It’s summer, it’s hot, and your tattooed skin feels even hotter. Needless to say, your beautiful tattoos aren’t hidden under your clothes. However, 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 to keep in mind when it comes to the sun and tattoos.
Sun and tattoos: What exactly happens?
The sun's intense UV radiation is the main cause of tattoo fading. This is because it causes the pigments to fade. You've probably noticed this with your outdoor furniture and T-shirts: anything that stays in the sun for a long time loses its color. The same thing will happen to your tattoo.
UVA and UVB rays can penetrate deep into the skin. The photochemical processes triggered by this break down pigments. Less pigment means less color intensity. Under the influence of UV rays, collagenases are also formed. 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 is best not to expose fresh tattoos to the sun at all. Once they have healed, tattoos can be exposed to the sun, but they should always be protected with a special sunscreen.
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Pay attention to this when using sunscreen for tattoos!
Effective sun protection is very important for your tattoo. Keep this in mind: Only fully healed tattoos should be exposed to the sun. That’s why you should only apply sunscreen to fully healed tattoos!
Make sure to use a high sun protection factor (SPF 50+). This is also important if you have darker skin and are already tanned. You should apply sunscreen very generously to the 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 in the park with friends, taking long walks with your dog, or strolling through the pedestrian zone with your friends.
The sun dries out your skin. That’s why you need to moisturize it at night. It’s best not to use just any after-sun lotion, but a special moisturizer designed for tattoos.
Freshly pierced: best to avoid the sun
About eight weeks after getting your tattoo, you can start sunbathing again, provided the tattoo has fully healed. Before then, you should avoid doing so. This is because you shouldn’t apply sunscreen to open wounds; it should only be applied to the skin once the tattoo has fully healed.
Direct sunlight is not good for a fresh tattoo. Cover your tattoo with loose-fitting clothing. The sun and tattoos just don’t mix, so you should also avoid swimming outdoors or in a lake. Since open wounds can easily become infected, taking a bath at home isn’t a good idea either, and indoor pools are also off-limits. It’s also best to avoid tanning beds.
Swimming or the tanning bed: it's not that simple!
Wait until your tattoo has fully healed before swimming. Healing time varies from person to person, but it usually takes about six weeks. If you want to play it safe (and we recommend it), wait eight weeks after getting your tattoo before swimming again. This applies to outdoor pools, indoor pools, the ocean, and lakes, as well as 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 visiting tanning salons if your tattoo hasn't fully healed yet. The sun and tattoos don't mix well (due to high UV radiation), and tanning beds also emit UV radiation. Artificial light sources emit a particularly high proportion of UV radiation, which can severely damage your tattoo.
Is it risky to get a tattoo in the summer?
"Freshly inked" means you shouldn't wear tight clothing over the tattoo. Open wounds heal better when exposed to the air, so summer should be the best time for a new tattoo, right?
No, on the contrary. Every tattoo is a large open wound. High temperatures and sweating don’t help the healing process. For many people, getting a tattoo causes circulatory problems due to the pain. Summer temperatures make this much worse. Therefore, summer is a bad time for large tattoos in particular.
The sun and tattoos don't mix either: do you really want to give up swimming outdoors and sunbathing for two whole months? It's better to get your tattoo in the fall or spring. The moderate temperatures are still perfect for wearing loose, lightweight clothing, and your tattoo will heal better this time of year.