Laser Tattoo Removal in the Summer & the Caveats: Mastering Safe Ink Erasure!
Hey there, tattoo lovers and soon-to-be tattoo-free babes! Thinking about bidding farewell to some old ink this summer? Laser tattoo removal is your ticket to a clean slate, but before you get started, let's talk about how to do it safely and effectively during the sunny season.
Here’s your ultimate guide to navigating summer laser tattoo removal with ease and confidence—because saying goodbye to tattoos should be as safe & easy as possible!
Safe and Effective Summer Laser Tattoo Removal
Laser tattoo removal works by breaking down ink particles with focused light beams, so they’re small enough to be moved out through your lymphatic and excretory systems. Here’s how to ensure your summer removal journey is super simple:
1. Consultation is Key: Before you start, consult with your Advanced Esthetician/ Laser Technician. They'll assess your skin type, tattoo colors, age of your tattoo, and overall health to create a personalized treatment plan. Think of it as your essential pre-flight check—important stuff!
2. Sun Safety First: While the sun is shining bright, avoid sun exposure before and between your laser sessions. That sun-kissed glow might be tempting, but it’ll interfere with your treatment’s effectiveness and increase the risk of skin sensitivity & damage. SPF is your best friend during this process (and ALL the time). We ask our clients to wait 4 weeks after prolonged sun exposure before coming in for a laser session, and we absolutely cannot treat sunburnt skin—no ifs, and, or buts!
To help protect your precious skin 24/7 here are some sunscreens we recommend:
Whole Body — Supergoop Play
This sunscreen comes in a big ol’ bottle and has a silky smooth formula. This is your everyday, all-over sunscreen.
Reapplication — SkinBetter Tone Smart SPF 68 Compact
Because of its compact packaging and effortless application, this sunscreen is perfect for reapplying throughout the day (and the tint stretches your makeup a bit longer too!).
Oily Skin — Glow by Bea Brush-on Mineral Sun Shield
Kind of a re-application part-deux. Glow by Bea comes in a variety of skin tones and is best for folks with an oiler complexion who are looking for some oil-absorbing powder with their SPF re-application.
Coverage — SkinBetter Tone Smart SPF 70
This is one of our most-used products! On days when you want a flawless, matte, “better-than-skin” look, Tonesmart is there for you. Your skin, but better!
Discreet — Supergoop Glow Oil
The perfect product if you want to be sun-protected, but also work under black lights ;-) This sunscreen will leave your skin super duper Glowy and you don’t have to be worried about a streaky application.
3. Take a Break from Summer Splash: Hold off on immersing your tattoo in water (e.g. baths, hot tubs, pools, rivers, lakes, oceans, etc) until the skin is healed. Chlorine or salt water can cause irritation, and the water can introduce bacteria to your fresh wound. Stick to land-based activities for a bit, and your skin will thank you later!
4. Post-Zap TLC: After each session, pamper your skin with care. Ice packs and elevation are your new allies. Resist the urge to scratch (we know it’s tempting if you experience an “itchy phase”!) and follow our aftercare instructions diligently. Your skin will appreciate the TLC! After your tattoo has healed for about two weeks, you can begin utilizing lymphatic massage to help increase circulation and encourage tattoo transportation!
5. Let that sucker breathe: While you’re healing your freshly lasered tattoo, you will want to ensure it can “breathe”, i.e. don’t cover it with bandaids, gloves, plastic, etc. The focus should be on keeping your tattoo removal area calm, clean, and cool for the first two weeks—so think of a loose cotton gauze dressing on the tattoo to keep it protected from the sun, NOT a bandaid that can trap heat/moisture.
Caveats and Things to Consider for Summer Tattoo Removal
Now, let’s cover the finer details—because transparency matters:
Sun Exposure Risks: Increased sun exposure after treatment can lead to skin irritation, hyperpigmentation, hypopigmentation, and even burns. Protect your healing skin with clothing and SPF 30+ sunscreen daily. Once fully healed (two weeks generally), you can apply KT tape, UV protection apparel, or bandaids to your tattoo to keep them out of the sun.
Water Activities Caution: Swimming, particularly in chlorinated pools or salt water, should be avoided for 2 weeks to prevent introducing bacteria and irritants to your healing skin. Treat it like a tattoo—no submersion for two weeks!
Feelin’ hot, hot, hot!: After a session of tattoo removal your skin will be warm to the touch, so avoid warm activities for at least 72 hours. Examples include hiking, saunas, hot yoga, intense exercise, even just hanging out at the park on a hot day. We want to keep your skin as cool as possible to avoid unnecessary heat exposure while your skin is actively inflamed from the laser session.
Patience Rewarded: Complete tattoo removal may take multiple sessions over several months/years, depending on tattoo size, color, and depth. We like to wait a full 8 weeks between sessions to ensure proper healing before we get back to the laser. Embrace the journey and trust the process—it’s worth it!
Ready to start your journey to ink-free skin?
Laser tattoo removal in the summer can be your fresh start to a tattoo-free future. Consult, protect, and pamper your skin along the way—you’ve got this!
Got questions or itching to get started? Book here and schedule that consultation.
Here’s to waving goodbye to tattoos past and embracing a summer of healthy, ink-free skin. Stay cool, stay fabulous, and stay safe on your laser journey!
Cheers to new beginnings and a summer of skin transformation!