Tattoo applications are becoming more and more common day by day. Ensuring that the tattoo appears in vivid colors after the application is at least as important as the application process. Here are some suggestions for keeping tattooed skin healthy and vibrant:
How Should Skin Care Be After Tattoo?
- If your tattooed skin feels dry, apply a water-based lotion or cream to the tattoo. Petroleum-based products such as oily pomades, ointments, and petroleum jelly can cause the ink to fade.
- Protect your tattoo from the sun. Ultraviolet (UV) light can fade some tattoo inks. Protect your tattoo by applying a broad-spectrum, water-resistant sunscreen with a Sun Protection Factor (SPF) of 30 or higher when you’re in the sun. Apply sunscreen 15 minutes before going outside and reapply at least every two hours.
- Avoid tanning beds and sunlamps. These devices can also fade the ink in tattoos and increase your risk of skin cancer. For some people, UV light can react with tattoo ink, causing a painful skin reaction.
- If you have a skin reaction or your tattooed skin changes in any way, see a dermatologist. Your skin can react badly to the ink in a tattoo. This can happen right after you get a tattoo or years later. A change can also be a sign of a skin condition. A dermatologist can diagnose and treat what’s going on.
- When considering a new tattoo, consider getting one on skin that doesn’t have a mole. Tattoos can make it harder to see the earliest signs of skin cancer. Skin cancer, including melanoma, the deadliest type of skin cancer, is highly treatable when caught early.
