Working Out After Getting a Piercing: When Can You Workout After Getting a Piercing?

Did you just get a piercing, and are wondering when you can resume your workout routine? Or maybe, you are planning to get a new piercing, but you want to know how it will affect your workouts?

Either way this article is for you! 

The quick answer is, you can resume working out probably much quicker than imagined after getting a new piercing, so Yay! But before you start putting on your Lululemon and heading to the gym, check out this guide to working out after you get a new piercing to ensure your piercing heals the best way possible.

This guide to working out after getting a piercing will be broken down into sections based on your preferred workout activity, from Crossfit to running, and everything in between. The guide will start with general instructions for working out after getting a new piercing, so check that out, then scroll to your preferred exercise to see more detailed instructions.

Also, I am not a medical doctor. I work for one of the busiest tattoo and piercing shops in southern California. I am also a fitness freak just like the majority of our clients, so I have years of experience figuring out the best ways to continue working out while healing a new piercing or tattoo. (to learn about working out after a tattoo click here) That being said, if your piercing seems to be hurting more, healing slower, or giving you any trouble after working out, make sure to take a break, and think of it as a well deserved recovery session.

General Guidelines For Working Out After Getting A Piercing

Let's start with some general guidelines for working out after getting a piercing, these guidelines apply to any exercise, activity, or sport, after getting a piercing, and these guidelines should be followed until your new piercing is fully healed.

- Do not let clothing or anything else rub vigorously against your new piercing while it is healing, especially the first week. This includes wearing very tight clothing when doing normal everyday activities.

- Do not let your piercing get dirty when working out or playing sports. Just like any wound, a piercing needs to stay clean to heal effectively

- Do not cause excessive stretching of the skin on the pierced area. Again, it is a wound, if you keep tearing it open while it is healing it will impair the healing process.

- Do not continue any activity, working out or not, if your piercing is causing you significant pain. Just take a couple days off until your piercing is feeling better.

- Do follow all your piercing aftercare instructions. This is important whether you are working out or not. (Click here to check out piercing aftercare instructions)

How long until you can do Yoga & Stretching workouts after you get a piercing?

You can do Yoga and stretching workouts the next day after being pierced. But, there are some things you must avoid to ensure your piercing heals the best way possible. 

When doing Yoga or stretching after getting a piercing make sure that you do not stretch the skin where the piercing is too much, or squeezing the piercing area too much, this can impair the healing process. Make sure that your piercing isn't rubbing too hard against any clothing or surfaces. Also, remember not to wear any really tight fitting clothing over the area you had pierced. 

Hot Yoga is okay too, just make sure to shower and clean your piercing after your workout. And, if you are doing Yoga in any public spaces, make sure to avoid contact with any unclean surfaces with your piercing, wipe down any mats, blocks, or equivalent, before and after use.

As with any workout activity, make sure to follow your piercing aftercare instructions to ensure your piercing heals well.

How long until you can do cardio workouts after you get a piercing?

You can do cardio workouts, such as jogging, the next day after being pierced. But, there are some things you must avoid to ensure your piercing heals the best way possible. 

When doing a cardio workout after you get piercing, make sure you are not wearing any tight clothing over the pierced area. Also, make sure that nothing is vigorously rubbing against the pierced area when working out. For example, you don't want a belly button piercing rubbing against a tight shirt  while you are running. 

If you are sweating a lot, it's a non issue, no need to worry. Just take a shower after your workout, and follow your piercing aftercare instructions. Also, make sure to wipe down any workout machines before and after you use them.

When doing cardio in a public place, like a gym, make sure your piercing does not come in contact with any unclean surfaces, that way you don't get anyone's fluids in your new piercing.

How long until you can do Weightlifting or Bodybuilding workouts after you get a piercing?

Are you ready to get back to pumping that iron? Well, you are in luck my friend, because just like the other activities, Weightlifting and Bodybuilding are okay. Just wait until the next day after getting pierced, and you are good to go.

Use common sense when doing a Weightlifting or Bodybuilding workout after getting a piercing. If you just got a back dermal, skip Bench Press on Push Day, and do some standing Cable Flys. Just got a belly button piercing? Don’t do an intense round of sit ups.

Wipe down your equipment before and after working out. This should go without saying, but it is especially important with a fresh piercing.

Don't sweat the sweat. Just clean up after your workout you filthy animal. 

And, always remember not to let your piercing come in contact with any unclean surfaces until it is healed.

Plus,  follow your piercing aftercare instructions. They were developed by piercing experts for you, to ensure your piercing heals right, and stays looking as great as the day you got it.

