Even though cool weather months are best to get a tattoo, most people consider of getting one in the spring and summer, when they are putting on shorts and tank tops and looking to show off more skin. Whether you are planning about getting a tattoo this summer, or already have one, here’s what you should do to take care of it:
#1 Choose your colors carefully
The brighter the color, the faster it will fade. The FDA’s National Center for Toxicology Research says sunlight can cause yellow pigments in particular to break down or disperse over time. Darker colors tend to stay sharper longer, but even black will fade to gray.
#2 Keep it covered
The American Academy of Dermatology suggests using a broad-spectrum, water-resistant sunscreen of at least SPF 30 or higher any time your tat will be exposed to sunlight. I use Lubriderm Advanced Therapy Moisturizer with Sunscreen SPF 30 on mine, every day without fail.
Photo by Cedward Brice via Flickr
#3 Moisturize regularly
Tattoos can take up to a month to heal, and during that time it’s normal for the area to feel itchy and sensitive. The folks at New York Adorned, a fantastic parlor in New York City, recommend a mild, fragrance-free hydrating lotion like Aveeno Daily Moisturizing Lotion. (It’s an Allure Reader’s Choice winner, to boot!) You can also use a cream made especially for tattoos like Fresh Ink by A Beautiful Life. It contains an anti-oxidant formula originally developed to speed wound healing, which, in all seriousness, is exactly what new tattoo is.
