A well-done tattoo is a fashion statement expected to last well into old age. But all tattoos eventually fade, though, in varying degrees. Some think the tattoo’s size and design cause this, while others suggest it’s all about the depth the tattoo artist places the ink under the skin.
It seems the tattoo style vs. tattoo longevity is one hidden way of analysing a person’s immune system. The white blood cells disintegrate the ink particles and facilitate their expulsion. That is just one factor that makes tattoos lose their oomph over time.
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What Other Factors Cause Tattoos To Fade Over Time?
Over-exposure to the sun
Too much exposure to the sun without covering your tattoo will ultimately impact its longevity. The sun’s UV rays penetrate the skin and break down the colour pigment in your tattoo.
Excessive weight gain
Excess weight gain affects skin elasticity, thus interfering with the appearance of your tattoo. Often, it may end up distorting the shape of the tattoo. Furthermore, the ink pigments, unable to expand as your skin stretches, will make the tattoo look like it’s faded over time.
Location of the tattoo
Tattoos on different parts of the body tend to fade at different rates. Areas where the skin is thick and the tattoos do not go deep, such as the soles and palms, tend to fade fast.
Failure to follow aftercare instructions
Immediately you get your tattoo, your tattoo artist must provide you with information and the best tattoo supply Canada products you require to take good care of your tattoo for several weeks until it finally heals.
Failure to follow these instructions will affect the final appearance of your tattoo and its longevity.
Tips to Get the Best Tattoo So It Doesn’t Fade
All tattoos, including permanent ones, fade and look blurred over time. It is essential to look into the future and imagine how the tattoo will look once deterioration occurs. The consideration factors will enable you to decide on getting tattooed or dropping the idea altogether.
Permanent tattoos are designed to be around for a long time. Visiting a highly skilled professional with adequate tattooing experience is the best way to get a high-quality and presentable tattoo.
An experienced tattooist knows that only one millimetre of skin is available to work on, and if the needle goes deeper, the ink blows out, leading to a blurred outline.
Surprisingly, this problem does not manifest immediately, so visiting a novice tattooist who does not apply tattoos with precision will still bring sharp tattoos, but they will fade out fast.
Infection of the tattoo area also occurs, so visiting a licensed practitioner registered under a regulator reduces the risk of such incidence.
The durability of a tattoo also depends on the type of colour used. Although all pigments and dyes have molecules that eventually degrade, causing the colour to fade, all colours do not fade at the same speed. This fading phenomenon, known as lightfastness, has a scale to measure it. From evaluation on that scale, black ranks as the best, while red fades fast.
How to Keep Tattoos Looking Sharp
As many worry about tattoos fading, there are tips on keeping a tattoo looking better over time. Gentle and periodical exfoliation of the tattooed area will remove dead skin cells making the tattoo pop. The tattoo should heal before scrubbing with terry cloths, mitts, scrubs, and loofas takes place.
Since UVB and UVA rays from the sun damage the skin and fade tattoos, investing in sunscreen of at least SPF30 will shield the skin and tattoo from fading, blisters, and sunburns. The best sunscreens for this have fewer additives and chemicals, so the all-natural variety is the best.
A tattoo balm or moisturiser on the tattoo will keep the skin hydrated because dry skin gets ashy, which dulls your tattoo. If the tattoo looks dreary, a cover-up or touch-up can give it new life. It is all about getting the tattoo retouched or covered with a new design. Such will keep it looking vibrant.
Final Thoughts
The immediate aftercare of a tattoo before it heals seems to take precedence over the long-term regimen to keep the tattoo from fading. The tattoo and the tattooing process, when done well, have many long-term benefits. The best way to reap those advantages and keep the tattoo looking good is to treat tattoo care as part of daily skincare.