Can I go Tanning with a Tattoo?

I know many people, including myself, who worship the sun, and being tan. I don't enjoy eing pale at all and would prefer to have some color all year-round. However, tanning damages tattoos. Out on the beach, I simply use the highest SPF on ALL of my tattoos. However, in the tanning bed, it's a different story. Here's an article I recently read, and the type of "sunblock" I use for indoor tanning.

"As the sun and tanning beds UV rays are damaging to the skin, people with tattoos need to take some precautions. So if you have just got your first tattoo and are wonder if can go sun tanning, either indoor or outdoor, the answer really depends on how new the tattoo is. If the tattoo is fresh, within three months old, tanning is not recommended. However you can go tanning, if you have had your tattoo for a few months and you follow the right safety measures.

The reason for this is that the skin where the new tattoo is very sensitive to UV light during the tattoos healing process. If this area of the skin is exposed to UV light the skin can be severely damaged and the tattoo will lose its brightness and look faded. So as a rule of thumb, if you have a brand new tattoo, stay away from the indoor tanning booths and tanning beds till the tattoo is completely healed.

But what if you live somewhere where natural sun light cannot be avoided? Then you must cover up your tattoo for the first couple of months. Applying sunscreen at this stage will not properly protect the tattoos ink in the skin. Neglecting to cover your tattoo can severely affect the longevity of your tattoos brilliancy.

Once your tattoo is completely healed you can continue tanning as normal, as long as you apply a lotion or balm with a minimum of SPF 20. Regardless, continuous exposure to UV light will cause your tattoo to fade over time. This means that the more frequent you tan the faster your tattoo will fade. However, this does not mean once you get a tattoo you need to stop sun tanning. If you love sun bathing and are thinking about getting a tattoo or already have one, don’t let this stop you, just make sure you apply sun block.

If you are planning on using a tanning bed with a tattoo it is best to try and cover it up for part of the time you are in the bed. It is recommended that you apply indoor tanning balm to the tattoo area, such as any un-petroleum balm with SPF 20 or greater. Also, you can use specially designed indoor tanning balm such as, Supre’s Tattoo SPF Protective Balm Stick. You can also apply these balm sticks to protect other sensitive parts of you body such as your nipples, which are not used to UV exposure.

Regardless of whether you are tanning indoors or outside do not burn you skin where your tattoo is. Burning you skin will severely damage your tattoo. So if you are in the sun for lengthy periods of time you may want to cover up your tattoo for part of it. Taking the right protective measures whether it is applying sunscreen or covering your tattoo, which is really easy to do, will make a huge difference in maintaining the brilliancy of you tattoo."

Source:

http://www.tanninglotionblog.com/articles-reviews/can-i-go-tanning-with-a-tattoo/