Are you tanning your tattoo?

Tatoo on the beach by Gary Romin


It's getting warm and some of us have already started working on our base tans. I have two tattoos - a butterfly on my chest and a heart on my back. The heart is the oldest, about 15 years old. Yes, the color has faded and you can't make out my name in the middle. The 10 year butterfly is close to the tan color of my skin, so its ok. Until I have it re-done. If you love to tan, you better protect your artwork! Those colors will fade even faster. The best way to do this is to use the highest sunblock possible. New Tattoo? Don't even think about tanning until it completely heals. At the very least, cover it up before going into the sun. The irritation isn't worth it.