You could say that the battle is only half won once you’ve finalized your tattoo design, booked an appointment with a professional tattoo artist, endured the pain of body art, and paid the artist what he or she deserves. The deal isn’t sealed until your tattoo is fully healed. A crucial part of that is protecting it from the elements, especially the sun, because a new tattoo and sun exposure is not a good combination. You can take our word for it.
It comes as no surprise that people getting their first tattoo or new tattoo enthusiasts wonder how to protect a new tattoo from the sun or how long to keep a tattoo out of the sun. These are natural and important questions to ask, and if you are one of those people, don’t worry! This article will try to answer all of your questions. Scroll down!
What effect does the sun have on tattoos?
Image: IStock
The sun’s UV rays are absorbed by your skin when you are exposed to direct sunlight. These UV rays can break down the pigment in your skin and cause your tattoo to fade prematurely. Although tattoo ink is not applied to the top layer of your skin, constant and direct exposure to sunlight can allow UVA rays to penetrate and lead to loss of tattoo pigment.
While the risk of damaging your tattoo from exposure to sunlight is certainly there are several surefire ways to prevent this. The following section will walk you through it.
How do you protect a tattoo from the sun?
We all want to show off our new body ink as soon as possible. But to let it heal perfectly, we need to give it time and protection. There are several ways to protect a new tattoo from the sun.
1. Apply sunscreen
Image: Shutterstock
Wearing plenty of sunscreen is one of the most effective ways to protect your tattoo when you have to be in direct sunlight. Sunscreens are not only crucial for tattooed skin but also for normal skin to ensure proper protection against wrinkles, sun spots, blotchy skin, uneven skin tone and other skin related issues that can lead to permanent damage if left untreated. Opt for a mild sunscreen with natural ingredients and 30-50 SPF. Make sure it is a broad spectrum sunscreen to protect your skin from both UVA and UVB rays.
2. Cover it
If you don’t mind covering up your tattoo or don’t want to apply and reapply sunscreen, then covering the tattooed skin with a layer of light clothing is the best option for you. It is essential to keep a new tattoo out of the sun for the first month or at least the first two weeks to maintain its vibrancy. As long as it completely covers the tattoo, it will be fine.
Quick tip
If you have a tattoo on your neck or near your face, wear a wide-brimmed hat to protect your tattoos from the sun.
3. Avoid the afternoon peak hours
Image: Shutterstock
If you have a fresh tattoo, try to avoid peak afternoon hours for at least the first 2 weeks. A new tattoo is a fresh, healing wound that is more susceptible to sun damage than normal healthy skin. If you are an outdoors person, try to exercise before 10am and after 4pm when the sun is not as strong.
4. Go to a tattoo shop in winter
One of the smartest decisions you can make to avoid sun exposure is to get your tattoos in the winter. The first reason is that the weather naturally causes us to wear layers of clothing, which helps to protect any body art underneath. The second reason is that the sun is not as bright in the winter as it is in the summer, which results in less UV penetration.
5. Skip the tanning bed
If excessive sun exposure causes wrinkles, sun spots and sunburn, tanning beds are no better for fresh tattoos. Tanning beds give us that scorching hot, just-back-from-vacation look, but they cause just as much, if not more, skin damage. The lights in tanning beds can seriously irritate tattooed skin.
6. Ensure adequate hydration
Image: Shutterstock
By keeping your body and skin hydrated from the inside out, you help your body fight internal and external damage. Hydration doesn’t just mean soaking your skin. You should apply a gentle moisturizer a few times a day and drink plenty of water to maintain your skin’s moisture barrier.
Protecting your tattooed skin from sun damage is essential to prevent negative effects. An important part of that is knowing how long your body art is vulnerable to damage from sun exposure. The following section provides more details on this.
How long should you keep a new tattoo out of the sun?
Image: Shutterstock
A new tattoo is like a fresh wound that is vulnerable to various types of damage such as trauma, infection, irritation, and sun damage. The first 2 weeks after getting a tattoo is when even the slightest carelessness can cause significant damage to your ink. Make sure to at least lightly cover up your tattoo when going out in the sun during this time.
It can take 4-6 weeks for a tattoo to fully heal, depending on size, location, and several other factors. You can allow some sun exposure after applying sunscreen to your tattoo once it has fully healed.
By now, you know that you should protect your new tattoo from sun exposure until it heals, and that you should limit it to maintain the vibrancy of your ink. But what happens if you don’t protect your tattoo from the sun? Find out in the next section.
