A Tattoo needle penetrates 5 layers of the epidermis That may sound like a lot of skin, but in reality it is only 1/16th of an inch, about 1-2mm. That's pretty tiny. It goes through five layers of the epidermis, through the dermal layer, and into the topmost layer of the dermis.
Tattoos are permanent images in the skin, delivered by needles injecting ink into the dermis. This tissue is just underneath the outer layer of your skin, called the epidermis. The ink is injected into the dermis by a machine that delivers thousands of tiny pricks per minute via needle.
It is far enough away that it does not bleed and is not exposed. Knowing this, the tip of the tattoo needle is fine-tuned to ensure that it enters the skin at the correct depth. If you look at the tattoo needle in the machine, you will see that it extends no further than 2 mm.
There's the epidermis on the top, the dermis in the middle, and then the hypodermis, also known as the subcutaneous layer. "The nature of the tissue will definitely influence how ink is deposited in that layer, how permanent the ink is in that layer, and even how the tattoo works," says Bennion.
The epidermal layer of skin, i.e. the outermost layer, is what protects the second layer, called the dermis. The dermis is where tattoos live. The needle from the tattoo machine punctures your skin while depositing ink and creating a vacuum that pulls the ink down into the dermis. Here, the tattoo will stay.
A Tattoo needle penetrates 5 layers of the epidermis
That may sound like a lot of skin, but in reality it is only 1/16th of an inch, about 1-2mm. That's pretty tiny. It goes through five layers of the epidermis, through the dermal layer, and into the topmost layer of the dermis.
Normally, your immune system works to remove foreign particles from your body, but ink particles are too big for your immune system to remove, which is why they're permanent. Tattoo removal can be a complex process that can take several sessions to complete.
However, as the tattoo ink droplets are giant compared to bacteria or viruses, they don't break down easily. They are thus trapped in the special white blood cells called macrophages, who still tirelessly try to break the ink down with enzymes and transport them to the body's lymphatic system.
Your tattoo might move around a bit during weight loss. If your skin gets a bit loose during your weight loss, your tattoo might shift. If you are losing weight while also toning or building muscle, then your tattoo might find itself sculpted to your body in a different way.
If the needle being used on your tattoo doesn't go deep enough into the dermis layer of your skin, that means the ink has been deposited in the epidermis layer. As we mentioned before, ink deposited here will quickly leave the skin when epidermal cells renew themselves, making for a not-so-permanent tattoo.
Move the tattoo gun with your fingers, keeping your hand posted in place as you first begin. This will help you apply even and consistent pressure, making your lines even and consistent too. Tight skin tattoos better, so be sure to pull the area tight as you work.
A traumatic tattoo is when foreign bodies become forcibly embedded in the dermis and create a permanent tattoo.
Don't worry, this is completely natural. It happens because the old skin, damaged during the tattooing process, forms a thin layer over your tattoo and masks its true appearance. In time this old skin will naturally exfoliate itself, revealing your tattoo underneath in all its vibrant glory.
Once you're sure you've found a professional tattoo artist, the next best way to prevent blowout is to follow aftercare directions closely and pay attention to your ink during the healing process. Make sure you're cleaning your tattoo twice a day and keeping it moist until it's fully healed, at least two weeks.
Choosing the Right Location for the Tattoo
The location of a tattoo can also play a role in whether or not it stretches over time. Areas of the body that are prone to stretching, such as the stomach, chest, arms, and legs, may require touch-ups or even complete redrawing over time to maintain their original appearance.
The outer layers of your skin will heal in about two to four weeks, while the deeper layers where the ink sits will take about 4 months to heal.
Basically treat this sickness as if it is a regular flu. Your symptoms should pass in a day or two as your body's immune system calms down and gets to the proper work of healing the actual tattoo on your skin.
Tattoos reduce stress
Cortisol is a stress hormone. It was tested in the study because cortisol is an immune response suppressant. Multiple tattoos were found to reduce cortisol levels, improving the immune system benefits of tattoos, but also helping with stress reduction.
The body's natural response to pain is to release endorphins, which can provide temporary pain relief. However, endorphins can also cause feelings of tiredness and drowsiness, which can make you feel even more fatigued after the tattoo process.
Is there a temporary tattoo that lasts for months? According to professionals, semi-permanent tattoos are impossible to achieve. Chinese ink is a method where a tattoo artist cuts the surface of the skin and applies their own blend of ink to create a semi-permanent tattoo that lasts up to six months.
No, tattoos do not take years off your life. There was a study done in 2014 that did suggest that people with tattoos, on average, have a shorter lifespan. Obviously, there are millions of variables that go into a study like that, but the takeaway is that tattoo-havers also tend to be higher on the risk-taking chart.
Your tattoo artist can go over your existing design, redoing all the lines and giving the colours a touch-up if that's all you need.