We all love our tattoos. They are a part of us; a part of who we are. After all, if we decide to offer up our own skin as a canvas for a chosen design we would expect to bear the mark forever (well, for the long run at least). Trouble is, tattoos are special.

They need special attention and tender loving care (and we’re not just talking about the immediate post-procedure period here). They need to be protected from the omnipresent, scorching hot yellow ball in the sky- i.e. the sun. Another thing to bear in mind is the fact that sunbeds can cause just as much damage (if not more) to our beloved tattoos than the actual sun.

Let’s face it – everyone loves the summer sun. What’s not to love about basking in its warm rays whilst lying on a beach somewhere? However, some of us don’t stop to consider the implications that sun exposure might have on our tattoos.

The sun’s rays can be divided into two kinds: UVA and UVB. These ultraviolet rays have been scientifically proven to damage unprotected skin if exposed for too long. This, however, doesn’t mean that we have to stay cooped up indoors, rather that we should try to avoid the sun during the hottest time of the day (between 12pm and 3pm in June - August) if our skin is not adequately protected.

Avoiding the damage caused by UVA and UVB rays goes deeper than just aesthetics. Yes, these rays age and damage our skin but, most crucially, they can lead to developing melanoma and other types of skin cancer. The tattooed parts of our skin are particularly vulnerable to UV rays for two reasons:

- UV rays discolour tattoos

-The pigmentation of the tattoo makes it a difficult to screen for cancer.

So, the moral of the story is that we should never be exposed to UV rays in hot climates without applying sun lotion to your tattooed skin. When exposed to the sun, a tattoo that is still in its healing phase can react very badly. In the first two weeks, it can scar and even scab when exposed to strong sunlight without protection.

However, if a tattoo simply fades without any damage to the skin it can always be touched up to revive the lines and colours. This does not mean that the skin has not been damaged in a more lethal and lasting way. So, what can be done to prevent all this?

Tattoo artists and dermatologists alike suggest taking special care of the areas of your skin that have been tattooed. In a nutshell, experts recommend that we apply a sunscreen lotion that has a higher SPF (sun protection factor) than the one we use on the rest of our bodies.

Whatever your skin tone, it is advisable to apply a high SPF lotion to the tattooed area to prevent scabbing, unsightly bumps, discolouration and of course, to protect from the carcinogenic action of the UV rays.

It may be an even better idea to apply a bandage to your fresh tattoo if you know you are going to be soaking up the sun’s rays in the first week of getting inked. That way you can minimise the potential damage to your precious skin art as well as the health risk posed by UV rays. If you go to the effort of getting a tattoo in the first place, it makes sense to look after it, right?