For Florida today Written at 12:06 pm EST on 10th November 2014 According to...
According to the Pew Research Center, more than a third of Americans between the ages of 18 and 25 wear tattoos, and about 40% of Americans between the ages of 26 and 40 wear tattoos.
"Tattoos are a permanent and often costly form of body art, an investment," said dermatologist Bruce E. Katz, FAAD, who practices a private practice in New York City. York. "To protect this investment, it is important to take steps to keep the tattooed skin healthy and alive."
To improve the look of your tattoo, Katz recommends:
1. If your tattooed skin is dry, apply a lotion or water-based cream to the tattoo. Petroleum products such as vaseline can cause discoloration of the ink.
2. Protect your tattoo from the sun. Exposure to ultraviolet light can discolor some tattoo inks and increase the risk of skin cancer. When in the sun, protect your tattooed skin with a water-resistant broad-spectrum sunscreen with a sun protection factor of 30 or higher. Apply sunscreen 15 minutes before leaving and reapply at least every two hours.
3. Stay away from sunbeds and sun lamps. These devices can also reduce tattooing color and increase the risk of skin cancer. In some people, UV rays can also react with tattoo ink and cause painful reactions on the skin.
4. Contact a certified dermatologist if you have a skin reaction or your tattooed skin changes in any way. Your skin may react badly to the ink in a tattoo. This can happen immediately after a tattoo or after years. A change can also be a sign of skin diseases. A dermatologist can diagnose and treat.
5. If you are considering a new tattoo, put it on the skin without moles. A tattoo can make it harder to detect the first signs of skin cancer. Early recognized, skin cancer, including melanoma (the deadliest form of skin cancer), is very treatable.
American Academy of Dermatology (aad.org)
