The tattooing process involves inserting ink pigment of the desired colour into the dermis layer of the skin.
In order to give the ink a permanent home in your body, the tattoo needle must travel through the epidermis into the deeper layer, or the dermis. Nerves and blood vessels are located here, which is why getting a tattoo hurts and your skin tends to bleed.
Guess how tattoos stay there forever, even as your skin cells die and are replaced? French researchers say they have found the answer, and it's a little bit surprising. They found that immune system cells called macrophages eat the ink, and then pass it to their replacements when they die.
Since the macrophages can't break down the ink, they contain the attack on the immune system by staying in place in the dermis, keeping the ink locked away in their vacuoles. As a result, the tattoo design is trapped in the dermis.
The safest way to quickly remove a tattoo is by laser therapy. Our revolutionary LightSense laser system is a unique and innovative option, using ultra-fast and physician-approved pulse speeds to quickly and safely break down ink pigments.
If ink only reaches the epidermis (the first layer of skin), the tattoo will not be permanent, as this layer of skin is continually shedding and replacing itself. Once pigment is placed in the skin, the body reacts by causing the area appear red, swell, and release blood plasma.
The quick answer is that yes, it's perfectly normal for ink to come away as a tattoo heals. Ink is driven deep into the skin by the tattoo needles, but some will be on the surface of the skin, and some others will collect in scabs above the tattoo.
A tattoo is acceptable if the tattoo was applied by a state-regulated entity using sterile needles and ink that is not reused. Cosmetic tattoos (including microblading of eyebrows only) applied in a licensed establishment in a regulated state using sterile needles and ink that is not reused is acceptable.
After 6 months, your tattoo has completely healed in all skin layers and the colour has been completely absorbed by your skin. You can now treat the tattooed area like the rest of your skin.
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.
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.
Lying flat on your tattoo can also ruin it. Putting pressure on your new ink can also cause swelling. Or, it can actually push the ink out of your pores and dull the color. It might sound difficult to sleep comfortably without rubbing or lying on your tattoo!
A patchy tattoo could be the result of bad technique; if the artist hasn't made sure the ink is deep enough to stay put. It could also be due to them not 'packing' the ink enough; certain ink colours, or areas of concentrated black, often need to be packed in quite a lot in order to create a solid area of colour.
The tattooing process causes damage to the epidermis, epidermal-dermal junction, and the papillary layer (topmost layer) of the dermis.
From 1 to 6 months. After a month, any itching and redness should have completely gone. In fact, your new tattoo may look fully healed! However, the skin under your tattoo can continue to repair itself for up to six months until it's considered healed.
Not only do they help keep your tattoo clean, but they also absorb any excess ink that might be leftover from the tattooing process. Plus, they're just really handy to have around in general.
Why Vaseline and petroleum-based jelly aren't great for a new tattoo. Petroleum-based products can cause ink to fade and may trap moisture and bacteria on top of the tattoo, increasing your risk of developing an infection. Use water-based moisturizers on new tattoos instead.
Tattoo needles go through 1/16th of an inch of skin. This may not sound like a lot of skin, but it actually passes through five sub-layers of the epidermis, the dermis, and the top layer of the dermis. Within these layers is a collection of sweat glands, hair follicles, connective tissue, fat, and blood vessels.
In addition to excessive pain, bleeding, and scabbing, a tattoo that is too deep may also have a blurred or distorted appearance. When the needle goes too deep, it can cause the ink to spread beyond the intended area, leading to a smudged or blurry appearance.
You may have heard some rumours that Bepanthen shouldn't be used on new tattoos, but this absolutely isn't the case. Bepanthen is by far one of the most highly recommended tattoo aftercare products and is the go-to ointment for most tattoo artists and studios.