Can You Get a Tattoo if Your Skin Is Peeling from Sunburn?
The health and integrity of your skin matters a lot when planning to get a tattoo according to Oracle Tattoo Gallery. Many people inadvertently get a sunburn prior to their upcoming tattoo appointment. They may wonder if they can still safely keep their planned appointment or not. What if your sunburn is peeling? Will it delay or harm a tattoo?
One should never keep a tattoo appointment if the skin has been sunburnt and is currently peeling.
In some cases, if the burn is relatively minor and there are still at least two weeks or more before the appointment, it may be still possible to keep the appointment time. There are going to be some factors that need to be considered first. In addition, it will depend on whether the skin heals enough and what your tattoo artist recommends.
Here is what you can do:
Determine Severity of Sunburn – Degree, Coverage Area & Other Characteristics
The first step is to determine the severity of the sunburn. This involves degerming the degree of the burn. Most mild cases of sunburn are still considered first or second-degree burns, and severe sunburns may have caused extensive damage to the skin necessitating a delay in a tattoo session provided that the skin is able to heal completely.
How Extensive Is the Peeling After a Sunburn?
If there is only a thin top epidermal layer of peeling, this may be able to heal quickly with the proper care. However, if the peeling goes deeper into the interior dermal layers, this will result in a longer healing time and a longer delay in getting a tattoo on the spot.
It is important for the skin tone to be normal and even before even considering getting a tattoo. Otherwise, the ink will usually not penetrate evenly and to the depth it needs to for a great end result.
Begin Post-Peel Sunburn Skin Preparation Steps 4 Weeks Prior to Tattoo Appointment
Regardless of whether your sunburn is minor or moderate, you can expect to need at least 4 weeks prior to the tattoo session to perform the necessary post-peel sunburn skin preparation to increase
and speed healing of the damaged skin.
You will want to eat a healthy diet containing lots of fresh fruits and vegetables that contain skin healing antioxidants and other healthy nutrients important for good skin health.
You should also moisturize after the sunburn heals with a thin layer of the appropriate moisturizer. Never use petroleum jelly or products containing alcohol which is drying on tender skin.
Follow the before tattoo skin care instructions that your chosen tattoo artist recommends. Always alert them about the sunburn, and if there are serious signs and symptoms, have your burn evaluated by a dermatologist and/or emergency medical specialist. This is good advice often recommended by better Philadelphia tattoo shops.
Causes of Sunburnt Skin & Subsequent Peeling
There are two main components of a sunburn that results in skin peeling and other symptoms.
- Damaging UV B Rays Can Alter Skin Cell DNA – The UV and other rays of natural sunlight can damage the actual DNA of skin cells.
- Effects from an Overwhelmed Natural Defense System Following Sunburn – Although a sunburn initiates the body’s natural healing responses, sometimes the skin is too damaged, and those systems become overwhelmed.
When this occurs, the following symptoms and processes can be the result:
- Toxic reaction-Increased inflammatory response
- Increased and faster melatonin in skin production
- redness/sunburn or browning/tan
Reasons You Should Never Tattoo Sunburnt Skin
- Skin surrounding tattoo may not heal properly
- Increased pain and skin sensitivity increases tattoo process discomfort greatly
- Blisters could form that may lead to serious skin infection if broken
- Your damaged skin may reject the tattoo ink-Scarring or scabbing may occur on sun damaged skin that could alter tattoo result in a negative manner
- Could cause appearance issues with tattoo design and ink colors
- Hard for tattoo artist to match true skin tone on burnt skin that may be reddened or tanned a darker tone
- No self-respecting professional tattoo artist will tattoo sunburnt skin
Steps to Promote Faster Skin Healing After a Sunburn
- Avoid peeling skin
- Use medications for pain and inflammation reduction
- Rinse burnt skin under cool water-Avoid using scrubs or harsh skin cleansers and pat skin dry with soft cloth never rubbing it
- Use cold compress to impacted skin-Stay well hydrated with water throughout day
How About Tanning Bed Burns or Peeling? Are These Burns Less Damaging?
Tanning beds can still cause skin burns due to the UV rays that operates them. Avoid using these devices especially prior to and during the first 6 months after getting a tattoo to prevent this scenario.
What Should You Do if Your Get a Sunburn on a New Tattoo?
Treat your sunburnt new tattoo very gently. Avoid scrubbing, harsh cleansing products, constrictive clothing that could cause friction that will increase discomfort and can worsen the initial skin damage even further. Natural aloe vera lotion or gel applied in a thin layer can help decrease burning and sensitivity and helps to promote faster healing of the damaged skin cells.
Contact your doctor if burns blister around a fresh tattoo, do not heal with home remedies after about 2 weeks, if pain or swelling begins to worsen, if there are any signs of infection, like pus or other drainage, red streak lines in the skin at burn site outwards or loss of feeling in burned area. Also see a doctor for continued or higher fevers or marked changes in the skin or just an ongoing sense of feeling very ill.
Do not use ice or heat on a sunburned fresh tattoo. Never pop any blisters that may develop. Doing so breaks the integrity of the skin and can result in infection. Do not wear jewelry or other items that may come in contact with the burn site. If necessary, wrap area with sterile gauze in a loose manner that does not constrict.
You should also get in touch with your tattoo artist for any recommendations. Input “local tattoo shops near me” into an Internet search bar to find tattoo shops close to where you are.
When Can You Safely Get a Tattoo After a Sunburn?
Minor to moderate sunburn should heal in a few weeks’ time. Deeper and more extensive burns may take longer and require medical intervention. The skin must be completely healed before considering moving forward with a tattoo for everyone’s safety.
Final Thoughts
Although a sunburn may delay your plans for a tattoo, this is better than going forward only to develop serious bad consequences that could endanger your health and negatively impact your tattoo end result. Learn more about tattoos and sunburns by calling Oracle Tattoo Gallery at the following number: call 215-638-1601.
