How To Tan With A Tattoo
Do you have a tattoo but would still like to get tanned? For you to keep your adored piece of art on your skin for longer, you need to take care of it. Yes, tattoos are “permanent,” but they fade with time.
Before one invests in a tattoo, it needs proper thought given to getting one, and it sure cost you money. A tattoo is a constant reminder of something, could be the one you love, a turning point in your life, etc.
Whatever your reason, once you get a tattoo you would want to keep it longer unless it was done in a drunken state of mind and you regretted the decision once the hangover was over. Find more on how to tan with a tattoo.
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The Effects Of Ultraviolet Radiation On Your Tattoo
The radiation from the sun affects the ink of your tattoo. It causes it to fade with time. So, to increase the longevity of your tattoo, you need to keep it away from ultraviolet radiation at all times. As the skin renews itself, so does your ink fade, the radiation only speeds up the process.
When you get a new tattoo, you will always be advised to keep it away from radiation. You need to let it heal as your skin starts to form a protective layer of skin on the artwork. It tends to exfoliate itself as it heals, to the extent that it peels, flakes or even scabs.
Healing of your tattoo is complete, once the exfoliation process comes to an end. According to the Columbia University, your skin will take approximately 45 days to repair the damage fully. That’s why you are often advised to wait 2-4 weeks before tanning or applying sun protective lotions on the area of your tattoo.
Different parts of the body vary in the time taken to heal after getting a tattoo altogether. The feet and hands usually recover at a faster rate than the rest of the body. You need to ensure that you stay hydrated at all times and that your diet comprises of components that will help your skin to heal fast.
If you expose your new tattoo to ultraviolet radiation it may result in:
Deters The Healing Process
A new tattoo is like an open wound and will be extremely sensitive to exposure to ultraviolet rays. You may get a burning sensation in the area once you expose it.
It May Damage Your Skin
Where you have a new tattoo is prone to burning more quickly than other areas of your skin. If you get sunburn on your ink, it may result in blistering of the area, cracking and even peeling.
Faster Fading Of The Ink
The longer you expose your tattoo to ultraviolet radiation, the faster it will fade. The size and location of the tattoo will determine how quickly the tattoo heals.
You may decide to put sunscreen on a new tattoo to block it from the radiation of the sun. However, the area where you just had a tattoo is very sensitive during the healing process. Sunscreen contains chemicals that are harsh and could result in irritation of the area.
Also, apply tanning lotion directly on your tattoo may have an odd effect on how the tattoo will end up looking. It is just like using any other cream on a newly acquired ink. And you want the ink to retain the fine outlines, beautiful combination of colors, longer.
Tanning After Healing
Once you have waited out the healing process and there is no more peeling or scabbing of the skin, then you can get a tattoo. How do you protect it from radiation?
1. Always apply sunscreen of SPF 30 on your tattoo. It will prevent most of the radiation of the sun from penetrating through it. Depending on how long you spend outdoors and in the sun, reapply sunscreen on the area regularly the same way you would protect your skin from getting burned by the sun.
If you forgot to put on sunscreen, then try to stick to the shaded areas. Or keep your tattoo covered.
2. If you are at the beach, swimming pool, or in constant contact with water in the outdoors. Opt for a water-resistant sunblock cream that will offer you protection even as you keep getting in and out of the water.
Water reflects the radiation of the sun, and when you are near, even if the sky is overcast, you are still exposed to the radiation.
3. For indoor tanning, you can apply sunscreen on the area or cover it with a piece of clothing. However, since the radiation is more concentrated in beds than outdoors, merely using a piece of clothing may not offer adequate protection.
You can also use sunblock sticks to apply on the tattoo to protect and keep it vibrant and shiny.
4. When sunless tanning with spray tans, you can cover the ink with a barrier cream to prevent the tanning formula from affecting the area. Sometimes, light tattoo colors turn darker after a spray tanning session. Luckily, you can always wipe it off if you don’t like the outcome.
5. Remember to moisturize regularly. It will keep you from losing bits of the skin on the tattooed area and thus help it to last longer and beautifully. If you feel the area is becoming dry or flaky, moisturize it.
The colors of your tattoo fade at different rates, with black being the most resistant and white the least. Depending on how well the tattoo was done, was the ink inserted at the correct depth? If so, then it will have a longer life as long as you keep it out of the sun and its radiation.
For you to keep the beautiful designs and colors, then you need to take care of the tattoo. That is if you don’t want it to fade in a mushy pattern having lost all its beauty and appeal. If you don’t have the time and patience for this, then why not get a tattoo from a tan, as you can see from the video below.
Conclusion
So, yes you can still get a golden bronzed skin color after getting a tattoo. However, you need to let the tattoo heal first. Ensure that the area has stopped scabbing as this indicates that the healing process is complete.
During the healing process, the tattooed area is usually very sensitive to radiation and even lotions. To let it heal naturally and optimally, you should stay away from the sun for preferably 3-4 weeks. Don’t be tempted to apply sunblock on the area as it may lead to irritation.
Once the tattoo is completely healed, you can get tanned on the rest of your body. Remember always to apply sunscreen on the area or cover it from intense radiation. If you are in and out of the water, then use a waterproof sunblock cream.
For sunless tanners, apply barrier cream to the inked region before spraying the tanning formula. If you follow the above, then you will have that intricate artwork, last beautifully and for longer.
