It’s summer, it’s hot, and your tattooed body is even hotter. Of course you’re not going to hide your gorgeous tattoos under your clothes! But tattooed skin is extremely sensitive to the sun. This is especially true for designs that have just been inked. Make sure your skin stays healthy! Protect your tattoo this summer! We’ll tell you what you absolutely need to keep in mind when it comes to the sun and tattoos.
Sun and tattoos – what exactly happens there?
The sun's intense UV rays are the main cause of tattoo fading. That's because they cause the pigments to fade. You've probably noticed this with your patio furniture and T-shirts: anything that sits or hangs in the sun for a long time loses its color. The same thing happens to your tattoo.
UVA and UVB rays can penetrate deep into the skin. The photochemical processes triggered by this break down the pigments. Less pigment means less color intensity. Under the influence of UV rays, collagenases also form. These are enzymes that break down the skin’s collagen fibers. The skin becomes drier and less elastic. This also accelerates the aging process of your tattoo.
It’s best not to expose fresh tattoos to the sun at all. Once they’ve healed, you can let them get some sun, but you should always apply a special sunscreen.
Get your tattoo in 3 steps
You’ll receive a personalized tattoo consultation. Contact us via email or Superchat (click the icon in the bottom right corner).
Book your appointment.
In a relaxed atmosphere, we'll make your dream tattoo a reality.
Here's what to look for in sunscreen for tattoos!
Effective sun protection is extremely important for your tattoo. Please note once again: Only tattoos that have fully healed should be exposed to the sun. That’s why you should always apply sunscreen only to tattoos that have fully healed!
Make sure to use a high SPF (SPF 50+). This is important even if you have a darker skin tone and are already tanned. You should apply sunscreen very generously to your tattoo and reapply it several times a day. And this applies not only to long sunbathing sessions at the beach, but also when you’re playing volleyball with friends in the park, going on long hikes with your dog, or strolling through the pedestrian zone with friends.
The sun dries out your skin. That’s why you need to moisturize in the evening. Ideally, you shouldn’t just use any old after-sun lotion, but a special tattoo care product.
Freshly cut: best to avoid the sun
About eight weeks after getting your tattoo, you can go out in the sun again—provided your tattoo has fully healed. Until then, you should definitely avoid it. That’s because you shouldn’t apply sunscreen to open wounds—so you can only put it on your skin once the tattoo has fully healed.
Direct sunlight is not good for a fresh tattoo. Cover your tattoo with loose-fitting clothing. Sun and tattoos simply don’t mix, which is why you should also avoid outdoor pools and swimming in lakes. Since open wounds can easily become infected, taking a bath at home is also a bad idea, and indoor pools are off-limits as well. You should also avoid visiting a tanning salon.
Swimming or a tanning bed: It's not that simple!
Wait to go swimming until your tattoo has fully healed. How long that takes varies from person to person, but it usually takes about six weeks. If you want to be absolutely sure (and we recommend this), wait eight weeks after getting the tattoo before you go swimming again. And this applies to outdoor pools, indoor pools, the ocean, and lakes just as much as it does to your home pool and your own bathtub. Chlorine and salt water irritate the skin and cause the ink to fade. Tap water is also chlorinated.
You should also avoid tanning beds if your tattoo hasn't fully healed yet. Sunlight and tattoos don't mix well (due to high UV radiation), and tanning beds emit the same kind of radiation. These artificial light sources emit a particularly high amount of UV radiation, which can seriously damage your tattoo.
Is getting a tattoo in the summer risky?
"Freshly inked" means you shouldn't wear tight clothing over your tattoo. Open wounds heal best in the fresh air—so summer should be the best time of year for a new tattoo, right?
No, the opposite is true. Every tattoo is a large open wound. High temperatures and sweating are not conducive to healing. For many people, the pain of getting a tattoo can cause circulatory problems. Summer temperatures make this much worse. So summer is generally a bad time to get a tattoo, especially if it’s a large one.
Sun and tattoos don't mix either—do you really want to miss out on the pool and sunbathing for two whole months? You're better off getting your tattoo in the fall or spring. The milder temperatures are still fine for loose, light clothing, and your tattoo will heal better then.