Why is it important to protect your tattoo from the sun?
Sun exposure can affect a new tattoo in a number of ways. Direct sunlight for extended periods of time is considered harmful to everyone and for those with tattooed skin, it is essential to take certain protective measures for a number of reasons.
It can cause the skin to sag and wrinkle and affect the tattoo design. UVA rays penetrate the skin to break down the tattoo pigment and fade the tattoo. It can cause sunburn on new tattoos. It can lead to changes in pigments. It can cause freckles, moles or sun spots. It prevents the tattoo ink from being absorbed properly.
Pro tip
Keep track of the UV index of your area so you can estimate the intensity of the sun’s rays and protect yourself appropriately from the sun if you plan to go outside.
A vlogger shared how she protects her tattoo sleeves from sun damage. She explained that protection is essential to maintaining the look of the tattoo, adding: “It’s like a painting and you don’t want to leave a painting in the sun because the colours will fade. If you don’t protect your tattoos, your colours will fade and they will fade a lot faster if you’re in the sun (i).”
We all love spending time outdoors and when we have new body art, the urge to show it off is real! However, prolonged exposure to the sun is also known to cause significant damage to the skin. Sun exposure can affect a new tattoo in a particularly damaging way. You can apply sunscreen to tattoos, wear protective clothing such as tattoo sun sleeves, or avoid unnecessary sun exposure to prevent the tattoo from fading and overall sun damage. It is extremely important to ensure that your tattoo gets the optimal healing time if you want to keep your tattoos vibrant for a long time.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is baby lotion good for tattoos?
Although baby lotions are generally mild, tattoo aftercare experts advise against using them on healing tattoos, as they are open wounds and can be irritated by some of the ingredients. Instead, you can use a mild moisturizer or tattoo balms.
Can I put sunscreen on a tattoo?
Yes, you can use sunscreen to protect your tattooed skin. However, avoid applying sunscreen to a fresh tattoo (2-4 weeks old) as it can irritate the skin and hinder the healing process.
How often should I apply sunscreen to my tattoo?
When you are outdoors or exposed to sunlight at home, reapply sunscreen every few hours.
Is it normal for bumps to appear on a tattoo after sun exposure?
Bumps on a tattoo after sun exposure may be a sign of mild skin irritation, but it’s wise to see your doctor and make sure it’s not an allergic reaction or infection.
Key Points
Direct sun exposure affects tattoos in several ways and can lead to fading, pigment changes, or other skin problems such as wrinkles and sun spots. Apply sunscreen, wear full clothing, and avoid going outside in the afternoon to protect your tattoo from sun exposure. A new tattoo should be protected from sun exposure for at least 2 weeks after the tattoo session.
If you have a tattoo sleeve or more than 4-5 tattoos, you need to take care of a larger area to protect your tattoos. Here is a video that can help you with this. Watch it!
Personal experience: Source
StyleCraze’s articles are interwoven with authentic personal stories that add depth and resonance to our content. Below are the sources of the personal accounts referenced in this article.
(i) How to Protect Your Tattoo from Sun Damage. Best Sunscreen to Use. Tiny Tattooed Trekker.https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WFCnujaoA7UWas this article helpful? 
ReviewerAuthorEditorFact Check
Dr. Seepika Jaiswal is a cosmetic dermatologist, hair transplant surgeon and micropigmentation specialist with 7 years of experience. After completing her MBBS, she went on to pursue a diploma in weight loss and a diploma in clinical dermatology from the University of London.
Read the full biography of Dr. Seepika Jaiswal
Gazala Ansari is a beauty and lifestyle writer with two years of experience. She writes on relationships, makeup and lifestyle and holds a Bachelor’s and Master’s degree in English Literature from Central University of Jharkhand.
Read the full biography of Gazala Firdos Ansari
Subhrojyoti is an associate editor at StyleCraze with four years of experience. He holds a Masters degree in English from Presidency University, Kolkata and has also done a postgraduate certificate course in Editing and Publishing from Jadavpur University, Kolkata.
Read the full biography of Subhrojyoti Mukherjee
Shreya is a beauty and lifestyle writer with two years of experience. After graduating from Christ University, Bengaluru, she started as an intern writer for a non-profit organization, Bhumi. After that, she wrote for a progressive content website.
Read Shreya Mukherjee’s full biography
Leave a Reply