Can You Put Sunscreen on a New Tattoo?

Image courtesy of Martin Podsiad @ Unsplash.com

If you’ve just gotten yourself a fresh spine tattoo, we’re sure you can’t wait to get out into the world and show it off.

But stop right there, Billy!

Did you know that UV rays can actually damage your brand new fresh tattoo?

That’s right! Just like the way direct sunlight can burn your skin, it can also burn and cause damage to your new body art.

Which brings us to our main topic of conversation today: can you put sunscreen on a new tattoo?

Let’s find out!

Is It OK To Put Sunscreen On A New Tattoo?

No, you should never apply sunscreen to a new tattoo.

Your new tattoo is basically an open wound, and you should never put anything on it other than tattoo aftercare ointment, mild fragrance-free soap and water.

Chemical sunscreens can contain all sorts of ingredients that can irritate your skin, slow down the healing process, and mess up your new tattoo.

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Here’s a list of some of the potentially harmful active ingredients in sunscreen, and why you don’t want them on your freshly tattooed skin.

• Oxybenzone and octinoxate – These are common ingredients in sunscreens, and while they may be great at blocking both UVA and UVB rays from damaging your skin, they’re also linked to hormonal disruptions.

• Homosalate – This is another common sunscreen ingredient linked to disruptions of the endocrine system by mimicking the hormone estrogen.

• Octocrylene – When this compound degrades, it changes into benzophenone, which is a known carcinogen and endocrine disruptor.

• Avobenzone – Some research suggests that this common sunscreen ingredient may be unstable and can release free radicals into your bloodstream.

• Parabens – These are preservatives commonly used in all sorts of products. However, there are strong links between these chemicals and serious long-term health complications.

• Cinoxate – This compound helps sunscreen absorb harmful UVB rays, but it’s also know to cause skin irritation, so you don’t want it on your tattoo.

• Fragrances – Fragrances are often proprietary blends of different chemicals, meaning that you can never quite be sure what is in a product that lists fragrance as one of its ingredients.

When you read through this list, it’s easy to see why you shouldn’t put sunscreen on a new tattoo.

Only once you have a fully healed tattoo can you apply and reapply sunscreen as many times as you wish.

But even then, you should only opt for a fragrance-free sunscreens, which are likely to contain fewer of the potentially harmful ingredients listed above.

Image courtesy of Gabor Kozmon @ Unsplash.com

How Long After Getting A Tattoo Should You Wait Before Applying Sunscreen?

Most tattoo artists recommend waiting anywhere from two to four weeks for a tattoo to be fully healed before applying any type of sunscreen.

But the more complicated answer is that you need to wait until your tattoo is fully healed.

So it really depends on your body’s ability to produce a new layer of healthy skin over your new ink to protect it from the elements.

In the meantime, staying hydrated, eating healthy foods, and keeping it clean and dry, and out of the sun is the best way to take care of your new tattoo.

Are Mineral Sunscreens Better For Fresh Ink?

No, mineral sunscreen is not any safer to put on freshly tattooed skin.

Again, your tattoo needs to be fully healed before putting anything on it.

But mineral sunscreens are generally considered safer alternatives.

You can often find products labelled as “mineral sunscreens,” which means these products use zinc oxide or titanium dioxide as their main form of sun protection.

Unlike the ingredients we looked at above, these natural ingredients aren’t absorbed by your skin.

Zinc oxide is actually known not to have any adverse health impacts.

Instead, they stay on the surface of your skin, acting as a safe chemical sunscreen barrier to effectively protect you from the sun’s harmful rays.

Plus, there’s also a lower risk of allergic reaction when using natural products like these.

Is Coconut Oil Or Shea Butter Safe To Use As Sunscreen For A New Tattoo?

No, coconut oil or shea butter are not safe to use as sunscreen on a new tattoo.

But natural oils like this are perfectly safe to put on a new tattoo, making them great for tattoo aftercare.

Not only are they a great moisturizer, but coconut oil also has antimicrobial properties, which can aid in the healing process and help prevent infection.

Still they will NOT protect your skin’s surface or your new tattoo from sun damage.

Remember that the best sunscreens are real sunscreens, whether that’s a chemical sunscreen or a mineral sunscreen.

These products are designed to protect your skin from sun damage, whereas natural oils are not.

Sun Exposure Is Bad For Tattoos New And Old

Tattoo styles or placement don’t matter. Only once your tattoo is healed is it safe to put sunscreen on and expose it to the sun.

In fact, we strongly recommend using sunscreen or some form of sun protection to protect your tattoos.

Sun exposure can seriously ruin your skin and ink, no matter how new or old they may be.

For starters, sunburns just aren’t fun.

They can cause sensitive skin, itchiness, and mess with your body’s natural healing process.

Secondly, the sun’s UV rays can cause tattoo ink pigments to breakdown.

This can cause new tattoo ink colors to change and old tattoo colors to fade, something that nobody wants to see after spending their good, hard-earned money on body art.

We should also mention that lighter colors fade quicker, so for anyone with fine line tattoos, know that your ink is at an even higher risk of fading in the sun.

And lastly, exposure to UV rays and direct sunlight has long-term negative impacts.

It can dry out the skin’s natural moisture barrier, leading to dry skin, premature signs of aging, deep lines and wrinkles, and even an increased risk of certain types of skin cancer.

All in all, UV radiation and sun damage isn’t just bad for new and old tattoos, it’s bad for you and your skin.

How To Protect Your New Tattoo From The Sun

So now you know that you should never apply sunscreen to a fresh tattoo.

But we’ve also learned that you do need to protect your skin and tattoos from the sun’s harmful UV rays.

That said, let’s take a look at a few different ways you can keep your skin healthy and protect your brand new tattoo from sun damage.

• Avoid UV exposure – We know you want to get out and show off your new ink. But the best way to protect your tattoo from sun exposure is to avoid the sun. If you do go outside, make sure to wear loose clothing, which will protect your tattoo from the sun while it heals.

• Bandages – While your tattoo is still healing, you can use bandages or medical tape to cover it and protect it from harmful sun rays. Just make sure not to keep it covered for too long as your ink needs to be able to breathe in order to heal properly.

• Wear sunscreen (once your tattoo is healed) – Sunscreen isn’t bad to put on your tattoos. It’s bad to put on a new tattoo. But once your ink has healed, we strongly recommend protecting your tattoo from the sun by wearing a broad spectrum sunscreen. Don’t forget to reapply periodically or after going swimming to make sure the sunscreen sticks.

• Mineral sunscreens – Sun protection products that contain zinc oxide or titanium dioxide can be safer alternatives to chemical sunscreens. Regardless of what type you use, make sure to wait until your tattoo is fully healed before applying any types of sunscreen to your new tattoo.

If you have any questions about your new tattoo’s healing process, never be scared to ask your tattoo artist about it!

They can help you understand why you should avoid sunscreen, and which skincare products are and are not safe to use on your new body art!

Thinking about a new tattoo? Check out innovative AI tattoo generator to check out different tattoo styles and see what you like best!