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Did you just get that special tattoo that you’ve always wanted? It looks great now, but how can you keep it bright and bold for many years to come?
While some fading over time is natural and to be expected, one of the saddest things ever is premature fading of beautiful artwork due to neglect during the sunshine-y months.
Proper care for your tattoo is crucial, especially in the first few months. Even if your tattoo is in a discrete spot and covered by clothing, it’s still at risk for fading, colour spreading, and scarring due to sneaky UV rays.
Thankfully, there are some easy options to care for your tattoos that can just become a part of your daily grooming regimen. Even if you have sensitive skin here are all the tricks you need right here.
When considering a new tattoo, consider getting it on skin that is free of moles. A tattoo can make it more difficult to see the earliest signs of skin cancer.
Protect your tattoo from the sun: Ultraviolet (UV) light can fade some tattoo inks. When you’re in the sun, protect your tattoo by applying a broad-spectrum, water-resistant sunscreen with a Sun Protection Factor (SPF) of 30 or more. Apply the sunscreen 15 minutes before you go outside and reapply at least every two hours.
Keep it covered: If your tattoo is less than 4 weeks old, don’t expose it to the sun at all if you can. It’s best to keep it covered and away from the sun. It is annoying, but in the long run it’s best to make sure every bit of colour stays just as bright as it should, as UV rays can penetrate and bleach the tattoo and cause darker colours to spread. Maybe even worse is the fact that your delicate skin will burn more easily and is at a higher risk for scarring from sun damage during this stage, not to mention upping your risk of melanoma and other not nice things.
Let it heal properly: Despite the fact that it may be tempting to show off your new tattoo right away, you should wait at least 10-14 days until you let it get in contact with direct sunlight.
See a dermatologist if you have a skin reaction or if your tattooed skin is changing in any way. Your skin may have a bad reaction to the ink in a tattoo. This can happen immediately after getting a tattoo or years later, a change could also be a sign of skin disease. A dermatologist can diagnose what’s happening and treat it.
Beware of water: Try to stay out of pools, bathtubs/hot tubs, the ocean, etc. Any kind of prolonged soaking, abrasive or chemical filled water situation should be avoided at all costs during your 14 day healing period. This will tamper with the healing process and potentially can damage the work you just paid for. When bathing, take light showers while trying to not to let the water run directly over the tattoo, and certainly don’t scrub the area.
If your tattooed skin feels dry, apply cream to the tattoo don’t use a petroleum jelly. If you apply petroleum jelly, it can cause the ink to fade.
