With summer here, people may want to soak up some sun at the beach. When it comes to sun exposure and laser tattoo removal, avoiding the sun at least temporarily may be best. Taking necessary precautions with your skin during the removal process will ensure the best possible results afterward.
How Sun Impacts The Body
Our bodies do benefit from some sun exposure. The sun causes our bodies to produce Vitamin D. Vitamin D is an important component in immune system health, bone health, and even our metabolism. Another benefit of sun exposure is a lovely tan, which is caused by increased melanin levels in the skin.
Melanin’s Role
Melanin is responsible for the level of darkness in the skin’s complexion. Sun exposure increases melanin in the skin. If your skin is darkened or burnt from the sun, your laser tattoo removal process can be negatively impacted. Skin that is overly tanned might lead to less effective treatments and needing more treatments to completely remove the ink. Skin that’s at or near its natural complexion allows the lasers to work better.
Sun Exposure Pre- and Post-Treatment
While in the planning stages of the tattoo removal process, people often wonder about whether sunbathing or tanning is acceptable. They want to know how long before and after treatment they should avoid sun exposure. The general industry consensus is to limit or avoid sun exposure for 6 weeks prior to treatment, and at least 4 weeks after treatment to allow proper healing.
When sun exposure is unavoidable, wearing clothing that covers the area and using sunscreen are highly recommended. It’s also prudent to limit any sunbathing to 10-minute increments. These precautions may seem like they’ll put a damper on summer celebrations, but the results and enjoying beautiful ink-free skin permanently will be worth it.
Sunless Tanning
The next question is in regards to using sunless tanning methods while avoiding sun exposure. People still want a healthy, tanned glow to their skin. It’s advised that those who are planning to undergo laser tattoo removal avoid sunless tanning products for 2 weeks before treatment to 2 weeks after treatment.
Sunless tanning products may contain chemicals that get absorbed by the skin and can potentially hinder the healing process. They may interfere with the body’s natural immune system. Sunless tanners also can contain chemicals called activators. These chemicals may have a reaction with the laser treatments that leads to unwanted skin pigmentation.
In Summation
Sun exposure increases melanin levels, it can also cause the skin to burn or blister. If the skin is already delicate from laser tattoo removal treatments, further trauma may lead to permanent scarring of the area. This will significantly increase the time it takes for the body to remove the ink pigment and heal properly.
For those who want the best results, these guidelines are a great place to start. Taking care of your body and skin during treatment will allow fewer complications and potential for issues. Patience is a virtue when it comes to your health.