Tattoos have fascinated people for centuries. The colors beneath the skin are shrouded in mystery. But what actually happens during the tattooing process? What makes tattooed skin different?
We’ve discovered everything there is to know about the unique colors used in tattoos, the skin, and the relationship between the two. Skin researchers know exactly why colors stay on the skin and how a tattoo changes it. Of course, they also know what kind of care tattooed skin needs. Now we know, too.
Color plus skin equals a tattoo. What happens there?
Tattooing involves injecting a special ink under the skin using needles of varying thicknesses. Tattoo needles come in a wide variety of shapes, and the ink can be red, black, blue, or green; they always penetrate up to two millimeters deep into the skin, reaching the dermis, which lies beneath the outermost layer of the skin (the epidermis). The dermis can retain color pigments for a long time.
The pigments that end up in the epidermis during tattooing are eventually lost. The epidermis is constantly renewing itself. After about three to four weeks, these superficial colors fade away. This is known as fading and is a natural process. A small amount of color always ends up in the epidermis, which is normal. It has nothing to do with the tattoo artist’s skill.
Let’s be clear: tattoo artists use special needles to apply tattoo ink to the dermis, where it remains for a long time.
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What is tattoo ink made of?
Indigenous cultures use a mixture of ash, charcoal, and fat for tattooing. They insert ink under the skin using a needle made of bamboo or bone splinters. This is unthinkable in Europe, where tattoo inks are subject to strict regulations. Tattoo inks are made of small, solid pigments. These particles are so small that we cannot even see them. Only under high magnification does the ink reveal that it consists of liquid and solid particles. Pigment particles are responsible for giving tattoos their colors. The liquid that binds them together consists of solvents and preservatives and initially has nothing to do with your tattoo’s color.
Do you suffer from allergies? If so, you should pay close attention to the ingredients in tattoo inks, as some of them can trigger allergic reactions. Simply ask the tattoo artist what colors they use. You should also ask for a photo of the ink’s ingredients. In general, inks can be traced using a batch code, i.e., the manufacturer’s production number.
In conclusion, we cannot say with certainty what tattoo inks are made of. Their exact ingredients and proportions vary depending on the manufacturer and the specific product.
How do tattoo colors look after being inked?
Your tattoo is still fresh, and you’ve put a bandage on it. Take a close look at the bandage: It’s colorful, isn’t it? Some of the tattoo’s color is carried away by the wound fluid after the tattoo has been applied. This is the color you see in the bandage. The scab that forms on the tattooed skin may also be discolored. Please don’t panic—all of this is perfectly normal. Tattoo artists are aware of this and will design your tattoo with color loss in mind.
But why does the body simply flush the ink out? It’s supposed to stay on the skin! Tattoo inks are foreign substances to your body and have no place in wounds. That is why your body tries to remove or break down as much ink as possible. A fairly large proportion of tattoo ink is transported into the lymphatic system during wound healing. Mainly small particles (pigments) and soluble ink components end up there. Only the ink components that are too large to be transported remain in the dermis. This is the color that forms your tattoo.
A Brief Overview of the Skin – Epidermis, Dermis, and Subcutaneous Tissue
Some colored ink does end up in the epidermis during tattooing. However, the epidermis renews itself every three to four weeks. This is why colors in the epidermis fade quickly. New skin cells are constantly being produced through cell division in the basal cell layer. This is the boundary between the epidermis and the dermis.
Beneath the epidermis lies the dermis. This layer of skin contains a network of collagen, proteoglycans, and other fibers that make the skin tear-resistant and elastic. This firm network supports the dermis. Because this layer of skin is so firm, it reliably retains the largest tattoo ink pigments. The dermis also has a rich blood supply and is permeated by lymphatic vessels. Furthermore, it contains immune cells, which help wounds heal after a tattoo has been applied.
The subcutis is located beneath the dermis. It consists primarily of fat cells and connective tissue and does not usually come into contact with tattoo ink. This raises the question: how much pigment remains in the skin after a tattoo has healed? This varies from person to person. Up to 80% of the originally applied color can be broken down and removed. This happens because, as a wound heals, some of the pigment is washed out through bodily fluids, and because the lymphatic system partially removes pigments. However, UV rays also destroy some color pigments. Once healing is complete, tattoos have not yet reached their final colors.
Color perception and tattoos
Why do tattoo colors look different in the bottle than on tattooed skin? It depends on the light. When light falls directly on colors, they shine very brightly and sometimes appear rather dull. However, on tattooed skin, the light is filtered through the skin and penetrates only partially. This is because your skin contains pigment and filters the light to protect your body from harmful UV radiation, among other things.
Tattoo pigments also filter light. If the light is absorbed across the entire spectral range, tattoos appear black. If pigments filter only a portion of the visible light, a colored appearance is created. This can be blue, but also any other color, ranging from yellow to green and red. Tattoo care products ensure that the color remains vibrant for a long time.
Tattooed skin is altered skin
There are still very few scientific studies on how tattooed skin changes. However, we know for certain that tattooed skin is different from “untattooed” skin. Reports certainly exist. People with tattoos report greater sensitivity to light and sunlight. Tattooed skin is more prone to itching and, therefore, more easily irritated.
You may have heard that tattooed skin can no longer sweat. This is nonsense. Sweat glands, like pigments, are located in the dermis. Pigments do not block sweat glands. Large, dark tattoos get very hot in the sun. Therefore, you should protect your tattooed skin with skincare products and sunscreen (SPF 50+).
Temporary and permanent tattoos
Airbrush and henna tattoos are not permanent; the ink sits on the surface of the skin. Since skin cells are renewed every three to four weeks, temporary tattoos fade very quickly. This happens particularly quickly on your hands: due to frequent washing, drying, and contact with all sorts of objects, the outer layer of skin renews itself exceptionally quickly in this area.
The difference between temporary and permanent tattoos lies in the ink used and where it is applied. In the case of permanent tattoos, ink is injected into the dermis—the layer of skin beneath the epidermis. Since the dermis does not regenerate, the ink remains there.