Aspects such as skin tone and the quality of ink, in addition to the size, how long the tattoo had been on an individual’s skin, and which part of the body the tattoo is located, may contribute to the outcomes of your Tattoo removal.
Yet, you may be surprised to learn that exposure to the sun is an additional factor that could impact the outcome of laser tattoo removal. Even with today’s most innovative technologies, sun tanning, as well as ultraviolet rays, and exposure to both is important to understand.
What affects Does the Sun Have on Laser Tattoo Removal?
According to Heggie (para. 3. (2019)), “When our skin is exposed to sunlight, it produces vitamin D and directs it to our liver: (Heggie. para. 3. (2019)). Vitamin D can assist our body with absorbing calcium and iron, which can increase our metabolism and help improve our immune system and help our body fight off illnesses, like the flu. (DeNoon. para. 3.2009))
When our skin is exposed to sun, it also generates melanin in our bodies. Melanin is a type of skin protection, which, over time, could lower the skin’s elasticity and bring about early aging signs with too much exposure to the sun. Suntanning happens when someone is exposed to the sun for longer periods, and the generation of more melanin is why the skin tans or burns. (Medlineplus.gov. para. 2. (2017))
Therefore, regarding laser tattoo removal, your skin might not be as tough, defensive or receptive as it should be. The results and how many sessions you might need depends on your skin tone; light to medium or dark; depending on how much sunlight you get.
Should I Have a Laser Removal Procedure Done After Longer Periods of Suntanning?
No. It is important to wait at least six weeks before you have laser tattoo removal techniques performed. For the process to be more effective, your skin tone should be lighter. You could get the best results if you wait until your skin has gone back to its natural tone. If you chose to have the procedure done anyhow, and you have a dark skin tone, you might need more sessions to get the outcomes you want.
Why Wouldn’t the Tattoo Removal Technique Work if I have a Tan?
When the melanin cells move toward the skin’s surface and are not generated as much, when you have stopped tanning and your tan begins to fade, other techniques could be more effective. When your skin has an increased degree of melanin in it, your tan might look darker still. Therefore, it is additionally tougher for the laser tattoo removal process to work, because it might be harder to break up the skin’s pigment.
Even though professional laser tattoo removal specialists use the latest technology for removing tattoos, which might require four or more sessions to achieve the best results, if your skin is tanned, the laser might not be able to get the tattoo ink to fade right away.
What if I Tanned at a Tanning Salon?
This instance is like sitting under the sun’s UV rays too. The main reason why you might want to wait until your skin has gone back to its natural skin tone is to help you avoid the need for many sessions, which could cost a lot more. Also, you likely want the best results with your laser tattoo removal process, so if you wait for your tan to fade, even a fake tan, the outcomes will be better, and you not need a bunch of tattoo removal sessions.
Even though our one of our main goals is to provide the fastest and most effective results, our chief concern is our patients’ health and well-being. If you have additional toxins within the skin, your outcomes might not be as effective.
Some tanning salons use activators that could counteract with laser technology treatments and cause skin pigmentation; dark spots. It is a better idea to wait at least two weeks after getting a fake tan before you have laser technology for tattoo removal.
How Long Should I Wait to Have Laser Tattoo Removal Done After Tanning in a Sunbed?
The same thing goes for sunbeds. It is important to wait at least a month after using a sunbed. We recommend waiting so that you get the best outcomes and so you could get results faster, with less sessions. We also recommend waiting to help you avoid consequences, like aging on sensitive locations of your skin, which could look additionally worse than the tattoo you want removed.
How Long Should I Avoid Direct Sunlight and Other Tanning Solutions After A Tattoo Laser Removal Session?
We recommend waiting at least one month after your treatment before going out into direct sunlight or going to tanning salons, or before you use other tanning solutions. In the end, you would not want to have repeat treatments within a few days after your initial visit. That might happen if you go out into the sun too early, even for a few days.
Your patience and staying away from tanning will be to your advantage. Recovery time is vital after laser tattoo removal treatments in Austin, Texas.
If you must go out into the direct sunlight, we recommend covering your skin, with loose clothing. Tighter clothing might hinder the tattoo removal healing process. If you go outside for about 10 minutes, you should be okay.
Keep in mind, the sun allows the skin to produce more melanin, as we mentioned earlier. When that happens, your skin tans and pigmentation could grow in and about the locations where you had a tattoo removed. If you get a sunburn, the results could be worse. For example, you might experience pain if you have sun blisters. That could result in permanent skin damage or scarring.
Important:
Any heat source might aggravate the treated areas. You might want to avoid hot baths and showers, saunas, hot tubs, etc. Once the healing process is complete, you should see the results you dreamed of. Then, you can resume tanning. But we recommend waiting the recommended time so that you are completely satisfied with your laser tattoo removal process.
References:
https://www.andreacatton.co.uk/2014/05/laser-tattoo-removal-and-sun-exposure-faq/
Cleanslateink.com. (February 3, 2019). Things You Must Avoid Before Your Tattoo Removal Session. Retrieved from https://cleanslateink.com/things-you-must-avoid-before-your-tattoo-removal-session/
DeNoon, Daniel J. (2019). WebMd. The Truth About Vitamin D: Why You Need Vitamin D. Retrieved from https://www.webmd.com/osteoporosis/features/the-truth-about-vitamin-d-why-you-need-vitamin-d
Heggie, Jon. (January 21, 2019). Hello Sunshine: The Vitamin D Story. Retrieved from https://www.nationalgeographic.com/science/2019/01/partner-content-vitamin-d-benefits/
March, Bridget. (Aug 3, 2018). Pigmentation Explained: Everything You Need to Know. Retrieved from https://www.cosmopolitan.com/uk/beauty-hair/a19890/what-is-pigmentation-and-how-to-treat-it/
Medlineplus.gov. (4/14/2017). Sun’s Effect on Skin. Retrieved from https://medlineplus.gov/ency/anatomyvideos/000125.htm