Summer is right around the corner and you know what that means: you’ll be hitting the beach, the pool, and the tanning beds beforehand like nobody’s business. So what do you do if you have tattoos? You protect them, just like you would with all your skin when it comes to the risk of UV rays!
As addicting as worshiping the sun can be, it wreaks havoc on the skin (hello, fine lines!) and especially on tattoos. When you’re getting intense exposure to the sun, or the UV rays in a tanning bed, it’s a smart idea to wear a good, protective tattoo sunscreen to shield yourself. If your ink is quite detailed, colorful, or bold, even more reason to coat on the SPF, and at the highest level you can find. This goes for using tanning beds as well, because the synthetic ultraviolet rays can be even more damaging. Many people tend to forget their own limits in tanning beds, and it is very easy to get burned. Any kind of burn can damage your tat, and this is something to watch out for if you’re the type who loves the sun.
If your tattoo is brand new, do not put sunblock on it! During the healing phase, you need to follow your tattooist’s aftercare instructions, exclusively! SPF is generally safe to use after the tat has peeled, and the first protective layer of skin has grown in. It takes about 3 months for a tattoo to be mostly healed, and before that time direct sunlight is better avoided.
You are probably already aware that sunscreen is going to cover your butt when it comes to protecting from things like skin cancer, but if your tat means a lot, take the tiny bit of extra effort and get on some SPF to protect it!
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