Sun exposure on tattoos that are not new

[Arrendell]

Question, I know sun is bad for tattoos new and old but if it’s for a few minutes at a time in the sun will it effect tattoos that are a few years old? I always cover or use sunblock when it’s prolonged exposure but I work at a coffee shop and if I’m on the patio for a few minutes folding chairs will that sun exposure fade anything or am I being overly cautious? Also is a flannel a good cover for tattoos? Thanks!

[Dan]

once a tattoo is healed the sun will not hurt it,

that being said, keeping yourself protected from the sun is a life long thing, skin cancer is a real concern, so sunblock if you will be in a hot sun for a while, etc etc, UV protection is also ongoing, just good practice to shield your skin form the sun, but it will not damage a healed tattoo.

[SStu]

For me, if the accumulated time in the sun throughout the middle of the day was going to equal more than 30-45 minutes then I'd be applying sunscreen once in the morning and then again early-mid afternoon. It would take literally 30 seconds and I'd feel protected.