When Can A Tattoo Be In The Sun?

When Can A Tattoo Be In The Sun

Sun Protection for New Tattoos – If your tattoo is very new , it is best to keep it completely covered for the first few months if you are going to be out in the sun during the Spring or Summer. New tattoos fade very quickly when exposed to sunlight.

When can a new tattoo be in the sun?

How to Protect Your Tattoo From the Sun – @ girlknewyork Wear sunscreen: Sunblock is the number one form of protection for your tattoo. Applying sunblock will help prevent skin cancer, wrinkles, blotchy complexions, and other skin-caused damage. Any sunblock is better than no sunblock when it comes to preparing your ink for the sun, but most artists will suggest using a fragrance-free sunscreen with 30-50 SPF (try to stick to natural ingredients if possible, too).

Whatever sunscreen you would normally use without a tattoo is fine — whether chemical or physical. According to Nussbaum, SPF is a critical part of protecting your tattoo against UV rays. “The most important thing when choosing a sunscreen is to make sure it is broad-spectrum, meaning it protects against both UVA, which penetrates deeper than UVB rays, causing free radical damage, and UVB rays, which damage the cell’s DNA and burn the skin,” she says.

“Sunburns and chronic UV exposure can damage the appearance of tattoos over time and lead to fading, wrinkles, and dullness/dryness. ” Nussbaum also says it’s safe to put sunscreen on a healed tattoo, but fresh ink will need to heal first (instead, cover it with a bandage or loose clothing).

Be sure to reapply your sunblock every two hours to ensure a continuous and solid layer of protection. Cover up: If you don’t want to deal with the hassle of reapplying sunscreen , the second-best option for sun protection is to ultimately keep your new ink out of the sun.

At the very least, make sure not to expose a new tattoo to direct sunlight for the first month of having it—especially the first two weeks. Not only will sun exposure cause the tattoo’s colors to fade, as previously mentioned, but it may also burn your skin and scar it from sun damage.

  • Keeping your tattoo out of the sun doesn’t mean you have to stay inside all day, though;
  • Maintain your ink’s vibrant colors and linework by always wearing at least one layer while in the sun;
  • It can be light—as long as it covers the tattoo design completely;

Get your tattoo during the winter : One of the easiest ways to prevent sun damage to your tattoo is to consider what time of year you’ll be getting inked. Getting your tattoo in the winter will reduce your bare exposure to sun, as chilly weather means more clothing to cover up with.

  • However, the winter season also means dry skin;
  • If your skin tends to feel dry, flakey, and itchy during the colder weather months, load up on moisturizing lotions;
  • To protect your new tattoo, we love the original, unscented Aquaphor formula;
You might be interested:  How Bad Does A Wrist Tattoo Hurt?

Slather on day or night for intense moisture and protection. (Or, try one of these tattoo artist-approved lotions ). If you get the tattoo too close to a vacation or beach day, you’ll spend the whole time out of the water with your ink-covered. While saltwater may seem like it’ll help ( chlorine water —not so much), any kind of soaking during your initial healing period may cause infection and damage the design work you paid for.

  • If you really want to get a tattoo during the summer, at least wait until you know you won’t be going on vacation for a month or so;
  • And if you want to get tattooed while on vacation ? Just wait until the latter half of your trip, so you can still have fun in the sun and worry about aftercare once you’re home;

Moisturize often, inside and out: Nussbaum also suggests moisturizing often and drinking water every day. “Keep your skin well hydrated so that it can protect itself from external damage and maintain your skin’s natural moisture barrier,” says Nussbaum.

She also notes that hydration doesn’t mean more showers, though. “Skip the long, hot showers, which can strip the skin of its natural oils and lead to dry skin, and instead opt for a shorter shower (five minutes maximum) with lukewarm water.

” Check-in with your skin: Another essential thing to do if you expose your tattoo to the sun is to check your skin for any visible signs of damage. Aside from spot-checking regularly for any mole additions or changes (this should be a weekly thing, regardless of the season!), make sure to give your tattoo a good once over to ensure that the design hasn’t majorly warped.

What happens if a new tattoo is in the sun?

UVB rays – UVB rays are primarily responsible for causing damage to the very top layers of skin. UVB rays are most responsible for causing sunburn. Sunburned skin can do a lot of damage to tattoos, especially if your tattoo is new. New tattoos are essentially open wounds that shouldn’t be exposed to direct sunlight until they’re healed.

Can I wear my tattoo in the sun?

What is the best sunscreen for your tattoos? – The best way to preserve your tattoo is to protect it from harmful UV rays. There are plenty of products marketed as “tattoo sunscreen” with claims that they offer the best sun protection for tattooed skin, but these products are often just regular chemical sunscreens repackaged.

  1. Mineral sunscreens will stay on the surface of your skin and prevent most UVA rays from reaching your ink;
  2. Since mineral sunscreens are made without the use of harsh chemicals, there is a lower chance of skin irritation;

Dermatologists recommend using a mineral sunscreen with an SPF of 30 or higher, although a higher SPF does not necessarily guarantee better protection (you can learn more about SPF HERE ). Not only will sunscreen protect your tattoo against fading, it can help prevent skin cancer.

You should keep a fresh tattoo out of the sun during the entirety of the healing process. If sun exposure is unavoidable, wearing pants and long sleeves will help prevent the sun from reaching your skin.

You might be interested:  What Place Hurts The Least To Get A Tattoo?

If the sun can’t reach your skin, your tattoo is protected. Why do dermatologists recommend mineral sunscreens?.

Can I put sunscreen on a 2 week old tattoo?

