Tattoo Fading
While all tattoos fade over time. Some of the reasons for early fading are avoidable while other reasons are not.
Some ways to prevent premature fading include: Stay out of the sunlight while the tattoo is healing.
Getting a tattoo doesn’t mean you have to turn yourself into a vampire and stay out of the sun forever. It just means that you have to take precautions when exposing your tattoo to UV rays. If you can’t cover up the art then make sure you use strong sunscreen. Improper healing is another reason for fading. Pay attention to the tattoo artist when they give you directions on how to take care of the tattoo. Follow all the cardinal rules and never go in a pool, Jacuzzi or spa while a tattoo is healing.
Water can get into the skin and dilute the ink which could cause disastrous results. Don’t pick at the scabs. This can cause scare tissue that will affect the lines. Always go to a professional. Tattoos done by unprofessional artists often fade either because the tattoo is not deep enough allowing the colour to leach away or it’s too deep, which causes scabs and scar tissue. To understand the unavoidable reasons that tattoos fade you need to have some knowledge about how body systems work.
The skin has three layers; the top layer is the epidermis, a middle layer called the dermis and an internal layer called the hypodermis. One month after the tattoo is received, the bottom part of the epidermis is finishing the healing process. The dermis still has ink concentrated in the top section and is surrounded by collagen. Ink is still being eliminated in the epidermis with ink present in tiny cells, which is why it’s important not to pick at scabs. This could remove some of the ink. After three months the ink is completely healed in the epidermis and is only present in the dermis now.
Experts think that ink moves to deeper parts of the dermis over time while the lymphatic system is constantly removing toxins by flushing away skin layers. This is what causes tattoos to look bluish and blurry over time. The best way to keep your tattoo looking good as new is to make appointments with your tattoo artist for touch ups. Artists usually do small touch ups for free or at a reduced rate.
By Christine Pinella for Black Cat Tattoo Aftercare