Tattoo care during summer months in Australia requires avoiding all those things that Australia summer has in stores for us – the biting sun, sweat, humidity, saltwater, dust and even a mosquito or two! Following a few simple rules can help you keep the tattoo clear, beautiful, and protected against the effects of the summer sun.
Hi! My name is Abigail Winterbourne, and I have come to know that summer makes every simple aftercare mistake even more annoying! Just imagine a fresh tattoo getting in direct contact with a seat belt on your way home, sweat while you worked, a saltwater swim in Australia! The best advice is only to follow what your tattoo artist told you, treat the area as if it wasn’t tattooed and let it heal before going for another swim!
Start With Clean Skin
The initial few hours are pretty crucial for your tattoo, since they set the basis for everything that is to come. Your tattoo is a wound by definition, so it is important to follow proper aftercare practices instead of just applying expensive and trendy creams.
Make sure to wash your hands before touching the tattoo. Follow the artist instructions regarding removing the initial covering since they depend on whether it is a traditional film dressing or a medical adhesive film.
Then Wash The Tattoo Without Scrubbing
You will need lukewarm water and some non-fragrance cleanser. Let the water run over the area, and then wash it gently with your cleaned fingers.
Never pick the peeling skin off or pieces of the ink-colored skin. It may seem messy, but it is a perfectly normal stage of the healing process.
Moisturize With Caution
You will need to apply a completely thin layer of your tattoo artist’s recommended product. The skin may look dry or quite the opposite, however, you need to remember that a little bit of a product goes a long way.
Manage The Heat, Sweat, And Humidity
The summer conditions in Australia are starkly different in the Sunshine Coast and inland areas.
This combination of heat and humidity may make a new tattoo feel even more irritated.
Choose To Wear Loose And Breathable Clothing
You would want to wear clean, loose and comfy clothes that wouldn’t touch your tattoo too much.
Plan Around The Exercise
Try to avoid all the heavy workouts and any movements that may stretch the area or lead to sweating. An easy stroll might be an option once you’re comfortable, but anything more intense such as a long run, hot yoga, or a contact sport can cause more friction and moisture than healing skin can handle.
One common mistake that I see people making is booking a tattoo at the last minute before some big summer occasion, then expect to go partying, camping, swimming, and sleeping in a tent next to a dusty track. The tattoo might survive, but the aftercare will be painful. Give yourself some time to rest and relax.
Keep the tattoo away from the sun, salt and sand
Direct sun exposure is one of the biggest summer challenges for healing tattoos. UV rays can cause irritation to the newly damaged skin and influence how the tattoo ends up healing, especially while it is in the process of healing.
Do not put sunscreen on a fresh, peeling or supra-peeling tattoo unless your doctor or tattoo artist advises you to do so. Instead, try to find some shade or wear loose clothing that keeps the sun’s rays off while your tattoo is healing.
Know the UV index
The UV index is a scale used to express the intensity of the ultraviolet radiation. The general bands can be classified into low at 0-2, moderate at 3-5, high at 6-7, very high at 8-10 and extreme at 11 or above. Even if the weather feels mild in Australia, it can still get you some critical amount of UV rays. In such cases, time of the year may not help much.
Look at the daily UV index before leaving your home. The Australian Bureau of Meteorology UV index is useful if you are planning walks, outdoor work or travel from studio to home.
Consider postponing your time in the ocean and swimming pools
Keep your fresh tattoo out of the pool, spa, baths, pond, lake or ocean until it heals completely. Water can carry different bacteria, while chlorine and salt may sting and dry the skin. Sand might cling to ointment, forming a thick layer that will be very painful to wash off.
There is no incentive to give your fresh tattoo a try in the water at Mooloolaba, Bondi or Cable Beach. If swimming is an integral part of your vacation, get your tattoo only after your plans connected with swimming.
Make a reasonable summer plan
Proper aftercare starts much earlier than you expect. Your studio and transportation home, clothes and plans for the following day will decide how easy it will be to protect your tattoo.
Most people only consider the tattoo chair and forget about the whole trip home. That’s when you realize that the obstacles in the people-free bus, hot car seat, a long walk and poorly packed bags can ruin your tattoo.
Consider how you will get home
Choose those types of transport that don’t put the tattoo under any pressure or dirt. If you are driving, then either clean the car’s seat or use a clean towel as a barrier. Don’t put a freshly done tattoo on a hot vinyl seat.
If you are taking public transport, wear loose clothes and avoid crowded journeys, in which your tattoo may get bumped.
Prepare a small aftercare travel kit
Have clean paper towels, a gentle cleanser, moisturiser that the tattoo artist recommended and a spare loose shirt or shorts with you. Do not share towels, borrow random creams or use heavily scented products purely because they just happen to be in the bathroom.
An average aftercare kit can cost you anywhere between $15-$40 AUD depending on what you already have and whether the studio provides some of that or not. Tattoo itself is usually the biggest cost, so investing few more dollars to protect it makes perfect sense.
Use this quick checklist:
- Wash hands before you touch the tattoo.
- Follow the cover instructions from the studio.
- Use lukewarm water and a mild cleanser.
- Gently dab your tattoo dry, don’t rub.
- Use only a small amount of the specified moisturizer.
- Wear clean, loose clothing.
- Avoid direct sunlight, swimming pools, hot tubs, rivers, and saltwater during the healing phase.
