Long-term Tattoo Aftercare – Do’s and Don’ts

Tattoos are permanent… for the most part. How you take care of them after they’ve healed can drastically affect how they’ll look thirty years from now. According to savedtattoo.com, fading can happen after just two years, especially if you have hand tattoos. After all, the skin on your hands gets the most exposure to sunlight and friction. 

It’s impossible to keep your tattoo just as vibrant as it was the day you got it. Your skin will change as you age. The good news is, as long as you take care of your skin and follow your tattoo aftercare instructions, you’ll keep your tattoo vibrant for a longer time. 

Here’s a few things you should do and a few things you should avoid:

DO – Incorporate tattoo moisturizing aftercare into your daily routine

Everyone’s skin is different: some people have dry skin, some people have oily skin, and some people have combination skin. Your skin type affects how often you should shower and how often you should moisturize. 

Ideally you should moisturize your skin once every day, paying extra attention to tattoos. The weather plays a role too, and cold days should encourage more moisturizing. 

DON’T – Use heavy, pore-blocking lotions on your tattoo

A lot of widely available moisturizers actually do more harm than good. Some of the most commonly identified are filled with potent synthetic fragrances. Those strawberry-scented lotions may smell heavenly, but they’ll dry out your skin and cause future problems. 

Moisturizers like our tattoo lotion are made with natural ingredients, including balancing Melissa leaf extract, healthy cocoa seed butter, and powerful nettle leaf extract. Our ingredients are carefully selected to absorb quickly into your skin without blocking your pores. 

DO – Avoid sun exposure on your tattoo as much as possible 

We can’t all be creatures of the night, but we can be extra careful outside. Trusted sources like ncbi.gov show that it only takes 5 minutes for the sun to damage your skin, depending on the UV index and the fairness of your skin. The more UV damage you take, the more likely it is your tattoo will fade. 

Sunscreens do help but, remember, some ingredients can dry out your skin. It’s better to find quality sunscreens that offer at least 30+ SPF protection than to go cheap. Some moisturizers will also contain UV blocking properties. 

DON’T – Constantly wrap your tattoo 

Long sleeve shirts and long pants are great UV barriers, but skintight clothes aren’t the answer. While your tattoo heals, the ink needs to get exposed to oxygen so the day-by-day tattoo healing process doesn’t slow down. Even after your tattoo is completely healed, sweating can impact the color of the ink over time. While it’s important for you to get your exercise—for your heart and for your skin—it’s also important to wear looser clothing so you don’t suffocate your tattoo with sweat. 

To summarize, take care of yourself and your skin like you’re going to live to be 100 years old. Everything in moderation, right?