As summer approaches, our hearts dream of doing outdoor activities, grilling with friends, and lying in the sun listening to the cool waves of the ocean. It’s also the perfect time to show off your body art, as the weather is nice and you can swap out your sweaters and jeans for tanks, shorts, and swimsuits.
But for those with tattoos, new or old, the sun can be a cause for concern, whether it’s the threat of fading the ink or other types of damage. How can you protect your ink from the sun? Do you really need to wear sunscreen every day?
It may not be the first thing that comes to mind, but our tattoos are highly susceptible to sunburn caused by strong UV rays. Whether you’ve just finished a session with your favorite artist or you’re looking to minimize fading on your favorite body art you’ve had for years, here are some facts you should know and steps you can take. . Read on to learn more about how to protect your tattoo from the sun.
new tattoo and sun
When you get your first tattoo, we know that the first 48 hours are critical. Taking care of your new ink is important, but the sun can have a negative effect on this healing process. Be sure to follow your tattoo aftercare instructions for the first few days to ensure the open wound heals properly. This will help prevent scabs and tattoo blisters from forming. Tattoo aftercare is important in itself, but you should already know that exposure to sunlight is absolutely prohibited during this period.
Please note that while your tattoo is healing, it is important to keep it out of the sun. The ink is still damaged at this point, so please wear protective clothing when going out, avoid direct sunlight, and also avoid using sunscreen products.
It may be tempting to get out in the sun to show off your new ink, but if you want to be safe and make sure your ink heals properly, you’ll have to wait. Please believe us. No matter how tough you are, you don’t want to experience the discomfort of a healing tattoo plus the pain of a sunburn.
Additionally, your skin needs to focus all of its healing efforts on forming new skin cells to create a smooth, even layer of skin, instead of forming flakes and scabs in order for the ink to shine. You don’t want to ruin the look and feel of your new ink, but this can be a significant time and cash investment. Remember to use a soothing gel on your new tattoo to support recovery and soothe irritated skin.
So when is it safe to take your new ink outside and expose it to the sun? Once your tattoo has completely healed (usually 3 to 4 weeks), feel free to wear sun protection factor (SPF). , you can go to the beach or lounge chairs. You know it’s safe to expose to the sun when your tattoo looks and feels completely healed, and the affected area shows no peeling or a “milky” appearance.
This is a “better safe than sorry” situation, so don’t rush to expose yourself to the sun before your tattoo heals. It is best to postpone sun exposure activities until you are sure that your skin has completely healed. Therefore, it is usually wiser to wait until fall or winter to schedule ink sessions. This ensures 100% healing by the time the sun is fully out.
Fade and protect
It is best to adopt a zero-tolerance policy for sun exposure while the tattoo is healing. But when it comes to set and healed ink, how can you minimize fading from the sun? Protecting yourself from the sun is always important, but what role does it play when it comes to body art? ?Can it really do that much harm to my tattoo??
The short answer is yes. Here’s why: Sun damage can cause skin cancer, sunburn, and premature aging. exactly. The sun is responsible for most of the fine lines and wrinkles that appear on your skin as you age. This occurs when oxidation, stress, dehydration, and other factors combine to cause damage at the cellular level, especially in sensitive areas of the skin.
For tattoos, the same properties of skin and the sun come into play, but special consideration is given to ink particles trapped in the upper layers of the skin. Prolonged exposure to sunlight can cause the ink to break down faster, causing it to look blurry or fade sooner than expected. Although some fading due to aging is inevitable, proper protection can prevent fading in the short and medium term.
For these reasons, you should always apply sunscreen lotion when you’re outdoors, and it’s especially important to protect your tattoo from the sun. Applying sunscreen to your tattoo can help fight premature aging, prevent skin discoloration, and prevent your tattoo from fading. Take the right approach to protecting your skin, even when the sun isn’t at its peak, and do the right thing for your tattoo, your skin, and your overall health.
Types of sunlight exposure
There are two types of UV rays that are the main cause of sunburns and ultimately skin cancer. Ultraviolet A (UVA rays) cause skin aging, and ultraviolet B (UVB rays) are associated with a burning sensation in the skin. Spending a lot of time in the sun increases your exposure to these types of UV rays, increasing your risk of skin cancer. Invest in your skin early in life and avoid a potentially painful future.
