The 6 Best Sunscreens for Tattoos

If you have a tattoo, you want to take extra care to keep it protected and prevent fading. And one of the best ways to keep your ink safe and looking its best is to shield it from the sun's harmful UV rays.

Sun exposure affects the appearance of a tattoo by bleaching its pigment, and it also speeds up the breakdown of collagen and elastin, two structural proteins in the skin, says Brendan Camp, MD, a Manhattan-based dermatologist at MDCS Dermatology.

"Without either of these proteins, the skin becomes lax and is prone to fine lines and wrinkles," he says.

Immediately after getting a tattoo, there's a healing period of about two to three weeks during which applying sunscreen to the area may cause irritation. For this reason, it's best to keep the tattooed area out of the sun. Even if you apply sunscreen and the skin becomes irritated, the irritation makes the skin more sun-sensitive.

Once the tattoo has healed and forever thereafter, covering the area in SPF is crucial to protecting its integrity and your skin health. It's also important to note that tattooed skin is still at risk for developing skin cancer.

If you're looking for the right sunscreen to protect your tattoo, here are the ones dermatologists recommend.

We chatted with dermatologists, who broke down the most important attributes of sunscreen that can be used on tattoos. Our top picks are based on their criteria, including:

• SPF
• Ingredients
• Consistency
• Cost
• Availability

Find more information on how we choose products here.

Tattooed skin is more prone to dryness, says Marisa Garshick, MD, dermatologist at Medical Dermatology & Cosmetic Surgery in New York, and therefore requires extra moisture than non-tattooed skin.

Luckily, this sunscreen contains the necessary sun-protective ingredients, including zinc oxide and titanium dioxide, as well as hyaluronic acid to help provide moisture. Ceramides, too, help support the skin's natural barrier, and niacinamide can soothe the skin, making it easy to apply over tattoos, adds Dr. Garshick.

"This mineral sunscreen is fragrance- and paraben-free, making it a good option even for those with dry or sensitive skin," she says.

Sunscreen sticks like this one make it easy to apply sunscreen to a targeted area. This brand is a mineral sunscreen, with the main active ingredient being zinc oxide.

"The zinc acts as a physical blocker that reflects UV rays off the skin surface as opposed to letting them absorb into the skin," says Dr. Camp. "It is also sheer, so it will not leave a noticeable white residue on the skin like some other mineral sunscreens."

This mineral sunscreen provides coverage against both UVA and UVB using the all-star ingredient zinc oxide. Dr. Garshick likes to recommend it to her patients with sensitive skin because it is free of potentially irritating ingredients such as fragrance, parabens, phthalates and dyes, and it has been awarded the National Eczema Association Seal of Acceptance for those with sensitive skin.

"It's also a plus that it incorporates dry-touch technology to ensure that the sunscreen dries easily and won't leave the skin feeling greasy, which can be especially helpful for those with tattoos," she adds.

Tinted moisturizers can be quite useful for tattoos you might want to cover up for whatever reason. They provide the usual SPF — this one with 44 coverage — and also cast a shade of color corrector on top to even out skin tone.

"Not only does this brand contain mineral blockers, but it goes on without leaving a white cast behind, making it a good option for those with tattoos," says Dr. Garshick. "It is oil-free and good for those with sensitive skin."

If you're an avid exerciser, play a sport or simply tend to sweat easily, this is a great sunscreen for you that can also cover up your tattooed skin.

"This sport sunscreen contains zinc oxide and is a great option for all, but especially for those who are active and spend a lot of time outdoors as it is water-resistant for up to 80 minutes," says Dr. Garshick.

She appreciates that it offers broad-spectrum coverage and is BPA-free. "The spray formulation makes it easy for hard-to-reach areas, such as the back, and easy reapplication," she adds.

Like most mineral sunscreens, zinc oxide is the star ingredient in this product, which provides broad-spectrum coverage by blocking UV rays from getting to the skin.

Because it's water-resistant for up to 80 minutes, it's ideal for occasions where you might be swimming, be it in the ocean, lake or a pool.

"This sunscreen is also free of chemical active ingredients and is both paraben-free and fragrance-free, making it a great option for sensitive skin," adds Dr. Garshick.

Added bonus: The bottle changes color in UV light, so you always know when to reapply.

Here are some features dermatologists recommend looking for when shopping for a sunscreen for tattooed skin.

Any sunscreen you use on your body or face should be at least SPF 30 or higher, says Dr. Garshick, because when it's applied and reapplied correctly, it blocks 97 percent of UVB rays, while SPF 15 is thought to block just 93 percent of UVB rays.

"It is important to ensure adequate protection, given [tattoos] can be thought of as an injury that makes the skin more sensitive to the sun," she says.

Unlike chemical sunscreens, which contain chemical ingredients that are absorbed into the skin to shield the skin from the sun's harmful rays, mineral sunscreens — which have ingredients like zinc and titanium — sit on the surface of the skin.

"Mineral sunscreen ingredients are not absorbed into the skin, but rather protect skin from UV radiation by reflecting UV off the skin," says Dr. Camp.

They tend to be less irritating on tattooed skin.

In general, Dr. Garshick recommends using a cream- or lotion-based sunscreen on tattooed areas to ensure proper coverage. That said, she points out that, for reapplication or for large surface areas, a spray can be used.