There isn’t a better thing than feeling the warmth of the sun on one’s skin; so comforting and enjoyable. However, without protection, the sunlight can actually be our skin’s biggest enemy, especially if you have tattoos. It is well known that sunlight and tattoos don’t really go hand-in-hand, which is why you’ll hear tattoo artists emphasizing the importance of tattoo protection during the upcoming spring and summer days.<\/p>\n
That is not for no reason; UV light can significantly damage tattoos, make them fade away quickly, and generally make them appear older and wrinkly<\/a>. But, what about tanning? It is also known that a lot of people start visiting tanning salons prior to the summer and holiday season. This makes it easier for some people to transition between winter and summer when it comes to the tone of their skin and the skin’s ability to handle the sunlight and sunbathing.<\/p>\n But, can one really enjoy tanning as much with tattoos, and how can you really protect your tattoos while tanning? These are the questions we’ve decided to tackle so you can welcome the spring and summer days truly ready. So, without further ado, let’s get started!<\/p>\n So, you have a new tattoo and you’re wondering when can you show off that beauty and sunbathe by the beach? Let’s start by saying that brand new tattoos need to be protected from the sunlight.<\/p>\n Newly healed tattoos are highly sensitive, so they need to be minimally exposed to the sun. New, healing tattoos, especially need to be protected; fresh tattoos are just like open wounds, and the healing process needs to be done properly, otherwise, the overall healing of the tattoo might be undermined and prolonged.<\/p>\n This can lead to a potential inflammation of the tattooed area, and a load of other health issues. Worst-case scenario; the tattoo, due prolonged healing process<\/a>, becomes infected<\/a>, so the design gets all messed up and the tattoo doesn’t heal the way it should.<\/p>\n So, when is the best time to have the tattoo exposed to the sunlight?<\/p>\n Well, in our humble opinion; sun exposure and sunbathing is a no-no with tattoos, overall. Sunbathing and tanning aren’t recommended if you have tattoos, in general, let alone with newly healed or healing tattoos. But, if you’re really desperate, or you live in an area where it isn’t really possible to walk around in jackets all the time, then you should ait at least a month to have the tattoo exposed to the sunlight.<\/p>\n Even then, your tattoo needs to be fully protected by sunscreen, and shouldn’t be exposed to the sunlight throughout the day when the sunlight is at its brightest, or when the UV rays are at their strongest. We’re aware that many people cannot wait for the summer holidays to expose their tattoos freely to the world, but, unless you want your tattoo to fade completely in two years instead of 20 years, then you should definitely follow our recommendations.<\/p>\n Read More:\u00a0 <\/strong><\/p>\n So, now that we’ve established that walking around without putting sunscreen on your tattoo is a no-no, a new question arises; when can I start putting sunscreen on my new tattoo?<\/p>\n Well, normally, if your tattoo is still healing, there is absolutely no occasion in which you should put anything on your healing tattoo, let alone sunscreen. Considering that you shouldn’t even be exposing a healing tattoo lets you know that sunscreen is unnecessary and far from an option. Unless you want to cause a bad tattoo infection, leave your tattoo be and let it go through the healing process the way it should; uninterrupted and in line with your aftercare instructions.<\/p>\n Only when your tattoo is completely healed (meaning the skin is closed, there’s no scabbing, the color is matte, etc.), can you consider putting sunscreen on it. Even then you have to be extremely careful as to what kind of sunscreen can you use. The ingredients used to make regular sunscreens can be too harsh<\/a> for a newly healed tattoo\/skin, which is still a highly sensitive area. Therefore, you should definitely opt for sunscreens made specifically for tattoo protection. Our favorite tattoo sunscreens are;<\/p>\n These are some of our favorite sunscreens. Now, if you’re looking to buy a different sunscreen, we surely urge you to pay attention to the following features, yo you know your tattoo is getting that good-quality protection;<\/p>\n Read More:\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n At this point, it is essential to mention that long-term sun exposure, even when your skin has been properly protected by a high-quality sunscreen, will lead to gradual tattoo fading. That is something inevitable and an issue people generally deal with after 10 or 20 years of having tattoos. The fading is surely more significant and visible in people who haven’t used sun protection, and of course, in people who are older in age and who have had their tattoos for a few decades.<\/p>\n This can be generally fixed with tattoo touch-ups, to revive the tattoo a bit and bring it back to life. The touch-ups work the best in black & grey tattoos because they’re the best in withstanding the sun exposure tattoo fading. Colored tattoos are more prone to fading due to sun exposure, and are surely more difficult to touch up and fix.<\/p>\n With spring finally arriving, and summer around the corner, the season of exposed tattoos is right here. However, with the sun out, we need to start thinking about proper tattoo protection. Sometimes, those long-sleeve shirts aren’t enough to protect the tattoos, so we sure hope our insight into sunscreen protection has been useful.<\/p>\n We surely urge you to do your own research when it comes to the type of sunscreen you think would suit your skin type and lifestyle, but make sure to follow our recommendations for finding the best product. Kee pin mind that the better the tattoo protection, the more vivid and brighter will your tattoo stay, even years after getting it done.<\/p>\nYour Guide to Safely Tanning With Tattoos<\/h2>\n
Tanning With a New Tattoo \u2013 When?<\/h3>\n
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Sunscreen and New Tattoo<\/h3>\n
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Sun Exposure and Tattoo Fading<\/h3>\n
Final Thoughts<\/h2>\n