Covering up using clothing with built-in UPF, as previously mentioned, adds an additional layer of protection. Plus, keeping your tattoo covered by clothing this summer can also help keep out sand and other particles that may irritate your tattoo and lead to infection.
You should wait at least 2 WEEKS before being in the ocean or a pool. Not just for the potential bacteria, salt or cholrine, but you want to keep the tattoo as dry as possible. Unless kept dry, it will heal poorly.
It acts as an exfoliant, which is not good for a fresh tattoo. Sand may also carry bacteria, especially if near a questionable body of water or litter, which can lead to infection of exposed skin cells.
It's generally not recommended to tan with a new tattoo. Here are a few reasons why: Healing Process: A new tattoo is essentially an open wound that needs to heal. Sun exposure can irritate the skin and delay the healing process. Fading: UV rays can cause the ink in your tattoo to fade.
Apply sunscreen
Visiting a tanning bed will fix your paleness, but it may also cause your healed tattoo to fade. Taking a cotton swab and applying sunscreen, SPF 30 or higher, on the tattoo can help prevent it from fading. You can also use indoor tanning lotions that offer tattoo protection.
KEEP IT SHADY
Keeping your sunscreen handy is a lifesaver, but if you forget from time to time, opt for the shade whenever possible and cover your ink with a towel or clothing if you need to. You may have a funny tan, but your ink will still be poppin'!
It's an old method, and it does technically work, provided you rub enough skin off to reach the layer where the ink is held. You could also achieve the same effect with coarse sand or sandpaper. WE DO NOT RECOMMEND that anyone try it at home! This process is extremely painful and leads to terrible scarring.
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.
Apply a waterproof bandage to cover your ink while in water: "If it isn't possible to wait until the tattoo is fully healed before swimming, then use a waterproof dressing such as Saniderm and limit the amount of time in the water and with the dressing on as much as possible," Dr. King says.
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.
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.
“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.
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).
Covering up using clothing with built-in UPF, as previously mentioned, adds an additional layer of protection. Plus, keeping your tattoo covered by clothing this summer can also help keep out sand and other particles that may irritate your tattoo and lead to infection.
We recommend Aquaphor as the healing ointment for your tattoo. Apply a small amount to the tattoo, and rub it in thoroughly, as if you were applying lotion.
Tattoo Infections
During the healing phase, keeping your tattoo clean is key. Avoid touching your fresh tattoo unless you are cleaning it or applying aftercare. Be mindful of transfers of dirt and germs from dirty hands. Clean surroundings are your weapon against tattoo infections.
Hydrogen Peroxide and Exfoliation - Exfoliation paired with hydrogen peroxide can do wonders to gradually fade tattoo ink naturally. This is because exfoliation removes dead skin while hydrogen peroxide is a skin lightening agent that has bleaching properties.
While laser is definitely the best method of removing tattoo ink, certain pigments used in cosmetic tattoos don't respond well to laser treatment. The ingredients in these pigments can be very different from those used in conventional ink, and laser treatment could change the color of some rather than lightening them.
If you can't avoid the beach or prolonged sun exposure, there are several things you can do to protect your new ink. First, wear clothing that offers UV protection over the tattooed area. If there's no way to cover the tattoo, you'll want to apply heavy-duty sunscreen (we're talking 60 SPF or more).
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.