Sports, swimming, sauna with a fresh piercing—what is permitted?

You've just had a new piercing done – now what?

Many people ask themselves: Can I still do sports? Go to the swimming pool? Or even the sauna? Proper aftercare is crucial for clean healing. Here you can find out what you need to bear in mind.

Do sports

As a general rule, light exercise is usually not a problem.

However:

• Avoid pressure, friction, or impact on the fresh piercing
• Make sure your clothing is clean—no tight-fitting, chafing clothing
• Clean the piercing after heavy sweating

You should be particularly careful with belly button, breast, or surface piercings, as friction can occur here due to sportswear.

If something feels tight, painful, or very red, it's best to give your body a break.

Swimming – better to wait

Swimming pools, lakes, and the sea contain germs and bacteria that can infect a fresh piercing. Even chlorine does not provide reliable protection against infection, and natural bodies of water pose an additional risk.

Therefore, the following waiting times are recommended:

• Earlobes: approx. 2–3 weeks
• Nose: approx. 4 weeks
• Cartilage (helix, tragus, etc.): 4–8 weeks
• Belly button: 6–8 weeks (sometimes longer recommended)

The more sensitive the area and the longer the healing time, the more careful you should be.

If swimming is unavoidable, clean the piercing thoroughly afterwards – ideally, however, you should refrain from swimming altogether until the initial healing phase is complete.

Sauna and steam bath

Heat promotes blood circulation—which is generally positive, but often leads to the following with fresh piercings:

• Increased swelling
• Secondary bleeding
• Irritation

In addition, sweat and the increased bacterial load in warm, humid environments have a negative effect on wound healing.

Recommendation: In the first 3–4 weeks, it is best to avoid saunas and steam baths so that your piercing can heal properly.