Q: In the article about Tanning and Tattoos, I was wondering does the fading apply to black and white, or just color? Also, how rigid are those guidelines? If I go to the beach, will I need to make sure my tattoo is completely covered, while other parts of my body are just covered in sunscreen? The long term maintenance issues are what I'm worried about. I don't mind taking care of the tattoo initially, but I'd like to get to the point where I don't have to do much of any aftercare eventually.

A: Proper sun protection is essential for a tattoo as long as you have it. Black ink or color ink doesn't matter - it will fade in the sun just like upholstery in the back window of a car. That doesn't mean you have to keep it covered with clothing, but you will need to protect it with the highest SPF lotion you can find, especially if you spend a lot of time in the sun. You need to reapply as often as possible and limit the amount of exposure it has to damaging sun rays. Otherwise your tattoo will fade and need frequent touch-ups. Sun block is a lot cheaper than touch-ups.