Your Essential Guide to Wearing Piercing Jewelry at the Beach: To Wear or Not to Wear?

We know how you feel. Really, we do. Like us, you want nothing more than to go for a swim and cool off from the hot Summer sunshine. All in perfect style, of course. But what about your piercings? Read on to learn all about how to protect piercings at the beach so you can keep up that radiant vibe.

Safe piercing jewelry for swimming

The first burning question is, can I wear my piercings in the ocean? And you absolutely can. We want you to express your truest self and outshine the very sun. That said, wearing piercing jewelry in water means it has to be waterproof (sounds obvious when you put it that way, but it’s important). Here’s the easy run-down.

Waterproof piercing materials include titanium, surgical steel, acrylic, and PTFE. These materials let you rest easy and enjoy all the aquatic activities you please. Of course, you should always look after your little treasures and clean them after your swim. The ocean is bright blue and beautiful, but remember that it isn’t clean.

Gold and silver jewelry are no-gos as these metals are vulnerable to saltwater (as well as the chemicals in a swimming pool, for that matter). Likewise, naturally porous materials like wood, bone, and horn absorb water like sponges, becoming discoloured. These types of jewelry do not make for beach-safe piercings, and wearing them might ruin not only your fashion for the day but also the jewelry itself.

Lastly, be careful with jewelry that has small bits like gemstones or dangles. Consider wearing something simpler, just in case you lose a part of your piercing jewelry at the beach.

Is saltwater bad for piercings?

As long as your piercing is fully healed, it’s perfectly safe for you to swim in the ocean and show off your favourite Summer bling. You know your piercing is ready to go once all redness and swelling have passed and the skin is smooth again.

Still, we recommend a little bit of piercing aftercare for swimming: rinse your piercing after every dip. If the seawater is left to evaporate from your skin, it leaves a salty residue that makes your skin dry. Since dry skin tends to tighten up, it may cause some discomfort for your piercing, such as making it harder to insert or remove jewelry. Otherwise, you’re good to go.

But if your piercing is new or you’re unsure if it’s healed yet, you should stay out of the water for the time being. Swimming with a new piercing is a bad idea since there’s a great risk of causing a piercing infection from water that’s not sterile, after all. But don’t worry, you look as gorgeous on land as in the waves!

That’s it, no more worries. Keep these tips in mind, and you can safely embrace Summer with the bold brilliance of your own unique shine. Have fun!