Summer is often looked at by many people as the best time of year to get a new tattoo – there’s something about wearing less clothing that seems to inspire people to get body art. But we’ve also heard contradictory reports that getting a tattoo in the summertime can be a little riskier than with other seasons since sun exposure can increase the risk of fading.
Of course, whether or not you should get one all depends on who you ask.
“It’s fine to get a tattoo in any season you want,” dermatologist Elliot Love, DO, told POPSUGAR. According to Dr. Love, the main factor to consider when getting a tattoo is making sure you’re protecting it from the sun’s harmful UV rays, and when you’re not showing more skin.
“It’s important to remember that whether it’s the winter or summer, it’s not the temperature that matters, it’s sun exposure.” Tattoo artist Gianna Caranfa, on the other hand, doesn’t recommend it: “There are definitely more rules to follow when healing a tattoo in the summertime,” she said.
Ahead, we’re taking you through just a few things you need to know about getting a tattoo in the summer.
Getty Images/Cultura RF / Eugenio Marongiu
How Should I Take Care of My Tattoo Right After Getting It?
Other than regularly applying SPF once that ink is fully healed, you should also make sure you’re properly cleaning it.
“Brand new tattoos need to be kept clean,” Dr. Love said. “Activities to avoid after getting a new tattoo include anything that would expose it to potentially harmful bacteria such as public pools and lakes, public gyms, and beaches.”
How Long Should I Keep My New Tattoo Out of the Sun?
During the first week of having your new tattoo, Dr. Love said that you should consider wearing baggier clothing as a way to comfortably keep it covered up. Later on, you should definitely make sure to wear (or continue to wear) sun protection all over your body, but especially over the tattoo.
“Once a tattoo does heal you can use sunscreen and also wear a UV sleeve, but only when it is fully healed,” Caranfa said. “Keep your tattoo in the shade.”
Getty Images/EyeEm / Yuliya Siarova / EyeEm
What Might Happen If My Tattoo Is Exposed to the Sun For Too Long?
Exposing a new tattoo to the sun too much is an easy way to cause said tattoo to become damaged. “Your colors and white highlights turn brown and stay brown even after your tan fades,” Caranfa said. “The tattoo will become raised, your tattoo could also fade.”
What Activities Should I Avoid After Getting a New Tattoo?
To put it simply: anything that might get you sweaty or wet. “Beach, swimming, tanning, excess sweating, working out, getting it dirty in any way,” Caranfa said.
Of course, once your tattoo is fully healed, you can resume to these activities as you normally would. Just make sure – whether you’re fully submerging the ink in water or just getting it damp via sweat – that you reapply sunscreen on your tattoo every two hours.
