In addition to the risk of skin cancer, the accelerated signs of skin aging, and hyperpigmentation, the sun can also affect the appearance and health of tattoos. The same ultraviolet rays that can ...

The sun emits two types of ultraviolet (UV) radiation, UVA and UVB. They do different things to your skin and can damage tattoos in different ways. Sunscreen can prevent UVA and UVB rays from ...

If so, in order to keep it in that condition you need to keep UV rays away from your ink. "The sun does fade your tattoos," says Alana Robbie, a tattoo artist of 13 years in an email to Bustle.

“Sun exposure can cause tattoos to fade over time because the UV rays penetrate the skin and break down the pigments used in tattoos,” she says. Although all tattoos age over time, “if you ...

and UVB rays (which cause sunburn). For healed tattoos, apply sunscreen 15 minutes before sun exposure and reapply every two hours—more frequently when swimming or perspiring heavily.

Read on for everything you need to know about protecting your skin from this sun's damaging rays. Plus, expert tips on how to keep your tattoos looking fresh all summer long. Chemical sunscreen vs.

Combating skin damage and protecting against skin cancer only scratches the surface of why it's important to apply sunscreen on your tattoos. According to Dr. Libby, UV rays from the sun "may fade ...