with clean water. After bathing, the piercing should then be rinsed under running water.
2. A Private Swimming Pool - Since a private backyard pool typically has fewer people using it, it poses a lower risk than a public pool. The more people using the pool, the more sweat, urine, mucus, saliva, hair, dead skin, and Feces in the pool, and thus fewer microorganisms. However, since it is a private pool and not regulated and tested by the government, there is no verification that the pool is being maintained correctly. So, unless you clean and treat the pool yourself, there is no way to know. Additionally, the chemicals used to treat the pool can cause reactions with the piercing, including dryness, prolonged healing, and other complications.
3. Public Swimming Pool - In the summer, regardless of whether it's a city pool, the fitness club, or a hotel, the place is packed. Thus, it's a game of numbers; the more people, the more sweat, urine, mucus, saliva, hair, dead skin cells, and Feces in the water. Add to that, most people do not bathe before entering the pool, and you begin to understand that you are not only soaking in water but also in every pathogen or microorganism that lives on every person who has gotten into that pool. You might think that the chemicals in the pool and its filtration system are removing or killing off most of the contaminants. Still, the reality is that often stronger microorganisms have been known to survive in treated and tested pools. This includes Shigella, E. coli, Campylobacter, and Salmonella, as well as protozoa such as Cryptosporidium and Giardia, and viruses like hepatitis A. With piercings, you must also consider that most public pools have water that has a higher percentage of chemicals than backyard pools. This is to combat the increased exposure to more people and the microorganisms they carry. Thus expanding the effect it will have on the piercing.
4. Hot Tubs - Although private hot tubs in a home that you drain, clean, and sanitize between uses may not pose as significant a risk as, say, one in a resort swimming area or a hotel room, they are all susceptible to contamination. This is mainly due to the piping that feeds the water jets. Warm water often stagnates in the pipes and becomes a breeding ground for bacteria and other microorganisms. Even if every part of the tub is cleaned and sanitized, once the jets are turned on, the water trapped in the pipes feeding them is released into the water and then circulated throughout the tub. Just like pools, there is the exposure to the unwashed bodies of others and all the sweat, urine, mucus, saliva, hair, dead skin, and Feces they carry with them. With hot tubs in hotel rooms, there is the increased likelihood of sexual activity taking place in the hot tub, which adds a whole different source of contaminants waiting to enter your healing piercing. The best choice is to stay out of the water until the piercing is fully healed. However, if and only if the hot tub is in your home, sanitizing the tub and piping, bathing before getting in, and not sharing the tub with others would reduce risks. I would strongly suggest avoiding any public hot tubs or hot tubs in hotel rooms until the piercing is completely healed.
5. Water Parks - First, read about public pools, and then consider that often the water is not treated as strongly as it is in public pools. Add to that the wet and dirty environment in which you place yourself and your piercing while waiting in line for the slide.
6. Wading pools and backyard kids pools - Granted, if it's your backyard kiddie pool, you do have some control over how clean the pool and the water are. The problem is sharing the pool, as well as the fact that the water is untreated, unfiltered, and stagnant. Cool water exposed to Mother Nature for some time will begin to collect microorganisms relatively quickly. Many city parks have shallow wading pools. These are untreated and unfiltered, and often, like a fountain, are the same water circulated over and over. Another thing to consider is that usually damage or trauma to the piercing can take place when riding slides and other attractions, which will increase the risk of infection or other problems.
7. Natural Water - This includes any natural body of water, including lakes, rivers, ponds, and oceans. It doesn't matter how clear the water may be; even the most pollution-free water needs microorganisms to be a healthy ecosystem. Although these organisms may be beneficial to the environment, they are not helpful to your body or piercing. Then there is pollution, which is almost completely unavoidable. Whether it comes from rainwater runoff on city streets, industrial or agricultural runoff, it is in the water and can cause infections or other problems with a healing piercing.  You should never submerge a healing piercing in a natural body of water.

Reducing Risks:

As piercers, we design our aftercare instructions to teach our clients habits that will minimize the piercing's exposure to foreign pathogens and reduce the risk of infection. We would all like to think that by following these steps, we can eliminate all risks. However, even the best clients make mistakes, and this is mainly because most of us are not used to having an open wound for that long. One of the reasons it's easier to heal a nostril piercing without problems than it is to do the same with a navel piercing is that the nostril is a smaller area. A shorter healing time equals less exposure to contamination. 

It's easy to get into the mindset as a piercer that is all or nothing, but time and time again, we all experience the client who does everything wrong and still heals the piercing without a problem. Now, understand this is a tiny minority. Just as there are a few people out there who can eat fried foods every day, wash it all down with two pints of Whiskey, and chain smoke three packs of cigarettes each day, without ever getting sick, there are those who seem blessed. The thing is, most of us are not. So, when I make these suggestions to reduce risks while swimming with a healing piercing, understand that not swimming is your best option, regardless. 

So if you must swi,m here are a few suggestions to reduce the risk of infection:

1. Wear a wound-sealing waterproof bandage over the piercing. There are several products on the market, such as 3M's Nexcare Clean Seals, which can be found at most pharmacies and drugstores. Sometimes they are kept in the baby section. Ensure that the piercing area is completely covered and that the bandage is securely attached. There is also a limited time before the bandage will begin to come off, and it should be checked often. This is especially true of areas of the body that stretch and expand or are in contact with clothing. This method may not be suitable for all piercings. For example, a nostril, lip, or labret piercing can not be covered completely.
2. If possible, wear waterproof clothing over the piercing to protect it. Wetsuits and swimming caps can reduce contact with water, providing an additional layer of protection. Note, however, that wearing tight-fitting clothing that restricts the flow of oxygen to the piercing can cause trauma to the piercing and prolong its healing process. So, limit the time you wear these items.
3. Think about the body of water and the risks listed above. Of course, the best option is a treated pool, but it's essential to understand that the chemicals can cause side effects.
4. Choose a time to be in the less crowded pool. Just like any ecosystem, the more strain on the system, the higher the amount of foreign pathogens. Since pools rely on both the filtration of the water and the chemical reaction to reduce pathogens, it follows that more people in the pool means more pathogens and more dirty water to filter. The water in the pool will be cleaner at 8 am, when no one is there, than it will be at 2 pm, when 100 people are trying to cool down.
5. Limit the time you spend in the water. Try to minimize the time the piercing is submerged in water. If the piercing is located high on the body, consider wading instead of fully submerging it.
6. Avoid activities that strain, stress, or cause contact with the piercing. Even in a healed piercing, tears can occur that dislodge the piercing tissue, making the piercing more susceptible to infections or other problems. With even a partially healed piercing, the skin growth will help resist water from entering the piercing. This will be significantly reduced if the tissue is dislodged or torn.
7. As soon as you are done swimming, rinse the piercing under running water. It wouldn't hurt to clean the piercing also but the main thing we want to do is rinse off the chemicals. Also, make sure that you use a clean towel and put on clean clothing afterwards.

Sun Block and Tanning:

Just like cosmetics, Sunblock can cause side effects when it comes into contact with or gets into the piercing. As with any scar tissue, tanning the piercing area can cause the tissue at the entrance of the piercing to become darker or lighter, and this change may be permanent. Additionally, extreme temperature changes can disrupt the healing process. So, avoid using sunblock or sun tanning products on or around the piercing until it is completely healed. To prevent discoloration or sunburn in the area, I suggest covering it with a dark plastic cup, towel, or bandage, or refraining from tanning until after the piercing is completely healed. This is especially true with tanning beds, which often operate at a significantly higher temperature than the sun.