- Reach out to a medical professional if symptoms worsen or escalate.
Know How Healing should Feel
A brand-new tattoo might feel warm, sore to touch, or a bit tight at first. Minor redness around the tattoo may also be present. It is expected that the design will settle and not spread.
Healing does not have to look beautiful. A tattoo can appear dull, flaky, or uneven before settling down. It does not ipso facto suggest that the tattooist is not professional or the ink has faded away.
Expectation versus reality
| Expectation | Reality |
|---|---|
| The tattoo is going to look complete right away. | It can appear shiny, swollen, darker, or slightly foggy before the surface settles. |
| Using more moisture cream speeds up the healing process. | Applying hefty layers may cause skin to heat, perspire under thick layers of the cream. |
| Sunscreen will protect your tattoo from the first day. | Sunscreen is used for healed skin generally. It is better to wear protective clothing or seek shade while your surface is broken. |
| Quick swimming does not count. | Any water exposure of the healing area should be avoided. |
| Peeling means the tattoo is starting to fail completely. | It is normal for tattoos to peel lightly as long as the other signs already subside. |
Watch for signs of alarm
If the redness keeps spreading over time, pain is getting worse, swelling becomes serious, the area becomes very hot, or pus or a fever occurs, seek medical attention. Avoid waiting if the reaction is becoming more serious or worrying.
Do not ask social media for a diagnosis regarding the infection. A tattooist can explain their care instructions, but the medical personnel is the only person that should consider any alarming symptoms.
Consider adjusting care for the summer region
There is no such thing as Australian summer that is pretty much the same everywhere in the country. The recommendations depending on conditions vary based on where you dwell, work or travel at. Therefore, considering conditions is crucial.
High levels of humidity can make the skin and clothes feel moist longer. Dry heat in inland areas makes the tattoo feel tight. The weather during the cyclone season in Northern Australia can be unpredictable with abrupt rain, strong winds, and issues with traveling. Hot weather and wildfires disrupt plans, as well.
For Queensland and the extreme North
In humid conditions, wear breathable clothing and do not leave the tattoo under moisture-wicking fabric for a long time. In the rainy season, the rain can get your clothes wet and make the aftercare procedure under controlled conditions more difficult, so have a spare layer with you.
In North Australia, you should follow cyclone alerts and avoid unnecessary traveling. Visiting a tattooist is not worth crossing any flooded roads or risking anything.
For southern areas
Extremely hot and dry conditions can make the skin feel taut. In this case, you need to keep the area well-moisturized rather than cover it up with thick strangling clothing.
While the conditions are exceptional because of wildfires, check local safety warnings to avoid remote areas.
What to Do If You Only Have 1 Day
Make the first 24 hours a top priority: return home a clean state, respect all instructions for your tattoo cover, do not go on any boozy escapades, maintain the area in a shaded place and wear comfy clothing. Don’t arrange for a long day at the beach, a long hike through the park, and don’t go on a trip that confines in a hot lorry.
When traveling, stay at places that offer comfortable towels, good water, and a cool place to take a break. A personal bathroom is more precious than a wonderful view on that first day.
Advice for People Who Should Be Extra Cautious
Individuals working outdoors, going swimming often, having skin disorders, allergies, or who are slow at healing, should specifically talk about timing and products to use with their tattooist or, if need be, a doctor.
Fresh tattoos, too, are a bad idea before going to camping, the music festival for the weekend, or before traveling tropical or going for multi-day trips in the open. Probably, you can do this, but it will make things a bit harder than usual.
Answering Common Questions About New Tattoos
In summer, there are very likely to be predictable questions, and they are often asked by someone standing near a pool with an eyebrow tattoo. Below you will find brief responses to those questions, which often confuse most people.
Can I Apply Sunscreen on the New Tattoo?
It is better to leave the skin with a fresh tattoo without any sunscreen on it unless a medical professional tells you you can use it. Always wear loose clothes and stay in the shadow while the tattoo is being healed, and then apply sunscreen indoors.
How Long Can I Stay Away from Swimming?
Stay away from all pools, baths, and lakes until your tattoo is completely healed and the skin is neither open nor peeling. It takes time to heal directly from the size and placement of your tattoo. Consult the tattooist, and they will give you more precise time!
Is Sweat Dangerous?
Sweating doesn’t always harm your tattoo, but when you combine sweat with rubbing, dirty clothes, or gym equipment, that might be problematic. Initially, try to avoid any activities and rinse the area properly after.
Why Does My Tattoo Look Dull?
Sometimes a tattoo can appear dull during the time your skin begins to shred. Do not scratch it; it will be better to keep on scrubbing it gently and moisturing. If you feel stronger pain or swelling, it would be better to consult a medical professional.
Can I Use Coconut Oil, A Natural Remedy, or Something?
Be careful — it is not always true that natural things equal good ones for the skin. Coconut oil or aroma-containing creams can irritate the tattoo. It is always better to trust your tattooist, and follow their recommendations.
Protect the Design
Taking care of your tattoo during the summer, mostly, means stopping doing a lot: no sun, no jogging, no shower, and no fussing. The same patience used for a tattoo on the heel for big tattoos will help them not to heal well. If your tattoo means something different to you, whether you search for the meaning of sun tattoo or choose the design just because, give the skin some time to heal.
Related guide: symbolism of daisy tattoos.