Do you have that one friend who won’t give up tanning beds? Many people perceive tanning beds to be safe and different from lying in the sun, but that’s not the case. Tanning beds also emit powerful UV rays, so think twice before heading to a tanning salon. A beachy glow isn’t worth it if your skin’s future depends on it. A little sun exposure can lift your mood and give you a healthy glow, but too much of a good thing can quickly go bad.
But wait, what happens if you go outside for 15 minutes for a quick walk? Even if you’re out for a short time, this sun exposure can still cause damage. Of course, the longer you spend outdoors, the more susceptible you are to the sun’s harmful rays, but being away from the sun for even a short period of time can affect you.
For people with fair skin or a history of sunburn, it’s even more important to approach sun protection carefully, regardless of time or place. Take a step back and lather up some sunscreen before heading out.
Keeps ink looking beautiful
As many of us know, tattoos fade over time. We all want to maintain the vibrancy and colorful pigments of our tattoos to avoid inevitable fading. In addition to your efforts to strengthen and repair your tattoo, take another step to protect your healed tattoo. Sunscreen is your partner in fighting the sun’s rays and will prevent your tattoo ink from fading.
Taking the time to apply sunscreen to your ink can help you avoid unnecessary touch-up visits from your tattoo artist. Once your tattoo has fully healed (timing may vary depending on the size and complexity of your new ink), start applying sunscreen regularly (we recommend SPF 30 or higher). Make sunscreen a part of your daily routine. cloudy day? Don’t be fooled. Even if the sun is hidden, it still causes damage. You’ve taken the time, thought, and hard work to get your body ink, so consider sunscreen an investment in your future and thank yourself later.
As mentioned earlier, the sun can be a major cause of premature aging, fine lines, and wrinkles. Who wants that? It’s never too early to start taking care of your skin. It’s much easier to prevent sun damage than to reverse it when it’s too late. If you have a very detailed type of tattoo, such as an ultra-realistic or watercolor style, it’s even more important to take care of your ink with sunscreen and a nourishing skin balm.
Following a good post-tan routine will also help your ink recover from a day at the beach, hike, or rooftop party. Be sure to stay hydrated so that your skin receives the necessary H20 from within.
Clean the affected area thoroughly and consider using a natural tattoo balm to provide important nutrients such as vitamin A. Ingredients such as shea butter and cocoa butter lock in moisture in the affected area and support the healing process, ensuring a healthy tan while reducing the effects of sunburn. damage.
At the end of the day, enjoying your ink and maintaining long-term health requires a big-picture approach to sunscreen and skin care. Mad Rabbit has all the tools you need to care for your skin and ink before, during, and after tanning, any time of the year.
The key to a good tattoo sunscreen
What should you look out for when choosing the right sunscreen for your body art? Choose a sunscreen with SPF 30+ and real natural ingredients. Is it hard to pronounce and has toxic ingredients listed? Yeah…add it to your don’t buy list. You want to protect your tattoo as much as possible. You need a non-nano, clean, and effective sunscreen with broad spectrum protection from harmful UV rays.
What makes our SPF 30 Tattoo Sunscreen the right choice for your ink and skin? Ingredients make the difference. This sunscreen contains zinc oxide to form a protective barrier while nourishing your skin with antioxidants like aloe vera and vitamin C.
Carrot and chamomile extracts support the body’s natural defenses against external stressors and relieve itching and irritation. Whether you have colorful traditional ink or detailed, realistic body art, this sunscreen will do the job and do it well.
Remember that the sun is not the only stressor that affects your skin on a daily basis. This balanced sunscreen will keep your skin looking fresh and supple, even on days without strong UV rays. Pairing a nourishing lotion with the occasional ink-brightening balm will give you a balanced routine that will keep your ink looking its best.
Now that you’ve found the best sunscreen for tattoos, what do you do? For best results, make it part of your daily routine. Apply sunscreen frequently (about every 2 hours). If possible, limit outdoor activities to the hours when the sun is strongest, which is between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. in most areas. It’s always better to think ahead and prevent damage than to try to repair damaged skin later.
Our SPF protection is designed to protect inked skin without harming living art. Mad Rabbit makes tattoo aftercare easy by offering the perfect products for your ink journey. Before you head out into the sun’s harmful UV rays, protect your skin from the sun and maintain its vibrancy and color with our all-natural tattoo sunscreen.
source:
Ultraviolet (UV) Radiation and Sunlight Exposure | EPA
Sun Protection Factor (SPF) | FDA
Sun and skin | NIH News
Sunshine on a cloudy day | Photo Sunshine on a cloudy day American scientist
