There is something exciting, vibrant, and clear about new tattoos. However, if you rush into the sun too soon after getting your new tattoo, you may ruin its aesthetics. Regardless of whether your tattoo is visible or hidden, you should research how best to take care of it. It is possible to fade, scar, or spread the color of your tattoo if you expose it to too much sun, particularly within the first few months after getting it. As long as you prevent and preserve your tattoos, you can protect them. Following that, we discuss the best ways to protect old and new tattoos from the sun.

1. What the Sun Does to Your Tattoos

In direct sunlight, UV rays from the sun can fade your tattoos. When you leave your ink in the sun, UV rays absorb it and break up the pigment. In reality, tattoos are actually under two layers of skin, with the top layer acting as a filter between the pigment and the sun. Colors will fade, regardless of how dark they started, the more they are exposed to the sun.

There is a greater risk of damage to new tattoos. If it is a new tattoo, no protection is provided. If your tattoo is exposed to sunlight, it may fade, crack, blister or peel if it burns faster than the healed skin.

The tattooed skin is considered an open wound until the scabbing process is complete. Depending on the size and location of the tattoo, this may take two to three weeks to heal.

Although this is recommended for all fresh tattoos, lighter-colored tattoos should be kept out of the sun.

When stabilized and exposed to these lights, lighter colors fade faster than black, dark green, dark blue, and dark purple. Darker colors have been proven over time to be lightfast. To help your tattoo maintain its brilliant color, you should be careful during the healing process and use sunscreen as often as possible.

2. The Best Way to Protect Your Tattoo From the Sun

• Wear sunscreen: Sunscreen is the first form of tattoo protection. You can prevent skin cancer, wrinkles, blemishes, and other skin problems by applying sunscreen. When prepping your ink for sun protection, any sunscreen is better than no sunscreen, but most artists recommend using a fragrance-free sunscreen of SPF 30-50 (with natural ingredients if possible). It doesn't matter if you have tattoos or not whether you use chemical or physical sunscreen. Tattoos need SPF to protect them from UV rays. Broad-spectrum sunscreen protects against both UVA and UVB rays, which is most important when choosing a sunscreen. The appearance of tattoos can be damaged over time by injury and chronic UV exposure, resulting in fading, wrinkles, dullness, and dryness. Sunscreen can be applied to a healed tattoo, but fresh ink must heal first (use a bandage or loose clothing instead). To ensure a lasting, strong layer of protection, reapply sunscreen every two hours.

• Cover-up: You can also keep your new tattoo out of the sun if you don't want to reapply sunscreen. In the first two weeks, at the very least, avoid direct sunlight on your new tattoo. In addition to fading the tattoo's color, sun exposure can also burn the skin, leaving it scarred. You don't have to stay inside all day to protect your tattoo from the sun. To preserve vibrant colors and lines of the ink, wear at least one layer in the sun. As long as it completely covers the tattoo design, it can be light.

• Winter Tattoos: Consider what time of year you want to get a tattoo in order to avoid sunburn tattoos. When you get a tattoo in winter, you will be less exposed to the sun, since colder weather makes it more important to wear clothing to protect yourself from the sun. Dry skin is also a consequence of winter. When the weather turns colder, your skin may feel dry, flaky, and itchy. Use a moisturizing lotion to remedy this. We love the original fragrance-free formula for protecting your new tattoo. For intense moisture and protection, apply day or night. (Or use a lotion that tattoo artists recommend.)

Getting a tattoo too close to a vacation or beach will cause you to cover the water with ink constantly. While salt water seems to help (chlorine water - not so much), soaking of any kind during the initial healing process can lead to infection and damage the design work. Wait until you know you won't be going on vacation for a month or so before getting a summer tattoo. While on vacation, would you consider getting a tattoo? If you wait until the end of the trip, you can still have fun in the sun and worry about follow-up care at home.

• Moisturize regularly from the inside out: Drinking water daily and moisturizing regularly are recommended. Maintain your skin's natural moisture barrier by keeping it well hydrated so that it can protect itself from external damage. It's not necessary to take more showers to stay moisturized. Short, warm showers are more beneficial than long, hot showers, which strip the skin's natural oils and dry out the skin.

• Check your skin: Check your skin for any visible signs of damage if you expose your tattoo to the sun. Check your tattoo regularly for any changes and additions (this should be done every week, no matter the season! ), and make sure the design isn't seriously out of shape. Taking precautions in the sun doesn't guarantee you've successfully blocked your ink. It is common for new tattoos to peel, but if you have any concerns, call your doctor.

3. Final Thoughts

As a whole, tattoo aftercare is straightforward when it comes to sun exposure: the better your skin is taken care of, the better your tattoo will look. You can keep your tattoo looking fresh and vibrant with these tips and the appropriate course of treatment from your dermatologist and/or tattoo artist.