If your tattoo has visibly faded over time, unfortunately there aren’t many ways to rejuvenate a tattoo. Any damage such as infection or ink removal that occurs in the first few weeks and months after new ink is applied will make your new tattoo more susceptible to fading over time.
Tattoos fade for two reasons: age and exposure. As tattoos age, their ink migrates deeper into the dermis and produces a faded look. At the same time, tattoos that have been exposed to harsh sunlight tend to ade because the radiation in the light breaks apart the compounds in the ink.
If your tattoo was done by a skilled artist who used high-quality ink and tattooed down to the right layer of skin, there is still a chance that your tattoo may start to fade if you don’t take proper care of it.
Poor quality ink can affect the longevity of your tattoo, which can cause it to fade faster. If the ink is not applied deep enough into the skin, the chances of it disappearing faster are much higher than if the tattoo was done correctly by a professional. You may be surprised to find that the color of the ink you use in your tattoo can affect the amount of fading. The color of the ink also matters a lot, as the lighter the ink, the faster it will fade (remember, next time you think of white ink tattoos!).
How Light Causes Tattoos to Fade
When exposed to sunlight, ultraviolet frequencies are strong enough to break down ink molecules, which is why tattoos that are regularly exposed wear off much faster than others. The effects of these rays on your skin are noticeable over time, but are especially noticeable in the coloration of your tattoo as it causes fading or discoloration. If you frequently expose your tattoo to the sun, you can expect the tattooed skin to suffer the same damage and begin to fade as a result.
Without protection, any tattoo runs the risk of being damaged by the sun; Ultraviolet rays from the sun can, and often do, break down tattoo ink pigmentation on the skin, causing the tattoo to fade much faster than it would normally if left unexposed.
If you’re too aggressive about washing and using harsh skin products, you can also cause your tattoo ink to bleed. In fact, your tattoo will look more faded than usual. Regularly rubbing the layers of skin off your tattoo won’t keep it fresh and can make it fade faster. The good news is that there are preventable measures that can help slow down the effects of fading to keep your tattoo fresh and vibrant for longer.
Fading Can be Reduced with Certain Attention
Proper ink care can significantly slow down the fading of a tattoo, but we won’t lie and say that your tattoo will never fade. In the hours, days, weeks and months after your new tattoo session, how you feel about your tattoo will affect whether it looks fresh after it heals or fades. Immediately after the tattoo session, the ink on your skin will look very bright and vibrant. Your tattoo hasn’t started to fade or lost ink, and once the new layer of skin has healed, your tattoo will be as dark and fresh as before.
Just as you age over time, your skin and everything in it will also change, including your favorite tattoo. As we age our skin becomes softer, thinner and weaker, your tattoo is part of your skin and will change just as your skin changes. Taking care of yourself and your health will soften the fading of the tattoo even with age, because the skin will remain elastic longer. As you age, your skin’s elasticity changes, meaning your tattoo will usually show signs of fading as your skin begins to change with age.
It makes sense that if your skin rubs against clothing like an ankle or is used for heavy work like fingers, tattoos here will fade more over time. As our skin changes, it stretches, causing tattoos to look fuzzy as they get older. Every tattoo you get will fade over time; some tattoos will begin to fade after a couple of years, while others will begin to fade in old age.
Fading Is a Normal Process for Tattoos
Your tattoo will slowly fade throughout its lifespan simply because it ages and unfortunately there is no way around it. Your tattoo artist may use the highest quality ink or do a perfect job, but if the tattoo is placed in an area that will rub against something or be exposed to constant sunlight, it will fade quickly. If the tattoo is cheap, it’s likely made using a high-chemical, low-pigment ink that will begin to fade over time and help the tattoo lose its original shape and appearance.
By trying to avoid the above contributing factors, you can prevent tattoo fading as much as possible, but you should be prepared for the fact that nothing will stop your tattoo from fading slightly when it naturally ages (and your skin ages naturally too).
Depending on the location of your tattoo, external factors such as the environment can play an important role in the fading of your tattoos. While much of the fun of tattoos lies in the creative freedom you get with them, keep in mind that there are certain areas of your body that will be more receptive to sunlight, which will cause your tattoo to fade faster.
Even if it’s cloudy outside, the sun’s harmful ultraviolet rays can still penetrate inside and accelerate the natural aging process of the skin and the fading of tattoos. Whether it’s a one-day-old tattoo or a decade-old one, the sun’s ultraviolet rays will still penetrate your skin. Once healed, the work done by a talented professional tattoo artist will still look fresh and vibrant, but from now on, a significant role in how the work done by a talented tattoo artist will look when it is no longer as new will be play other factors.
