What To Know About Tattoos And Sunburn

Summer brings all types of new fun things for us to do like grilling outdoors or going to the beach. People tend to show more of their skin so that they can beat the heat. But the season also comes with a danger of sunburn. If you have just gotten a new tattoo during summer, you should know a few facts about tattoos and sunburn before heading to the beach.

Take Care of the Wound

After you have gotten a tattoo, you will have a wound that is open. You need to keep the wound sanitized, clean, and away from any irritation. You shouldn’t stay in the sun for long periods. The sun can burn and cause irritation to the wound.

Keep the Tattoo Covered

When you have a healing tattoo and you want to go outdoors, make sure you cover the wound completely. You can be wearing loose cotton clothes.

Cleaning Your Healing Tattoo

Keeping your healing tattoo clean is also important. Here are several tips to help encourage healing:

  • Remove the plastic or bandage that’s covering the wound after 2 to 4 hours.
  • Gently rinse the wound with lukewarm water.
  • Use a liquid antibacterial that is unscented, or you can use antimicrobial soap.
  • Don’t dry your tattoo using a cloth or towel, instead, leave it to air dry.
  • Apply some water-based, non-scented anti-bacterial ointment over the tattoo.
  • Always moisturize and wash your tattoo 3-5 times a day.

New Tattoos

If your new tattoo has been sunburned, you’ll feel pain. You should use an unscented ointment gently on the affected area. Make sure you don’t irritate or scratch any blisters forming. Irritation that’s intense can affect the tattoo design depending on how severe the burn is.

You can take cold water or an ice pack and place it on the affected area to relieve you from the pain. You can also talk to a doctor or specialist about over-the-counter pain killers that might help relieve some of the pain.

Healed Tattoos

When your new tattoo has healed, don’t expose it to direct sunlight. You should keep in mind that sunlight is a dangerous enemy of your new tattoo. The sun’s harsh rays can weather or bleach some of your tattoo colors. So, you still need to continue taking care of your tattoo.

Always remember to keep covering your tattoo, and to keep it away from the sun for 3-4 weeks, until the first healing is complete. Protect your tattoo from the sun by using sunscreen that is SPF 30 or higher, to protect you from the sun burn, and to help the tattoo not to fade from the sun, and retain its color.

Exposure to the sun doesn’t happen only at a summer festival or the beach. Many people expose their tattoos and their skin on their left shoulder or arm while driving. So whenever you are driving, remember to keep a bottle of sun screen in the car to avoid oversight related to the sun.

The best thing to do is to remember to always stay out of the sun as much as you possibly can, if not completely. If you would like more information about taking care of your new tattoo during the summer, contact The San Marcos Tattoo Emporium, located in San Marcos, TX.

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