Tattoo aftercare in Thailand: getting a tattoo on Phi Phi, swimming and sun
Good tattoo aftercare in Thailand comes down to three things: a clean studio, keeping the new tattoo out of the sea and pool until it has healed, and protecting it from the sun. A fresh tattoo is an open wound, and on a beach island that is easy to forget. This guide explains how to look after it and when to see a doctor.
The short version
Tattoo aftercare in five points
- Choose a clean studio that uses sterile, single-use needles and fresh gloves for every client.
- Follow your tattooist’s aftercare and ask for it in writing.
- Stay out of the sea, pools and baths until the tattoo has fully healed.
- Keep it out of the sun while it heals, then use a high-SPF sunscreen once it has.
- Watch for infection: growing redness, swelling, pain, pus or a fever mean a doctor.
Getting a tattoo on Phi Phi: choosing a clean studio
Koh Phi Phi has a lot of tattoo studios, and getting a holiday tattoo, sometimes a traditional bamboo tattoo, is part of the trip for many visitors. The biggest health risk with any tattoo is infection, and that includes blood-borne viruses such as hepatitis B and C if equipment isn’t sterile. Health authorities such as Australia’s Better Health Channel advise checking that a tattooist:
- Uses single-use, sterile needles, opened in front of you, and sterilises any reusable equipment properly.
- Wears new single-use gloves and changes them if they touch anything else.
- Works in a clean, tidy space with ink poured into single-use cups for each client.
- Explains the aftercare and gives it to you in writing.
The same rules apply to bamboo or hand-poked tattoos: the needles must still be sterile and single-use. If a studio looks dirty, or the artist can’t explain how they sterilise their equipment, walk away. Don’t get tattooed after a night of drinking, on sunburnt or broken skin, or if you have a skin infection where the tattoo will go.
Tattoo aftercare in Thailand: the first few weeks
Always follow your tattooist’s own instructions first, because they know the inks and techniques they used. The general advice from health sources is:
- Leave the dressing on for as long as your tattooist says.
- Wash gently with mild soap and clean water a few hours after the tattoo, then pat dry with a clean towel or paper towel.
- Moisturise lightly when it feels dry, using the product your tattooist or a pharmacist recommends. The American Academy of Dermatology suggests a water-based lotion or cream rather than petroleum-based products.
- Don’t pick or scratch scabs or peeling skin, however itchy it gets.
- Wear loose, clean clothing over it, and avoid tight straps or waistbands rubbing the area.
- Wash your hands before touching it.
Healing takes weeks rather than days, and depends on the size and position of the tattoo. Your tattooist can tell you how long to expect for yours.
Can I swim with a new tattoo?
Not until it has fully healed. Health advice is to avoid soaking a new tattoo in water, which means no sea, no swimming pool, no hot tub and no bath. Seawater and pools can carry bacteria into the open skin, and soaking can also damage the tattoo as it heals. Quick showers are fine.
On a beach island that’s a big ask, so think about timing. Many travellers get their tattoo near the end of the trip rather than the start, or plan a few days of non-swimming activities after it. Snorkelling, diving and boat trips with lots of splashing all count as swimming.
Sun protection for a new tattoo
The tropical sun is strong, and a healing tattoo is easily damaged and irritated by it. Keep it covered with loose clothing or in the shade while it heals. Once it has healed, the American Academy of Dermatology advises protecting tattoos with a broad-spectrum, water-resistant sunscreen of SPF 30 or more, reapplied at least every two hours, because UV light can fade some inks. Our guide to sunburn treatment in Thailand has more on staying safe in the sun.
Signs your tattoo needs a doctor
Some redness, swelling and tenderness in the first few days is normal. See a doctor, and let your tattooist know, if the area becomes very red, swollen, hot or more painful instead of better, there is pus or continual bleeding or discharge, the redness spreads, the site doesn’t heal, or you feel unwell with a high temperature or swollen glands. A spreading area of hot, painful, swollen skin can be cellulitis, an infection that needs treating quickly. Call 1669 (Thailand emergency medical services) for a fever with feeling very unwell or confused, or for swelling of the lips, mouth or throat or trouble breathing, which can be a severe allergic reaction. Our guide to medical help on Koh Phi Phi lists where to go.
After the holiday
Ink reactions can sometimes appear later, even months or years after a tattoo. The American Academy of Dermatology advises seeing a dermatologist if your tattooed skin changes or reacts in any way. It also suggests avoiding tattooing over moles, because a tattoo can make changes in a mole harder to spot.
If you were tattooed somewhere you’re not sure was sterile, mention it to your doctor at home; they may suggest blood tests for blood-borne infections.
Can an IV drip help a new tattoo?
No. An IV drip doesn’t speed up tattoo healing or treat an infected tattoo; an infection needs a doctor. We mention it only because guests sometimes ask. If you want to recover from a long day in the sun, rest, shade and plenty of water are what your skin needs.
Tattoo FAQ
Tattoos in Thailand: your questions
How long after a tattoo can I swim in the sea?
Not until it has fully healed, which usually takes a few weeks. Ask your tattooist how long to expect for your tattoo and plan beach time around it.
What tattoo aftercare cream should I use in Thailand?
Use the product your tattooist recommends, or ask a pharmacist. Dermatologists suggest a water-based lotion or cream rather than petroleum jelly. Apply a thin layer only when the skin feels dry.
Is it safe to get a bamboo tattoo?
It can be, if the needles are sterile and single-use and the studio is clean. Ask how equipment is sterilised before you start, and follow the same aftercare as for a machine tattoo.
Is it normal for a new tattoo to be red and itchy?
Some redness, swelling and itching in the first days is normal, and itching is common as it heals. Redness that spreads, gets worse, or comes with pus or a fever is not normal: see a doctor.
Can I get a tattoo with sunburn?
It’s best not to. Tattooing over sunburnt or broken skin is more painful and raises the risk of problems. Wait until your skin has recovered.
Keep reading
Looking after your skin on Phi Phi
See our guide to sunburn treatment in Thailand, or medical help on Koh Phi Phi if you need a doctor.
Sources: Better Health Channel (Victoria): Tattoos · American Academy of Dermatology: Caring for tattooed skin · healthdirect: Body piercings and tattoos · NHS: Cellulitis. Last updated October 2026.
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