How to Care for Your New Tattoo in the Summer

Summer is the time when people like to show off their new tattoos. But, if you get a tattoo in the summer and don’t take care of it properly, your skin may become irritated or dry. Some simple tips will help maintain your tattoo throughout the warm months. Here we go:

Don’t use harsh soaps.

Try using baby wipes instead – they’re gentle enough for sensitive skin without being oily or greasy. Avoid exfoliating scrubs. They could open up pores that will make your tattoo vulnerable to infection when exposed to sweat and dirt. If you must scrub hard ( say, with a loofah ), wait at least two weeks after getting pierced before doing so again. That gives any potential bumps ample time to heal over, lowering the risk of irritation.

Apply ointment after showering or bathing

A thin layer of ointment will provide a protective barrier against the water and soap. It’ll also keep your skin moist, which is important to avoid drying out delicate new tattoos. But, again, be careful not to over-apply. It’s best if you only apply ointment about three times a day, and that’s usually when you shower or bathe. This is one of the best ways how to care for your new tattoo in the summer.

New tattoos need time to heal.

Don’t be in such a hurry. Doing too much too soon can lead to infection, which will cause your tattoo’s colors to fade prematurely. Instead, once it has healed enough for the skin around it to return to its natural color (usually within two weeks), then gradually start exposing your new tattoo slowly in order from the lightest places first, like triceps, bicep, and stomach area, before moving on to more sensitive spots like neckline or chest. And try wearing loose clothing so as not to put any pressure on the new tattoo while it’s healing.

Use a top-quality tattoo oil.

If you noticed, I didn’t mention using lotion on your tattoo. That’s because the ingredients in most moisturizing creams can clog pores and interrupt the healing time for a new tattoo. But that doesn’t mean you don’t apply anything at all. Instead, use a quality, fragrance-free oil like jojoba to avoid chipping or cracking the skin around your new tattoo while it heals (which will cause infection).

Make sure to apply sunblock every day.

The summer is often synonymous with hot weather and lots of outdoor activities, including swimming which means more exposure to the harmful UV rays from the sun. To prevent premature fading of colors in your fresh ink, make sure to always use sunscreen when spending any extended amount of time outside.

Stay out of the sun.

This is important because UV rays will make all your ink fade fast. And, we don’t want that happening after you spent a lot of time and money getting inked up. If you do go outside for any reason, wear sunscreen and clothing with long sleeves, which will offer some protection from sunburns and tans while still letting your tattoo show off its glory.

The best way to avoid these summertime woes. Stay inside during peak hours when it’s hot outside, like between 11 am -to-about-four pm if possible.