How long until I can do CrossFit workouts after I get a piercing?

I know the CrossFit crew is crazy, and that's why we love you. I know you want to get in the box the second the piercing is done and set some new PRs. However, just wait until the next day, that's all. Let your body recover from the piercing for just one day, and you'll be ready to dominate again.

Again, use common sense when working out. No tight fitting clothing on your new piercing, no movements that will make your new piercing rub against things i.e. if you get a navel piercing, no Pull ups that may scrape your belly.

CrossFit workouts get you sweaty, luckily sweat isn’t going to hurt your new piercing. Just take a shower after your workout, and make sure to wipe down any workout machines before and after you use them.

Also, keep up with your regular piercing aftercare regimen. It's a simple easy way to ensure your piercing heals fast whether you workout or not. It will make your piercing look great for years to come, and it you will be able to get back to full throttle as soon as possible.

How long until you can do HIIT (High Intensity Interval Training) workouts after you get a piercing?

Again, like cardio, you can do a HIIT workout the day after you get the piercing. The reason you have to wait until the next day is that you want to ensure the new piercing has a chance to slightly heal. And, if you have gone through the trauma of a piercing, waiting a day to give your body some time to recover before you beat it up with an intense workout is a good idea.

How you train may need to be adjusted when doing a HIIT workout after you get pierced, make sure you are not wearing any extra tight clothing over the pierced area. Also, make sure that nothing is rubbing vigorously against the pierced area when working out.

If you are doing a HIIT workout, you are sweating or you are not doing it right. Don't worry, getting your piercing sweaty while working out is a non issue. Just take a shower after your workout, and follow your piercing aftercare instructions. Also, make sure to wipe down any workout machines before and after you use them (just like you should be doing anyway).

When doing your HIIT workout in a shared space like your gym make sure to avoid your piercing touching any unclean surfaces, that way you don't get anyone's fluids in your piercing or your piercing fluids on anyone.

How Long After Getting A Piercing Can You Swim?

Swimming is a little different than most of the exercise routines and workouts on the list, because with swimming you need to wait until your piercing is fully healed if it is going to be fully submerged.

You are probably asking, “What can happen if my piercing isn’t healed and I swim, why does it need to be fully healed?”

A piercing is essentially an open wound. As such, a piercing needs to be treated like any other open wound, you need to keep it clean, and free of contaminants for it to heal properly. 

The reason swimming is a bad idea is because you are exposing your open wound (the piercing) to any contaminants that might be in the water. Having the open wound is also a direct pathway into your body for any contaminants in the water, including: Chemicals, bacteria, and anything else that may be lurking in the water.

So, if you don’t want a biological waterslide of filth cannonballing into your body, it is best to not risk it and wait until your piercing is fully healed before taking a dip. You can read more about swimming after getting a new piercing by clicking here

As with any workout activity (even if you are avoiding it), make sure to follow your piercing aftercare instructions to ensure your piercing heals the best way possible.

How long until you can do sport specific workouts after you get a piercing?

No need to worry, you can usually train for your sport the next day after you get a piercing. As long as you are smart about your post piercing workouts.

Common sense is key here, if you are a grappler, no rolling, if you are a boxer, no sparring. You don't want your new piercing getting scratched, punched, grabbed, or roughly handled in any way.

Training workouts can be done after getting piercing with a few caveats. Ensure your new piercing isn't rubbing against anything,  and if your training clothes are not too tight against the piercing, you should be all good. 

Make sure to keep the new piercing from contacting any unclean surfaces, and wipe down any equipment you used during your workout. Sweat won't hurt your new piercing, so don't worry about that. Just shower up when you are done with your workout.

Proper piercing aftercare is a must even if you don't workout. So, make sure to follow the instructions to ensure your piercing heals the right way. 

Final Word On Working Out After Getting Pierced

That is about it, I think just about any workout fits in one of these categories, so you should know when to and how to workout after getting a piercing.

When doing any workout after getting a piercing, common sense is key. If it hurts, stings, or just feels wrong in any way, take a break or adjust your training. I promise missing a few days of working out will be worth it to ensure you and your piercing stay healthy.

Just as importantly, always make sure to practice proper piercing aftercare. Click here to see our definitive guide to piercing aftercare for every piercing, a simple and effective way to make sure your piercing heals the best way possible, in the quickest amount of time possible.

If you have any other questions we didn't answer about working out and piercings, ask them in the comments below. We know that it's hard to miss training time, and we know that you are looking for answers.

If you are planning on getting a piercing, or have questions about piercings, you can always call, book your piercing, or come on down to Mr. Inkwells.

See you soon!