waiting period from getting a tattoo then tanning??

Question

so i just got my tattoo alittle more then 2 weeks ago...its kinda big and across my chest so if i put something specific just on that like sun screen then im gonna have a huge white spot on my chest..my question is how long should i wait to tan regular in the tanning salon?

Answer 1

hi. well, everyone is right, you should always put sunblock on your tattoo. if you're worried about having a "white spot" on your chest, you could do what i do. i don't go tanning, but i'm naturally tan (latino) and i get even tanner very quick during the summer and i have a lot of tattoos so i have this same concern. i use sunblock, but i put a very thin layer of it on my tattoos, the ones that are exposed, but i only put them where the tattoo is. i start in the middle and spread the lotion out until it just hits the edge of the pieces. i don't go outside of the line. sometimes i do if i feel like covering my entire arms or legs or something like that, but generally don't because i do have some untattooed portions and for the same reason, i don't want too much of a colour variation from untanned, and tanned skin. so basically that's all you have to do is make sure that your tattoos are blocked if you plan on going tanning. if done right you will protect your tattoo, still be able to tan, and you won't notice the difference, because of the tattoo isn't your skin colour anyway. if it's something like a black and grey tattoo with some skin tone in it, if it has as outline, i suppose it would be okay to cover the skin tone areas inside the actual tattoo with sunscreen, because that might even give it a cool effect, if you can understand what i'm trying to say here. hope that helps.

Answer 2

I would say you better wait about 2 months before you hit the tanning salon. It takes a lot longer than you think for a tattoo to heal. There is a lot more skin damage than you may imagine. Also, once the "sun" hits the tattoo it will begin to fade, and you want to wait as long as possible for that to happen or you are going to be back at the tattoo parlor getting that tattoo redone, and that is no fun.

Answer 3

Even with sunscreen, regular tanning or just day to day exposure can ruin a tattoo over time. Sunscreen will help, but sooner or later the damage will be noticeable.

Personally, I think people who tan don't look attractive, just sickly and unhealthy. I don't think a tan is worth ruining your tattoo. I suggest you decide which is worth it.

Answer 4

It doesn't matter what you do, eventually the tanning bed is going to make your tattoo look like complete crap.

Not to mention what you're skin is going to look like eventually, too.

But, if you want to look like an old piece of leather, that's up to you.

Just think of all the money you just wasted on a tattoo, and how much money you're paying to give yourself skin cancer.

Brilliant!

Answer 5

You must use sunscreen... always.

Otherwise your tattoo will fade, big time. Even normal exposure, not just tanning.

Is a tan worth ruining your investment?

Answer 6

The sun will suck out the color of your tattoo over time. Use sunscreen VERY liberally (or consider covering your tattoo entirely).

All this, plus the fact that tanning isn't healthy for you (even if it's not the "real sun").

Answer 7

you should stay out of all tanning salons and stay out of the sun period. not only is the sun horribly damaging to your skin it is damaging to your ink as well. sunscreen is not made to protect your ink it is made to protect your skin. when you see old men with faded green tattoos it is mostly because of sun exposure. you should protect your skin and your health. if you love your tattoo and want it to stay beautiful for a long time then you should keep it out of the sun.

Answer 8

When I got my tatoo done, the artist told me not to take a bath or go tanning for 1 month. Then he told me to a) cover it up with a band aid b) use spf 50 on it

Answer 9

For the rest of your life....tans are very over-rated, anyhow...