Tattoos are one of the popular ways to change one’s appearance, while expressing oneself.
According to board-certified dermatologist Bruce E. Katz, permanent and often pricey form of body art, tattoos are an investment and in order to protect that investment, it’s important to take steps to keep tattooed skin healthy and vibrant.
According to Katz, if one’s tattooed skin feels dry, applying a water-based lotion or cream to the tattoo is a must. Petroleum-based products, such as petroleum jelly, can cause the ink to fade and protecting tattoo from the sun is important, as exposure to ultraviolet (UV) light can fade some tattoo inks and increase your risk for getting skin cancer, so one must protect their tattooed skin by applying a broad-spectrum, water-resistant sunscreen with a Sun Protection Factor (SPF) of 30 or more.
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The doctor added that seeing a board-certified dermatologist is important if there is a skin reaction or the tattooed skin is changing in any way, as a change could also be a sign of skin disease and its important to get diagnosed.