I’m sure we’ve all seen older tattoos that seem to have faded or blurred over time. What causes this phenomenon? Is it preventable?
All tattoos are susceptible to fading and “migrating.” One of the main reasons tattoos fade and spread over time is simply that tattoo ink is a suspended solid placed into the skin which is a living organ. Though the dermis, where the tattoo ink resides, does not change anywhere near as rapidly as the epidermis; it still changes.
When a tattoo is applied, the tattooing process creates an immune response to rid the body of the foreign substance. Some ink particles are removed through a lymphatic response, while others too large for the body to remove are surrounded by fibroblast cells and sealed in the dermal layer of the skin. Movement of the tattoo occurs over time as these fibroblast cells either divide or die and exit the body. Also,over time, tattoo ink settles deeper into the dermal layer resulting in a faded look. Fading and moving by these processes should take several years before a noticeable difference is seen. However, there are other factors involved.
Weight gain/loss is a huge factor. While healthy weight gain/lossmay not going to cause any significant changes to your tattoo, significant weight gain/loss over a short amount of time will have a tremendous impact on your tattoo, especially if stretch marks become present. A stretch mark running through your tattoo is inevitably going to ruin the tattoo.
It has been proven by the case of a woman in Portland that pregnancy weight gain is almost always going to alter the appearance of a tattoo, usually permanently. Because the body changes so rapidly, the tattoo will stretch with the body, but often has difficulty returning to it’s original state just as your body has difficulty returning to it’s pre-pregnancy state. This is usually only an issue for tattoos in the middle of the body though as that is where the most significant body changes occur.
Muscle gain can also affect the appearance of a tattoo. Though as with the other types of weight gain, it is really only the significant gains over short amounts of time that cause noticeable effects on the tattoo.
Sun exposure also plays a huge role in altering the appearance of a tattoo. Even tanning can deteriorate the looks of your tattoo. Keeping skin moisturized and protected from sun damage will decrease the affects of the sun on your tattoo.
The smaller or more detailed the tattoo, the more noticeable these changes are going to be. Take that into consideration when selecting your tattoo.
If you already have a tattoo that is showing it’s age, Vanish can help. We can remove of fade your tattoo further to free up the real estate and allow you to get a newer, brighter tattoo in place of the old faded, distorted tattoo you may currently be sporting. Cruise through our website for more information, and give us a call when your ready to get started.
FAQs
Movement of the tattoo occurs over time as these fibroblast cells either divide or die and exit the body. Also, over time, tattoo ink settles deeper into the dermal layer resulting in a faded look. Fading and moving by these processes should take several years before a noticeable difference is seen.
Why does my old tattoo look blurry? ›
The reason is that our skin is a living canvas. As we grow, our skin changes. The dermis, or middle layer of skin, is constantly regenerating itself. This process pushes the tattoo ink up from the dermis skin layer to the epidermis, or the outer layer of skin, causing tattoos to fade and blur.
Does laser tattoo removal work better on old tattoos? ›
Older tattoos generally fade more easily with laser treatments than newer ones. For instance, a black tattoo that is ten years old may take one or two treatments less than a one year old black tattoo. Why? Because the body has already absorbed some of the tattoo's pigment throughout the years, making it easier to fade.
Why does my tattoo look like it's disappearing? ›
Your skin is a living organ, so when you're getting a tattoo, it's like you're letting your body soak up the ink. For this reason, tattoos may fade dramatically in the first few days. The first phase involves your body reacting adversely to the needle and ink.
Why do tattoos look bad after years? ›
All tattoos will soften and spread on the skin over time. Lines will get a little thicker, a little softer, which can be bad for very small details." UV rays also break down collagen fibers in the skin, which contain pigment. Sun exposure, especially on unprotected skin, can harm the color pigments in your tattoo.
Why does my tattoo look faded sometimes? ›
Exposure to the sun can shift the appearance of the pigment in our skin, cause it to slide into a different shade of the previous color, or often to a lighter tone. Those who work outside will often see an accelerated amount of fading with their tattoos.
What tattoos cannot be removed? ›
Ink pigments are all made up of different ingredients, this largely effects the tattoo removal process. Black ink is the easiest to remove completely, followed by green and blue which can be a little more difficult. Pigments such as purple, yellow and white are the most difficult to remove completely.
How many sessions to remove a 20 year old tattoo? ›
On average tattoo removal takes 8-12 sessions with roughly 10% of the tattoo clearing each time. There are three main factors that impact how long it takes: the size and color of the tattoo; the laser used; and the health of the immune system.
Is a 20 year old tattoo easier to remove? ›
The lymphatic system is the body's natural cleansing system. A tattoo that is 20 years old will look faded. It will most likely have less in than when it was a fresh new tattoo. Thus making it easier to remove.
Why does some of my tattoo look cloudy? ›
The tattoo often takes on a cloudy appearance as scabs start to form over the ink. Scab formation is an essential part of the wound-healing process and means that a healthy, fresh skin layer is forming – a key sign your skin is on the path to recovery.
However, the thin lines and lightly applied shading in fine line tattoos make fading inevitable. Proper aftercare and good body placement can help reduce fading, but expect to see changes to a fine line tattoo, especially tattoos on older skin.
Do all tattoos blur with age? ›
All tattoos are susceptible to fading and “migrating.” One of the main reasons tattoos fade and spread over time is simply that tattoo ink is a suspended solid placed into the skin which is a living organ.
Is it normal for a tattoo to look blurry under second skin? ›
For second-skin bandages
While the bandage is on, you will notice the surface underneath accumulate slight moisture, causing the tattoo to appear blurry. This is plasma building up from your skin, pulling up micro-fragments of ink. It's completely normal and helps with the healing process.
