Summer is a perfectly good time to get a tattoo, as long as you plan the first few weeks around it. The rules that matter are simple and documented: keep the tattoo out of the sun and out of the water while it heals, cover it rather than putting sunscreen on it, and protect it with sunscreen for good once it has healed. We took each rule from the source that sets it, the Texas health department’s aftercare instructions, the American Academy of Dermatology and the sunscreen labels themselves, so you can book a summer tattoo without losing the whole season.
Summer tattoo care: the short answer
For the first two weeks at least, keep the tattoo covered with loose clothing when you are outside, and stay out of pools, lakes, the sea and hot tubs. Do not put sunscreen on it until it has fully healed, because sunscreen labels warn against use on broken skin. After that, use a broad-spectrum, water-resistant sunscreen of SPF 30 or higher every time it is in the sun.
Planning a tattoo around summer
The aftercare template Texas gives licensed studios sets a two-week minimum for both limits: keep the sun off the new tattoo, and keep it out of swimming water, whether fresh, salt or chlorinated. Full healing is a little longer, usually two to three weeks under the European aftercare standard EN 17169.
That makes timing the most useful decision. If a beach holiday, a pool party or a festival is coming up, book the tattoo at least three weeks before, or wait until after. Our healing timeline planner works out the swimming and sun dates from the day you are tattooed, which makes it easy to check a trip against them.
Sun on a healing tattoo
Cover it, do not sunscreen it
A healing tattoo is broken skin, and sunscreens are not made for it. The Drug Facts panel on a typical mineral sunscreen, such as Blue Lizard Sensitive SPF 50, says do not use on damaged or broken skin. So while the tattoo is healing, shade and clothing do the protecting.
- Wear loose clothing over it that does not rub, and keep it clean.
- Choose fabric that actually blocks light. The AAD points out, in its advice on protecting laser-treated skin, that thin white or yellow shirts let light shine through. The same holds for a new tattoo.
- Stay in the shade where you can, especially in the middle of the day.
Why the sun matters for a new tattoo
The Texas instructions set the two-week limit on sun exposure for healing tattoos. Over the longer term, the AAD says ultraviolet light can fade some tattoo inks, and tanning beds and sunlamps can fade them too.
Sunscreen once the tattoo has healed
Once the surface has closed and stopped flaking, sunscreen becomes the most useful thing you can do for the tattoo. The AAD’s recommendation for tattooed skin is:
- Broad-spectrum and water-resistant, with an SPF of 30 or more.
- Applied 15 minutes before you go outside.
- Reapplied at least every two hours, and the sunscreen’s own label will also tell you to reapply after swimming or sweating and after towel drying.
Choose a fragrance-free formula if your skin is sensitive, for the same reason as with lotion. Our best lotion for tattoos page explains how to read an ingredient list for fragrance, and the same method works on a sunscreen.
Swimming in summer with a tattoo
Swimming is the hardest rule to keep in summer. The Texas instructions cover fresh, salt and chlorinated water for at least two weeks, which rules out the sea and the pool alike. The CDC’s infection guidance for athletes adds that anyone with an open wound should avoid water facilities such as whirlpools and swimming pools until it has healed.
Two weeks is the floor, not the target. A tattoo still flaking at day fourteen is still healing, so wait until the surface has fully closed.
Heat, sweat and itching
Summer heat is uncomfortable on a healing tattoo. Big swings in temperature can make itch worse, according to the AAD, which is unwelcome on a tattoo that is already itching as it flakes.
- Rinse off sweat. After a hot day or a workout, wash the tattoo gently with lukewarm water and a fragrance-free cleanser, pat it dry and put your lotion back on.
- Stay cool and loose. Loose cotton clothing and shade help with heat and itch.
- Do not scratch. Our itchy tattoo guide covers the AAD’s relief steps, starting with a cool damp cloth.
- Take it easy on hard exercise in the first weeks. Our page on working out after a tattoo sets out what is documented.
When the sun causes a reaction
Some people react to sunlight on a tattoo. The AAD describes a sun allergy as swelling and redness around a tattoo, an itchy rash of tiny bumps, or blisters or hives, happening every time the sun’s rays hit the tattoo. It recommends sunscreen applied 15 minutes before going out, covering the tattoo with clothing, and seeking shade.
The verdict on summer tattoo care
You can get a tattoo in summer if you plan for at least two weeks of covering it from the sun and staying out of the water, with sunscreen only after it has fully healed. From then on, broad-spectrum, water-resistant SPF 30 or higher every time it is in the sun is the best way to keep it from fading.
FAQ
When can I put sunscreen on my new tattoo?
Once it has fully healed and stopped flaking, which usually takes two to three weeks. Sunscreen labels warn against use on damaged or broken skin, so protect a healing tattoo with loose clothing and shade instead.
How long should I keep a new tattoo out of the sun?
At least two weeks, which is the period in the Texas health department’s sample aftercare instructions, and longer if it is still healing. After that, protect it with sunscreen whenever it is exposed.
When can I go swimming after a summer tattoo?
Not for at least two weeks, and not until the tattoo has fully healed. The sea, lakes and pools all count, and the CDC’s advice for athletes keeps open wounds out of pools and hot tubs until they heal.
Is it bad to get a tattoo in summer?
No, but it takes planning. You will need to keep the tattoo covered outdoors and stay out of the water for at least two weeks, so avoid booking it right before a beach trip or holiday.
What SPF should I use on my tattoo?
The AAD recommends a broad-spectrum, water-resistant sunscreen with SPF 30 or higher on healed tattoos, applied 15 minutes before going outside and reapplied at least every two hours.
Why does my tattoo itch in the sun?
Heat can make any itch worse, but a tattoo that reliably swells, reddens or breaks out in itchy bumps or blisters when sunlight hits it may be a sun allergy, which the AAD describes. See a dermatologist, and use sunscreen, clothing and shade in the meantime.
Do tattoos fade in the sun?
They can. The AAD says ultraviolet light can fade some tattoo inks, which is why it recommends sunscreen on healed tattoos and avoiding tanning beds and sunlamps.