Use sunscreen and moisturizer often. Always apply sunscreen on your tattoo, especially in the summer, to keep the colors bright. Choose a sunscreen with SPF 30 or higher for best protection. Moisturize your tattoo daily, especially if it's on an area of your body, such as your hands, where it can fade quickly.
It's best to apply sunscreen every few hours for optimal tattoo sun protection. Sunscreen can sometimes be the easiest way to cover your tattoo if your tattoo is located somewhere you cannot easily cover with UPF 50+ fabric, like your ankles, or feet—as long as you are diligent about reapplying.
What are the best ways to keep a new tattoo dry and sweat-free? Wash your tattoo with antibacterial soap Dial Gold. Let it completely air dry. Apply a thin layer of Aquaphor. Do this for 4 days only once a day. After 4 days, use Plain White Lotion Unscented Luba Durham.
Yes, heat is a concern due to the fact that heat opens your pores and with a very fresh tattoo this could affect your skins ability to heal back over quickly and can expose you for more days to possible contaminants. It can also make you sweat (let's save that for the next section).
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.
Sun exposure, heat, and water activities pose unique challenges that, if not managed properly, can lead to fading, infections, or damage to your tattoo. Understanding why summer care is important can help you take the necessary precautions to keep your tattoo looking its best.
It's generally recommended to wait at least 24 hours before jumping into the shower. This initial waiting period gives your skin time to begin healing. When you do shower, try to minimize direct contact with the tattooed area and limit its exposure to water.
Eucerin Aquaphor's gentle and non-irritating formula helps to alleviate discomfort, itchiness, and redness associated with brand new tattoos. By providing a soothing and calming effect, it allows the skin to heal undisturbed, promoting a smoother and more comfortable recovery.
Los Angeles-based board-certified dermatologist James Wang, MD, says Aveeno's Positively Mineral Sensitive Skin Daily Sunscreen is one of the best picks for protecting tattoos against UVA and UVB rays. Its zinc oxide-based formula is free of fragrances, parabens, and phthalates, so it's very gentle on all skin types.
New tattoos fade very quickly when exposed to sunlight. In addition, if your tattoo has not completely healed yet, exposing the area to sunlight could result in blistering. In general, you should keep a new tattoo completely protected from the sun for at least three to four weeks.
TATTOO SUNSCREEN
Once your tattoo heals, sunscreen should become your buddy for life! Whether you are at the beach, on a walk, or just working outdoors, be sure to keep sunblock near you at all times and reapply often. I personally use Inkeeze's Ink Shield Sunscreen and it works great!
Keep Exercise Mild and Sweat-Free
After 48 to 72 hours, you can get back to exercising, but opt for light exercises while your tattoo heals. Keep in mind that certain movements can stretch your skin and delay the healing process. After your workout session, quickly clean any sweat off of your tattoo.
Natural migration of pigment in the skin is manifested by: lines become visually wider; a small (about a millimeter) shadow may appear near the tattoo lines; there will be less empty space between the lines.
Unfortunately, there's no way to control what your body does while you sleep, but keeping your new tattoo covered during the night will help mitigate the risk of causing any injuries by scratching it.
Don't worry, this is completely natural. It happens because the old skin, damaged during the tattooing process, forms a thin layer over your tattoo and masks its true appearance. In time this old skin will naturally exfoliate itself, revealing your tattoo underneath in all its vibrant glory.
What NOT to do? DON'T re-bandage your tattoo, rub, scratch or pick at your new tattoo. DON'T apply alcohol, Neosporin, Vaseline, or petroleum jelly (they can trap dirt and germs and cause infection). DON'T apply a heavy coat of lotion (remember the skin must breathe in order to heal).
Keep Your Ink at Room Temperature
Like most liquids, tattoo ink is susceptible to freezing in lowered temperatures. This can cause the substance to expand and rupture its outer container. Likewise, keeping your ink in a place that's too warm can cause the mixture to separate.
A new University of Kentucky College of Medicine study published in the Journal of Applied Physiology finds that tattooed skin does not sweat as much as non-inked areas of the body, which may have implications for the body's ability to cool in people with extensive tattooing.
Yes, your body can reject tattoo ink. This is often evident in symptoms like itching, swelling, and raised skin. Tattoo ink rejection is typically due to an allergic reaction to the ink. In such cases, removal or medical attention may be necessary.