Going to the gym after a permanent makeup procedure

Sweat and Permanent Makeup

For the same reason that water should be avoided during the healing process after permanent makeup, sweat should also be avoided. Sweat comes from the inside of the skin and can push the pigment out and cause the permeant makeup not to retain. Even a “Light Workout” can cause you to sweat. Even if sweating is minimal, you can potentially cause the treated area to fade by working out. It is crucial to avoid sweating during the healing process. Continue to avoid sweat until all the scabs/ flaking skin has fallen off. Once completely healed you may jump back into your regular sweaty exercise routine.

The body is going through its natural recovery process. Sweating can disturb this natural healing and halt the process, causing a variety of issues. Sweat glands and the ink dispersion area resided at a very similar depth in the skin. Perspiration can also entrap excess moisture in the area of a tattoo. This build-up of moisture will become a breeding ground for harmful microorganisms and promote bacterial growth. Excessive sweating with new pmu can disintegrate the ink before the skin has had time to trap it. The macrophages will then be unable to carry out their work successfully. This can also alter the appearance of the tattoo and create blurriness, fading, or worse total ink loss. 

If you’ve spent hundreds of dollars on cosmetic tattoos, then it just makes sense to make sure that you do whatever it takes to keep it looking beautiful!

It always surprises me that clients who get their brows or permanent makeup done are constantly trying to push the line on what they should or shouldn’t do. 

Don’t fall into this category!

The rules exist to make sure that YOU get the best result possible. 

I want your results to be beautiful!

Let’s discuss at least a little bit what happens to your brows or pmu if it gets wet. 

Because cosmetic tattooing is a semi-permanent technique, the pigment used in this procedure doesn’t go as deep as your dermis (the depth that traditional tattoo artists go). 

That means that the pigment (used to create the color in your brows) is not very deep in your skin, and it is subject to being ‘pushed’ out by various sources. 

This means that it is literally possible for your ink to ‘fall’ out of the wells that were created by your microblading artist!

What makes them fall out?

Water.  

Any liquid placed directly on the healing emu increases your risk of losing your pigment. 

If you lose your pigment, then the ENTIRE procedure may have to be re-done. 

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Bacteria in Gyms and Swimming Pools

You must wait two weeks before swimming in the pool or ocean to allow the ink to heal — up until that point, your tattoo is still an open wound and needs to be cared for like one. Submerging your wound in water, which is often swimming with all different types of bacteria, can lead to some serious infections.

There’s always a danger of infection as long as the wound isn’t healed. An infection can be both damaging to the new tattoo design or even worse big health problems. Although the pool might be cleaner than most open water, there are still some bacteria. Chlorine and other chemicals can be painful to an open wound and cause redness. A new tattoo needs to breathe and air dry in order to heal properly. If it scabs and peels too much, you also risk taking with it some of the ink and detracting from the color.

Chlorine and salt water can also lead to the pigment fading and the skin not to retain any ink from the procedure. Because cosmetic tattoos are semi permanent and much more fragile than traditional tattoos following these instructions are extremely important. If you do not follow these instructions you will most likely need additional touchups. A small splash of water will not cause any substantial harm but constant soaking or sweating will greatly affect healing your new tattoo. If your new permanent makeup does get water gently pat the procedure site dry with a clean paper towel. Chlorine and saltwater are especially hard on fresh tattoos. It can make the color less vibrant. Swimming can also dry out your skin and prolong healing, leading to more itching, flaking, and scabbing. This can also cause fading, patchiness, and blurred lines on hair strokes or Microblading.

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When Can I Sweat After a Brow Procedure?

You are able to resume sweating again after the scab forms and flakes away. Typically this takes about 2 weeks. You must allow the new brow tattoo to go through this required time of healing time before sweating or excessively wetting the eyebrows to ensure proper retention is achieved for your desired look.

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When Can I Sweat After an Eyeliner Procedure?

You must wait 7-10 days or until scabs have flaked away to sweat or get the treated area wet after the eyeliner procedure.

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If I do Sweat, What Will Happen?

“You can shower after the treatment, but don't take long showers because the steam can affect your eyeliner.” make this a quote on the site 

Make it as quick as possible. You should avoid steam, as well as excessive sweating, in other circumstances too, so no steam baths, hot tubs or saunas.

If you do get sweaty or the eyeliner tattoo becomes wet repeatedly you will lose in retention on the tattoo. This can greatly compromise your healed results and also lead you to need additional touch ups to obtain your desired goal results. This can also cause inflammation to the eye area and possible infection to the open wound ( your new tattoo).

Just as you should not submerge a tattoo in water before the tattoo has healed, allowing sweat to gather and remain stagnant on a healing tattoo could be problematic. Microorganisms or dirt entering your new tattoo through the sweat could also disturb the healing process and extend your healing time, and also lead to needing additional sessions that would not have been needed before. 

In addition, putting your new cosmetic tattoo through excessive exercise may cause you to sweat, and could potentially severely disrupt, and damage the healing process. You should avoid an intense workout routine until scabs have flaked away. 

It Can (Indirectly) Cause Infections

Sweat does not carry bacteria, but it could become a host to a multitude of problems. Sweat attracts dirt, grime, microorganisms, and particles to the area where it gathers. While your body is in overdrive to heal your open wound, it may not be able to combat what is brought over by the sweat. This could lead to infection which may cause serious health issues or cause permanent damage to your new tattoo.

This could be a concern for many reasons. Sweating is how the body naturally regulates heat, and if you are an active or athletic person, you are more prone to passive whole body heating, you may have an increase in sodium concentration in your bloodstream, and you may be more likely to experience extreme dehydration and overheating. This could impact your stamina and performance.

An infection could also be brought about by how or what you are doing that makes you sweat. If you are using exercise equipment that has not been cleaned or are participating in sports in an unsterile environment, you put your tattoo at great risk of being exposed to infection-causing bacteria.

You need to be sure to always have a thorough wash of your new tattoo with antibacterial soap after every instance where you may experience sweating.

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What Exercises Can I do Instead?

Walking and stretching are ok exercises after being tattooed. If you have to exercise outside, wear a hat, and make sure your new permanent makeup is covered from the sun. Absolutely no running, heavy lifting, or strenuous workouts until your tattoo is fully healed. I know its hard to skip your gym routine but you do not want to risk causing complications, infections, or getting poor ink retention from your new cosmetic tattoos. 

You really want to do your best to follow these instructions. Why compromise your new cosmetic enhancement? Following after care instructions helps ensure beautiful results.

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