The best sunscreen for tattoos is mineral based. Mineral sunscreens sit on the skin's surface and act as a physical barrier against the sun. In comparison, chemical sunscreens will absorb UV rays. This can potentially irritate sensitive or freshly tattooed skin.
If you know your tattoo is fully healed, then any sunscreen you'd normally use should be fine. That said, some sunscreens are better than others. At a bare minimum you want to be using sunscreen with an SPF of at least 30. SPF 30 sunscreen prevents about 97% of the sun's rays from penetrating your skin.
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.
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.
“The ultraviolet light in the sun not only damages the skin, but can also cause tattoos to fade.” Fenton also says that avoiding putting sunscreen on your tattoos allows you to run the risk of having your tattoo fade faster and “become more blurry with the edges becoming less sharp.”
Ingredients to Avoid for Tattoo Sunscreen
Health experts and environmentalists urge you to avoid: Oxybenzone (currently banned in Hawaii) Octinoxate (currently banned in Hawaii, Florida, Key West, and Palau) Para-aminobenzoic acid (currently banned in Australia and Canada)
From 1 to 6 months. After a month, any itching and redness should have completely gone. In fact, your new tattoo may look fully healed! However, the skin under your tattoo can continue to repair itself for up to six months until it's considered healed.
A sunscreen with SPF 30 will protect you from around 96.7% of UVB rays, whereas an SPF of 50 means protection from about 98% of UVB rays. Anything beyond SPF 50 makes very little difference in terms of risk of sun damage, and no sunscreens offer 100% protection from UVB rays.
Neutrogena Hydro Boost Gel Cream
Customers say it sinks into skin instantly, and since it's free of fragrance and parabens, it should be safe to use on sensitive skin. An Amazon reviewer says: “This lotion is my go-to for tattoos. Keeps them looking new even after healing!”
Don't worry, this is completely natural. It happens because the old skin, damaged during the tattooing process, forms a thin layer over your tattoo and masks its true appearance. In time this old skin will naturally exfoliate itself, revealing your tattoo underneath in all its vibrant glory.
Over-moisturising can lead to inflamed tattoos and potentially infection. Excess moisture can clog your skin's pores which prevents it from breathing, something that's important for your skin to heal. This can lead to breakouts on the skin that can damage the tattoo.
After 3 weeks or so, the scabs should have completely fallen off and a thin layer of skin should have appeared over the tattoo. This layer of skin is called 'silver skin' and will make the tattoo look a little shiny and dull. The brightness will return in time once the tattoo is fully healed.
Never use petroleum based products A+D Ointment, Bepanthen, Aquaphor, Vaseline, Bacitracin, and Neosporin on your tattoos. These 6 products have a purpose, and it's not tattoo aftercare or tattoo healing.
One of the key differences between tattoo sunscreen and regular sunscreen is the texture. Many standard sunscreen products can be creamy, greasy or thick, whereas tattoo sunscreens should be lightweight, comfortable and clear.
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.
It is generally recommended to moisturize for 2 weeks to one month after the tattoo has healed.
You should start moisturizing your new tattoo right away and not stop for some time. Love says there's an immediate need to keep a new tattoo moisturized: Moisturizing helps to prevent scabbing and promote healing. "During the healing process, you should moisturize your tattoo three to six times a day," Ladna says.
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.
You may have heard some rumours that Bepanthen shouldn't be used on new tattoos, but this absolutely isn't the case. Bepanthen is by far one of the most highly recommended tattoo aftercare products and is the go-to ointment for most tattoo artists and studios.