Skin
Skin is a living organ that ages and changes over the years. Along with it, your tattoo will also change.
Tattooing is a process in which the surface layer of the skin is opened with rapid needle punctures in order to insert tattoo ink into the dermis. “Tattoo healing” actually means that a new layer of skin forms over the tattoo ink (the epidermis heals in the areas where it was damaged). This new layer of skin is initially very thin and sensitive, and burns easily in the sun – which is why you must avoid sun exposure and tanning beds for the first month after getting tattooed, and later use SPF30+ sunscreen.
Skin is not transparent but has its own natural pigment; some people have lighter skin, some darker. After tattooing, the tattoo color looks very intense and over time it fades, i.e. its intensity decreases.
This happens because the tattoo begins to be covered by new skin which becomes thicker during the healing period, and the natural pigment of the skin visually “mixes” with the tattoo ink. The best example is white tattoo ink, which after healing can become very faint (if the person has darker skin) or take on a yellow/brown hue in people with lighter skin who tan in the sun.
Colors that are similar to your skin tone may also become “invisible” more quickly (for lighter skin tones this includes light shades of yellow, pink, orange, brown, gray). The tattoo can of course be touched up if this happens, but it is definitely something you should keep in mind when deciding to get tattooed in the first place.
“FINE LINE” TATTOOING
Fading of parts of the tattoo can also occur due to the tattooing technique itself.
If a line is not inserted deep enough into the skin – meaning it does not reach the dermis but remains in the epidermis (a technique nowadays often referred to as “fine line tattooing,” i.e., using the thinnest needle to create very delicate, airy lines) – that line will gradually fade until it disappears completely. This happens because the epidermis is a layer of skin that is constantly renewing itself; its cells regenerate more quickly, causing the tattoo pigment to be expelled from the body as a “foreign substance.”
Another problem with the “fine line” technique is that it ignores one of the basic rules of tattooing, which is the minimum feasibility. A small tattoo is packed with a lot of detail, and it looks great for the first few months.
On the Internet, it is practically impossible to find photos of old tattoos done with this technique. The most common reason is that these tattoos get ruined over time (the design becomes blurry due to too many lines that are too close together) or parts of the tattoo become “invisible,” i.e. the skin expels the ink where it was inserted too shallowly. This technique has existed for more than a year, therefore photos of healed tattoos must exist. If you decide on a fine line tattoo, ask the artist to show you pictures of tattoos done with this technique that are older than one year.
SKIN THAT DOES NOT HOLD INK
Skin in certain areas of the body retains tattoo ink poorly and the tattoo will fade faster, especially on the palms and soles, the side of the finger, or the inner lip. The skin in these areas is different than the rest of the body, and regeneration is faster due to constant exposure to various external factors. Hands are one of the most exposed areas because we constantly touch things, wash our hands, and use various chemicals and cosmetics. The skin on the soles needs to regenerate more often because that part of the body carries our full weight our entire life, etc. In these cases, ink loss and fading of the tattoo are normal and unavoidable.
When tattooing skin that normally holds ink well, fading of the tattoo can happen for several reasons:
CONSUMPTION OF ALCOHOL, DRUGS, MEDICATIONS
If a person consumes alcohol, other intoxicants, or medication that dilates the circulatory system before tattooing, heavier bleeding occurs during tattooing, which results in the ink being pushed out and a faded tattoo after the healing period.
SUN OR TANNING BED EXPOSURE
When you frequently and for long periods expose your tattoo to the sun or tanning beds, the skin absorbs UV rays which act like a mini version of a laser tattoo removal machine – they break down the tattoo pigment which then enters the circulatory system.
CHOICE OF TATTOO COLOR
If the colors in your tattoo are very similar to your natural skin tone, there is a high probability that they will gradually disappear – this applies to many shades of yellow, orange, brown, pink, white, etc.
VIEW “FRESH” vs “HEALED”
A fresh tattoo always appears more intense – colors are more vibrant, lines are sharper, and the skin may be slightly red or swollen. After healing, the tattoo “settles” – the colors become a bit softer, and the overall appearance looks more natural.
That is precisely why a healed tattoo is the best indicator of the quality of the work.
On this Instagram profile, you can find numerous examples comparing fresh and healed tattoos and see what you can expect after full healing.
Considering the amount of images on the Internet and the advancement of editing software, it has become difficult to tell what is a photo of a real tattoo and what is Photoshop. Keep in mind that in every profession, including tattooing, there are certain rules in place so that both the client and the service provider will be satisfied with the final result.
Every tattoo is a reflection of the professionalism and representation of the work of the tattoo artist who created it. There will always be someone who will tattoo whatever you want without advising you if the design choice is not sustainable long-term, because maybe it’s more important for them to have a cool picture for Instagram or they need money at that moment and don’t want to refuse you.
Just because something looks good on paper or in a picture from the Internet does not mean it will look good on your skin.
(check out some examples on the link)