Blackout Tattoos: Now That's Some Serious Ink (2024)

FAQs

Can blackout tattoos cause health problems? ›

Blackout tattoos have associated health risks, including health risks associated with tattooing in general. Because they cover a large area of skin, blackout tattoos tend to cause increased swelling, as well as risk of keloid scarring and infection.

Some people get a blackout tattoo simply because they think it would be a cool and striking piece of body art. Others use blackout tattoos as a way to cover up old tattoos.

While a blackout tattoo may seem like it will take longer to heal, the process is about the same as any other tattoo; it takes roughly two weeks for it to mostly heal, but it will take six months to fully heal.

Evidence suggests that some of these nanoparticles might induce toxic effects in the brain and cause nerve damage. Some of these nanoparticles might also be carcinogenic.

Psychiatric disorders, such as antisocial personality disorder, drug or alcohol abuse and borderline personality disorder, are frequently associated with tattoos.

Blackout tattoos are way more intense. There is much more trauma to the skin,” says Roxx, an LA-based tattoo artist specializing in blackwork. Getting the saturation right could mean multiple sessions. It also means a different recovery than with other designs.

Advanced laser tattoo removal technology can work wonders. A large blackout tattoo however, is a different story. Removing the deep and dark ink from a significant canvas will be cumbersome and costly. And even then it may not achieve the desired result.

While it's true that some tattoo inks have been found to contain metals like mercury, lead, and arsenic, many reputable manufacturers now produce inks that are free of these harmful elements. The industry has seen a significant shift towards the use of safer, non-toxic pigments.

Some people feel psyched about their new tattoo, while others might feel sick. If you're feeling a bit under the weather after getting some new ink, you might be experiencing “tattoo flu.” Usually mild and quick to pass, this post tattoo flu-like illness is a common result of your body's natural defenses saying “Whoa!

Tattoo blowouts occur when a tattoo artist presses too hard when applying ink to the skin. The ink is sent below the top layers of skin where tattoos belong. Below the skin's surface, the ink spreads out in a layer of fat. This creates the blurring associated with a tattoo blowout.

How many hours does a blackout tattoo take? ›

The process to get a blackout tattoo depends upon the size, shape and location, but it can take multiple visits to the tattoo parlor, with each session lasting several hours. The one below, a blackout sleeve, seems to have taken about a dozen sessions of two to three hours.

In general, large magnums are preferable, as they can be used to ink a larger area in a short time.

Yes, once the foundation of the black ink is tattooed and healed, white ink can be added. Tattoo artist David explains why white on black is a good idea.

As the name suggests, blackout tattoos are when an area of the body, such as an arm or leg, is fully saturated with solid black ink — often without any additional designs. They can be used as a way to cover up old tattoos that someone may not want to see anymore, but sometimes, they are chosen as a standalone design.

When it comes to cancer, black ink can be especially dangerous because it contains a very high level of benzo(a)pyrene. Benzo(a)pyrene is currently listed as a carcinogen by the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC).

Diseases spread through blood.

If equipment used to create a tattoo has infected blood on it, you can get diseases that are spread through blood. Examples include methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus, hepatitis B and hepatitis C.

Are distracted macrophages, full of pigment, interfering with their ability to seek out more dangerous invaders like pathogens? The consensus is no. Some researchers have argued that tattoos may be boosting the immune system.

Tattoo ink and other makeup cosmetics also contain potentially toxic heavy metals. Heavy metals may build in the body after prolonged exposure. Most of them, including Pb, Cd, Hg, As, and Sb, are carcinogenic, allergenic, neurotoxic, teratogenic, and mutagenic contributing to hair loss and other cosmetic issues.