In general, you should keep a new tattoo completely protected from the sun for at least three to four weeks.
You should keep a new tattoo completely protected from the sun for at least three to four weeks. If your new tattoo has not completely healed yet, exposing the tattoo area to sunlight could result in blistering. One should apply sunscreen everytime they step out in the sun to avoid tattoo fading.
You should be fine, especially if it's mostly healed over. If it's still very scabby then I would suggest keeping it covered. Otherwise I'd say you're good to go. I heal very quickly so by 2 weeks my tattoo would be completely healed over (obviously not totally settled) and I'd be using sunscreen outside already.
On average, a tattoo takes two to four weeks to heal. However, it takes about three to six months for the skin underneath the tattoo to fully heal. 12 This time depends on specific skin reactions, tattoo size, and ink colors used.
Keep it covered as much as possible. Your tattoo is still really fresh, and the skin hasn't even fully healed over the area, so the ink will have even less protection from the sun. It is crucial that you keep it covered during this phase of the healing.
Usually, you should remove your tattoo bandage after 3-4 hours. Carefully wash your new tattoo with a professional tattoo cleanser or mild antibacterial soap and lukewarm water. Pat it dry with a fresh paper towel. Always wash your hands before cleaning or touching any skin near the fresh tattoo.
If your artist did not recommend re-wrapping, just let the tattoo stay exposed to air overnight. Every day from then on, you will wash the tattoo in the morning and at night, and apply lotion 3 times a day or so, or whenever the tattoo feels dry or tight. Always wash your hands before touching the tattoo.
Tattoo Care After 2 Weeks (Days 15 to 30):
This is the last stage of the healing process. Most, if not all, of the scabs will have fallen off by this point. If your tattoo looks dry and dull, continue to moisturize to rehydrate the skin.
Use the Aquaphor for the first 2-3 days then switch to a regular FRAGRANCE-FREE lotion such as Lubriderm, or any other fragrance-free brand. 5. Fresh tattoos sometimes “weep” during the first couple of days, meaning that plasma and ink form a thin moist coating on the skin. This can be DABBED with a clean paper towel.
ACCELERATE THE TATTOO HEALING PROCESS – Saniderm tattoo care bandages help prevent scabbing, which means accelerated tattoo healing and less irritation. Less scabbing also means the risk of damaging your tattoo is greatly reduced.
Lighter, faded tattoos are generally easier to cover than darker ones. The cover up artist will need to consider the existing colors and determine if they will be visible through the new tattoo. Furthermore, having multiple colors in the original piece can make covering it more challenging.
Until your tattoo is fully healed, you cannot apply any type of sunscreen, and it's really best to just avoid exposing the area to any direct sunlight whatsoever. If you plan to be outside in the sun with a new tattoo, then your best and safest protection is to keep the area covered with loose clothing.
It's recommended to wait at least 2–4 weeks before taking a bath, or until your tattoo is fully healed. By this time, the scabs should have fallen off naturally, and the skin should no longer appear raw or irritated. However, healing times can vary depending on the size, placement, and individual skin type.
There hasn't been an official study on how much ink (if any) Aquaphor can remove or fade from a tattoo. In the interest of fairness, plenty of tattoo artists claim that they've never experienced ink loss in their clients that use Aquaphor.
You can pat the tattoo gently with a clean paper towel, but you must let the tattoo dry, uncovered, for 15 to 20 minutes after each cleaning. Any extra moisture trapped by immediately covering the tattoo is an invitation for bacteria to multiply.
It is considered fully healed when all scabs have fallen off, and the skin has regenerated and closed up. This process generally takes between 2 to 4 weeks. At this point, you can stop washing your tattoo with soap, as it will be protected by its own layers of skin.
Sun Protection for New Tattoos
In general, you should keep a new tattoo completely protected from the sun for at least three to four weeks.
How fast can a tattoo get infected? Some infections occur shortly after getting a tattoo. Others develop over time, and you might not notice them until months later.
It's recommended that tattoos remain out of direct sunlight for at least the first month, but that doesn't mean you're in the clear once that time is up. Sun exposure can still cause colors to fade, which is why it's always best to protect your tattoo from sun exposure whenever possible.
Is it OK to wear clothes over a new tattoo? Yes, but try not to after the few initial days after application. If you do, make sure you change your clothes frequently. In our experience, tattoos can weep onto the clothes and if you don't change them, it can cause infection.
It's also important that a fresh tattoo be protected from the sun and dirty environments, as it's still an open wound at this time. All normal activities involving water or sun exposure can usually be resumed after 10-14 days. Only apply ointment for as long as it takes for your tattoo to peel, usually 3-7 days.