You shouldn't wear sunscreen for the first four weeks after getting a tattoo. However, if you've had your new tattoo for over four weeks and it has healed, sunscreen is a great way to protect it in summer. Another way to protect your fresh tattoo against sun exposure is by wearing long-sleeved shirts or pants.
Like everyone here is saying, covering up the tattoo with a thin long sleeve shirt is the best option to keeping the sun off your new tattoo. Anything made from cotton or UV protective beach/fishing shirt will be your best bet. Both of these options should be available to you at a store like Walmart.
Long sleeves, pants, or a hat can provide good protection. Seek Shade: Whenever possible, stay in the shade, especially during peak sun hours (10 AM to 4 PM). Use Bandages or Wraps: For new tattoos, consider using a non-stick bandage or tattoo wrap that is breathable but provides a barrier against UV rays.
Avoid Sun Exposure:
Staying in the shade or bringing an umbrella are great ways to protect your new tattoo from the sun. Covering up using clothing with built-in UPF, as previously mentioned, adds an additional layer of protection.
It's better to wait two months, because the dermis will take one to two months to heal perfectly. In the meantime, the best thing to do is to cover your tattoo or apply a bandage to it - even on a terrace.
You shouldn't wear sunscreen for the first four weeks after getting a tattoo. However, if you've had your new tattoo for over four weeks and it has healed, sunscreen is a great way to protect it in summer. Another way to protect your fresh tattoo against sun exposure is by wearing long-sleeved shirts or pants.
Apply a quality sunscreen to protect your sensitive skin from UV damage, a waterproof dressing, and ensure your tattoo does not come in contact with sand. Chlorine is drying for the skin, but applying barrier creams or ointments and a waterproof bandage can help divert chlorine from affecting your new tattoo.
Arguably, the best makeup to cover tattoos is tattoo makeup—that is, makeup specifically formulated for tattoo coverage. That can be hard to find, though (not to mention pricey). If you don't have any tattoo makeup on hand, a color corrector, foundation, and concealer will get the job done, too.
Exposing a new tattoo to sunlight can cause fading, and the ultraviolet (UV) radiation can cause a tattoo to scab over, which can interfere with healing. People should avoid sunbathing and other types of sun exposure for 1–3 weeks while the tattoo heals.
It's best to wait at least 2-3 weeks (or as long as your tattoo artist advises) before going near a tanning bed. If you absolutely must tan, cover the area with a bandage, wrap, or medical tape to shield the tattoo from UV exposure.
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.
At the very least, make sure not to expose a new tattoo to direct sunlight for the first month of having it—especially the first two weeks. Not only will sun exposure cause the tattoo's colors to fade, as previously mentioned, but it may also burn your skin and scar it from sun damage.
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.
If you're outdoors, seek shade or cover your tattoo with loose-fitting, breathable clothing. Fabrics like cotton are preferable as they allow air circulation while providing protection from UV rays. Next, sunscreen is your best friend.
The initial bandage
Tattoo aftercare starts in the tattoo shop. Once the tattoo is done, the artist will apply a thin layer of tattoo jelly or moisturizer over the entire tattooed area. They will then cover the area completely with plastic wrap or a bandage.
Clothing and shade are your first line of defense. Consider using lightweight, breathable tattoo covers or wraps if you'll be spending extended time in the sun. Even old tattoos require vigilant sun protection to maintain vibrancy and prevent fading.
Your first night sleeping, your artist might recommend you re-wrap the tattoo with plastic wrap (like Saran Wrap) to sleep without the tattoo sticking to your sheets. This is generally for larger or solid-color tattoos. If your artist did not recommend re-wrapping, just let the tattoo stay exposed to air overnight.
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.
Until the surface of the tattoo is healed (at a minimum of two to three weeks), wash the area gently 2-3 times per day. After cleaning the tattoo during this two to three week period, gently apply a thin coat of a lotion-based care product. We recommend After Inked tattoo moisturizer and aftercare lotion.
Moisturize regularly. Avoid tight-fitting clothing around your tattooed area for the first two weeks. Avoid sun exposure whenever possible with UV-blocking sunscreen and UPF clothing, like our men's sun protective tees or our women's UPF 50+ shirts.
Effortlessly conceal your new tattoos and protect them from harmful UV rays with Derm Shield Black. Recovery Derm Shield, a latex-free transparent matte film adhesive bandage, offers maximum breathability and flexibility, providing optimal conditions for flawless healing and skin renewal.
“Water in a pool, lake, or the ocean has bacteria that can potentially get into the newly tattooed skin,” she adds, adding that salt or chlorinated water can be irritating and delay the healing of your new tattoo. Valentine adds that swimming can also affect the final result of your tattoo.