Can I Put Fake Tan on a Week Old Tattoo?

There’s a lot to think about regarding tattoos and skincare. One often asked topic is if you can apply fake tan on a tattoo that is only a week old. Tattoos need meticulous aftercare, and ensuring that your skincare regimens do not harm your new ink is critical. We’ll go into the realm of tanning about new tattoos in this article, covering subjects like spray tans with tattoos, tanning after having a tattoo, the suggested waiting period before tanning, and if you can tan before getting a tattoo.

Can I put fake tan on a week-old tattoo?

Tattoo healing durations are typically between 2-4 weeks. In the broad scheme of things, this is brief, considering your tattoo is meant to be a permanent bodily attachment. You may always apply the lotion your tattooists prescribes to speed up healing. In theory, the answer is yes. You certainly can. It is up to you to do anything you want with your body.

When your tattoo has healed, and you’re ready to tan, a sunless tan is the safest approach to keep your skin safe. According to the package recommendations, you can apply fake tan while keeping the tattoo wet. Remember that coloured ink may alter with tanning pigments. Therefore, fake tan is more likely to be successful with black body art. As with most fake tanning treatments, well-hydrated skin absorbs the tan more effectively.

Can You Get a Tattoo with Fake Tan On?

Before we go into tanning after a tattoo, let’s talk about whether you can have a tattoo with artificial tan on your skin. Yes, you can, in a nutshell. Tattoo artists are highly experienced experts who are used to working on a wide range of skin kinds and ailments. However, it’s critical to recognise that a coating of artificial tan may impair the artist’s ability to draw fine lines and shading. Applying a fake tan afterwards is best if you consider having a tattoo.

Your new tattoo is essentially an exposed wound covered in ink. The first few days and weeks after a tattoo session are critical for healing. The skin passes through several stages of healing during this period, including scabbing and peeling. Applying fake tan on a healing tattoo might interfere with this process, resulting in uneven healing. Chemicals in fake tanning products have the potential to irritate delicate and fragile skin, causing pain and slowing the healing process.

Spray Tan with Tattoos: How Does it Work?

One of the favoured approaches for achieving a perfect sunny glow while avoiding harmful UV radiation is spray tanning. If you’re wondering if you can get a spray tan with a fresh tattoo, the answer is typically yes, but there are a few things to keep in mind.

Tattoos require time to heal correctly, and the skin may be uncomfortable, itchy, or even somewhat swollen during this period. Applying a spray tan on a new tattoo may result in uneven colour distribution or irritation of the healing skin. Wait until your tattoo completely recovers before getting a spray tan to avoid issues. This usually involves waiting at least 2-4 weeks after you receive your tattoo.

The decision to put fake tan on a healing tattoo is fraught with danger. Combining the chemicals in fake tanning products with the delicate, healing skin might have unanticipated repercussions. The possible effects vary from the necessity for touch-ups owing to uneven fading caused by fake tan application to infection in the tattoo. The latter might not only harm the appearance of your ink but also offer health hazards that must be avoided at all costs.

How Long After a Tattoo Can You Tan?

When caring for your new tattoo, patience is an essential factor. The general agreement among tattoo artists and skincare specialists is that you should wait 2 to 4 weeks before adding any fake tan. This time allows the tattooed skin to recover fully, reducing the possibility of difficulties or bad reactions produced by the interaction of fake tan chemicals with the healing tattoo.

The suggested wait period after having a tattoo before tanning is critical for ensuring that your skin and tattoo heal correctly. Tanning beds, intense sunshine, and even self-tanning products may all impact the look of your new tattoo. It’s advised to wait at least 2-4 weeks after having a tattoo before exposing it to any tanning. This allows the skin to heal, flaking to fade, and the tattoo to become embedded.

Can You Tan Before Getting a Tattoo?

If you’re considering getting a tattoo and wondering if you can tan beforehand, the answer is yes. However, remember that prolonged sun exposure might harm your skin and potentially interfere with tattooing. If you decide to tan before getting a tattoo, wear sunscreen to protect your skin and avoid sunburn. Furthermore, avoid acquiring a sunburn or a tan in the region where you intend to have the tattoo since this may complicate the process.

After the essential healing time of 2-4 weeks, consider returning artificial tanning to your skincare regimen. By this stage, your tattooed skin should have mostly healed, with scabbing and peeling diminishing. However, extreme vigilance is still required. Perform a patch test on a tiny, discreet skin area before applying any fake tan to check for no unwanted effects. Even though the danger of issues is significantly decreased during this waiting time, it is prudent to be cautious and prioritise the health and vibrancy of your new tattoo.

Do tanning beds affect tattoos?

Tanning beds fade tattoos over time. The tanning bed’s intense UV rays force the ink pigment under the skin to break down. However, you may take steps to lessen the likelihood of this occurring.

Wear Sunscreen – While you should always apply a broad spectrum SPF to your entire body before sun exposure, you should take great care to rub it over your tattoos before sunbathing. Always wear sunscreen with an SPF of 30 or higher.

Cover Your Tattoo: It may sound foolish, but there are protective apparel that you can use to simply cover your tattoo and avoid UV exposure on that area, even if you are using a tanning bed. For example, if you have a complete sleeve, you may put cooling clothes with UV protection over them to keep them safe and extend the life of your work.

There are healthy and safe alternatives to tanning beds that can let you gain some colour without harming your ink.

Spray Tans: After your tattoo has healed for a month or longer, spray tans are a safe way to get bronzed. You can acquire a gorgeous and natural-looking tan without exposure to dangerous UV rays. Many sprays now contain moisturising elements that help nurture your skin. Though a spray tan may make your tattoos appear darker when applied, this is a transitory side effect, as opposed to the permanent effects of sun damage.

Self Tanner: If getting a spray tan at a salon makes you uneasy, several self-tanner solutions are available for at-home usage. Again, these items should only be used after your tattoo has healed completely. Self-tanner is often a cream or foam containing dihydroxyacetone (DHA), which interacts with dead skin cells, darkening them upon application.

Conclusion

Tanning and tattoos are big decisions that must be carefully considered and followed up on. While you may get a tattoo with fake tan on your skin, it’s best to wait until the tattoo cures before applying it to avoid difficulties during the tattooing process. When spraying tans with new tattoos, waiting at least 2-4 weeks after having inked is best to guarantee adequate healing and colour retention. 

Prioritising skin health is critical whether you tan before or after a tattoo. If you have any worries about tanning with a fresh tattoo, always follow the aftercare guidelines provided by your tattoo artist and talk with a skincare specialist. By following these measures, you may enjoy your new tattoo and a healthy one. Glowing tan.