Ways To Keep Your Old Tattoos Looking Fresh And New

Home » How To Keep Tattoos From Fading » Ways To Keep Your Old Tattoos Looking Fresh And New

Maybe your like

Tattoos are simply marks or designs created by ink deposited beneath the epidermis — or skin — with needles. The ink should go deep enough so it won't be shed with the upper layers of your skin cells.

However, your body can break down and absorb the ink over time, but the main culprit for a change in the appearance of tattoos is sun exposure and aging skin, says Megan Zoeller, co-owner of The Collective, a tattoo studio in Indianapolis, Indiana.

Advertisement

Though we like to treat our skin like a canvas, our skin cells are elastic and loosen over time. As we age and our skin becomes more pliable, so the lines and edges of tattoos can blur, Zoeller says.

"Tattoos fade because we are human and we age," she says. "Skin will wrinkle and sag, which affects the appearance of tattoos. All tattoos will soften and spread on the skin over time. Lines will get a little thicker, a little softer, which can be bad for very small details."

UV rays also break down collagen fibers in the skin, which contain pigment. Sun exposure, especially on unprotected skin, can harm the color pigments in your tattoo. Alas, there's no stopping time, but there are several things you can do to care for your tattoo for years to come.

tattoo artist
Choosing the right tattoo artist is one of the most essential steps to getting a tattoo that will look as good 10 years from now as it does as the day you get it. ROBERTO PERI/Getty Images

Advertisement

Tag » How To Keep Tattoos From Fading