When Can You Put Sunscreen on a New Tattoo – Experts advise waiting 4 to 6 weeks before applying any sunscreen on your tattoo. This time is given for the tattoo to heal fully, so that the epidermis recovers to protect the much more sensitive dermis layer of the skin.

Can I tan 2 weeks after getting a tattoo?

How to Know When to Tan & If the Tattoo is Healed – If the tattoos are healed, you have got fewer things to worry about. Typically, 2 weeks after the tattoo the skin should be mostly healed and going for a tan can then be possible. Though it’s a good idea to wait a bit a longer if you plan on sitting in the sun for a longer time.

How do I protect my new tattoo in the sun?

Be Careful During Healing – However, coming out of the tattoo salon it is very important to be careful for the first 4 to 6 weeks. There are many risks, starting with possible alteration of the tattoo or post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation that causes unsightly dark spots that persist for months and are not easy to get rid of.

  • During the healing process, it is best to keep it out of the sun;
  • If you have to, double up your protection;
  • Cover the tattoo with clothing or a bandage, and use sunscreen, preferably with mineral screens;

Indeed, unlike chemical filters, they block UV rays at the surface of the skin. As your skin has recently been damaged (by the tattoo needle, itching…) the sun can tarnish or degrade your tattoo. Finally, while it is healing, do not go in the ocean and apply reparative care generously. Our Reparative Tattoo Aftercare Cream is perfect because it repairs, sanitizes, and protects thanks to its exclusive ingredient, Alga Sendatu® made from red seaweed. .

How do I know if my tattoo is healed?

You will know that your tattoo is completely healed when there are no scabs, the texture of your skin where the tattoo was placed is the same as a similar surface of skin, and the colors on your tattoo are no longer faded.

Does the sun ruin tattoos?

UV Light Makes Your Ink Fade If so, in order to keep it in that condition you need to keep UV rays away from your ink. ‘The sun does fade your tattoos,’ says Alana Robbie, a tattoo artist of 13 years in an email to Bustle. ‘UV rays from the sun are absorbed and break up the pigment particles in your tattoo.

Will one sunburn ruin a tattoo?

However, Ray explains, ‘But generally, a well-applied tattoo can withstand several good sunburns in a lifetime. ‘ So if you’ve got a good quality tatt, there’s no need to panic if you do forget your sunscreen on a rare occasion, because your tattoo won’t disappear after one sunburn; unless it’s a white ink tattoo,.

Why you shouldn’t get a tattoo in the summer?

The Risks Associated with Getting a Tattoo during Summer – By getting your tattoo in spring or summer, you will miss out on the benefits that come with getting tattooed in the winter. At the same time, there are higher chances of infections when the fresh tattoo is exposed to the sun.

  1. In case you go to the beach, the sand, salty water and bacteria will be horrendous as your tattoo is healing;
  2. Since the artist may be uncomfortable or busy in summer, there is a chance that they will make errors when inking the artwork;
You might be interested:  How Soon Can I Workout After Getting A Tattoo?

If you are still wondering when is the best time to get a tattoo, here is your answer.

Why is my tattoo fading after a month?

When Can A Tattoo Be In The Sun This is a bit of a trick question. The reason being, is that a tattoo “fades” to the naked eye within days of application. This occurs because as the skin heals, the top layer dies and new skin forms to take its place. During this period the epidermis typically has a faded appearance. However, this is a natural part of the tattoo healing process and as the peeling subsides and the dead skin falls away the design will once again look crisp and fresh.

Still, it won’t have that same deep dark tone as it did when your tattooist put his/her gun away. Anyone who has received a tattoo already knows this. But what you want to know now, is when can you expect a tattoo to fade in the longer term.

Let’s have a look.

Can I tan with a new tattoo if I cover it?

If you have a new tattoo, it’s important to lay off tanning until it’s healed completely. Tanning too soon can cause your tattoo to take longer to heal and may even damage it. Tanning too soon can also cause your tattoo’s color life to fade. If you want to continue tanning and still show off your ink, make sure you’re taking all the right precautions before stepping into a tanning bed to limit any fading!.

Does the sun ruin tattoos?

UV Light Makes Your Ink Fade If so, in order to keep it in that condition you need to keep UV rays away from your ink. ‘The sun does fade your tattoos,’ says Alana Robbie, a tattoo artist of 13 years in an email to Bustle. ‘UV rays from the sun are absorbed and break up the pigment particles in your tattoo.

How can I protect my tattoo from the sun?

Be Careful During Healing – However, coming out of the tattoo salon it is very important to be careful for the first 4 to 6 weeks. There are many risks, starting with possible alteration of the tattoo or post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation that causes unsightly dark spots that persist for months and are not easy to get rid of.

  1. During the healing process, it is best to keep it out of the sun;
  2. If you have to, double up your protection;
  3. Cover the tattoo with clothing or a bandage, and use sunscreen, preferably with mineral screens;

Indeed, unlike chemical filters, they block UV rays at the surface of the skin. As your skin has recently been damaged (by the tattoo needle, itching…) the sun can tarnish or degrade your tattoo. Finally, while it is healing, do not go in the ocean and apply reparative care generously. Our Reparative Tattoo Aftercare Cream is perfect because it repairs, sanitizes, and protects thanks to its exclusive ingredient, Alga Sendatu® made from red seaweed. .

How do I know when my tattoo is healed?

You will know that your tattoo is completely healed when there are no scabs, the texture of your skin where the tattoo was placed is the same as a similar surface of skin, and the colors on your tattoo are no longer faded.