A good rule of thumb is to wait typically between four and six weeks before trying to apply anything like sunscreen to fresh tattoos. This will ensure you are fully healed and ready to go.
It's best to apply sunscreen every few hours for optimal tattoo sun protection. Sunscreen can sometimes be the easiest way to cover your tattoo if your tattoo is located somewhere you cannot easily cover with UPF 50+ fabric, like your ankles, or feet—as long as you are diligent about reapplying.
If the tattooed area looks flawless with no signs of peeling, including thin dead skin cells that look like sunburn, then it's most likely healed. Skin peeling or shedding is usually the last part of the damaged skin from the tattooing process.
After your tattoo has healed, maintaining it is a matter of keeping the area clean and moisturized. Be sure to stay hydrated and continue moisturizing your skin with gentle products. Sunscreen is also your best friend when it comes to preventing your tattoo from looking faded.
According to Dr. Libby, UV rays from the sun "may fade tattoo colors over time," so she recommends applying a water-resistant sunscreen with an SPF 30 or higher and broad-spectrum coverage to protect against UVA/UVB rays.
Experts advise waiting 4 to 6 weeks before applying any sunscreen on your tattoo. This time is given for the tattoo to heal fully, so that the epidermis recovers to protect the much more sensitive dermis layer of the skin.
It's not recommended to put sunscreen on a new tattoo until it's completely healed, which could take 4-6 weeks. Sunscreen can pose many problems for fresh ink, all the way from slight skin irritation to harmful infections and ink fade.
When you get a tattoo, the needle deposits ink in a layer of skin known as the dermis. Over time, cells from your immune system – called macrophages - gradually absorb the tattoo ink and disperse it, which can lead to some tattoo fading.
It's nothing to worry about and is to be expected while the body is trying hard to repair the area. Stabbing the skin thousands of times with tiny needles causes trauma, killing the top layer of skin. As your body hangs on to this skin for a while, it can give the tattoo a faded or dull appearance.
Wear Non-toxic Sunscreen
UV damage is the leading cause of tattoo fading, so make sure they're always protected by sunscreen of uncommonly high quality. Wait until the wound has completely healed (3-4 weeks) and then protect your tattoos with a clean-label, broad spectrum, non-toxic, zinc oxide sunscreen.
It can take anywhere from two to four weeks for your tattoo to heal depending on the size and location of the tattoo. Some people also heal faster or slower depending on their skin. If this is your first tattoo, here's a look at what you can expect during the healing process.
The outer layers of your skin will heal in about two to four weeks, while the deeper layers where the ink sits will take about 4 months to heal.
Until the surface of the tattoo is healed (at a minimum of two to three weeks), wash the area gently 2-3 times per day. After cleaning the tattoo during this two to three week period, gently apply a thin coat of a lotion-based care product. We recommend After Inked tattoo moisturizer and aftercare lotion.
Keep out of direct sunlight
Do your very best not to expose your new tattoo to direct sunlight for up to 1 month after getting it, and especially during that 14 day period. Sunlight will burn the delicate skin and cause fading.
After a week, the redness and swelling should have subsided. At this point, the skin should begin to scab and flake. The itchiness may persist, but the tattoo should gradually appear more vibrant as it continues to heal.
A tattoo should have healed in the outer layers of the skin after about 2-3 weeks to such an extent that there are no more restrictions on your lifestyle. However, the complete tattoo healing process in all skin layers will take about 4-6 months.
Black and gray tattoos are low maintenance in this regard as they don't fade easily and do not require you to get periodic touch-ups. A good estimate for a professionally done black and gray tattoo is 15 years without any signs of fading.
The most painful spots to get a tattoo are your ribs, spine, fingers, and shins. The least painful spots to get a tattoo are your forearms, stomach, and outer thighs.
"After it has healed (which can take up to 6 weeks depending on the type and size of tattoo), regular sun cream should be fine," says Hayes. “If you want to keep the colour vibrant, use a high SPF.” Don't apply irritants: A basic, fragrance free moisturiser (not Vaseline) is all you need to keep your tat hydrated.
At the very least, make sure not to expose a new tattoo to direct sunlight for the first month of having it—especially the first two weeks.
You should moisturize your clean tattoo 3 – 6 times per day, for roughly two weeks (though proper skincare is always important, and most tattoo enthusiasts moisturize their tattoos daily for life!). A white cream lotion or moisturizer, preferably unscented, should be used!
You can shower 3-4 hours after getting a tattoo, if you have a Saniderm bandage on, however, if you have a plastic wrap wait 24 hours to unwrap your tattoo and shower. In either case, shower in cold or lukewarm water and avoid prolonged soaking or submerging your tattoo in water for 3-4 weeks.