Why does a Tattoo Blur with time
- Why does a Tattoo Blur with time
What is Tattoo Blurring?
Tattoo blurring refers to the gradual fading in the sharpness of the lines in your tattoo. Blurring can occur anytime within few months of getting your tattoo, or after several years.
The rate of blurring is different for every individual, and largely depends on a lot of conditions such as tattoo after care/ placement of the tattoo on your body/ sun exposure of tattoo-ed area, etc. which are specific to each individual.
Minimizing or preventing the blurring of your tattoo is completely in your hands – right from your choice of tattoo artists, to the style and body placement of your tattoo, to the aftercare routine you follow.
What Causes Tattoo Blurring?
Some of the major reasons which cause tattoo blurring are:
1. Skin Tanning Processes – Artificial and Natural
Tattoos begin to fade on constant exposure to UV rays – be it from the sun, or from artificial tanning processes. Tanning beds produce a huge amount of UV rays, which can affect your tattoo by fading out the darker colours. This is because, these UV rays are easily absorbed by dark colours, causing the ink to fade much faster than it naturally would.
While it is best to avoid tanning beds or exposing your tattooed skin to the sun for long durations, as a thumb rule, we recommend slathering on generous doses of sunscreen before the exposure (only after that tattoo has healed).
2. Placement of the Tattoo on your Body
It is a matter of irony, that the areas of the body which are more exposed to the sun/surroundings and hence might be subject to faster tattoo fading, are actually the most popular spots on the body, to get a tattoo. Some of these spots are:
- Below Wrist and near Fingers
- Top of the Feet
- Sides of Fingers
- Thighs (where muscles are susceptible to loosening with time)
The fading in these areas is mainly due to friction and general exposure of these areas to the surroundings. Additionally, areas of the body that are affected by weight gain or loss are also quite susceptible to tattoo blurring.
3. Quality of Ink Used
Not all tattoo ink is manufactured with the same quality standards. If the ink you use is of low-quality, you’re bound to see some blurring eventually. Low-quality inks often contain heavy metals and other chemical compounds, that can affect the longevity and quality of your tattoo. We, at Machu tattoos use Quantum Tattoo Ink, which is manufactured in Hollywood, USA. They are approved by FDA and are vegan inks. They are free of heavy metals and animal bones.
By using premium quality inks, we ensure that no process from our side, will contribute towards the fading of your tattoo. Before the inking process our artist will show you the certification of the ink, so that you are aware of what goes into the making of your tattoo. Transparency is key, to all our practices.
4. Tattoo Design
Intricate tattoos that have fine lines and more detailing are likely to blur over time. If your tattoo has a negative space i.e., less skin visibility in between two lines in the design, it will tend to blur with time. Tattoos that are drawn in clusters close to each other, may also blur over time, due to the skin’s natural process of cell regeneration. The ageing your skin and hence the change in the elasticity of it, could also affect the boundaries of your tattoo, and cause blurring.
5. Healing of the Tattoo
A well healed tattoo is much less prone to blurring, than a tattoo that hasn’t been properly cared for. Our tattoo artist will talk you through the post-care routine, and we would like to advise you to follow it to the tee, for the best possible results. Any alterations you have or shortcuts you might be tempted to take, will affect the quality of the tattoo in the long run. We would also like to discourage you from using lotions such as Betadine or SilverX on your tattoo. The standard tattoo protector lotion recommended by us, will give you the best results. And worry not, it is vegan as well!
6. Skin Cleansing and other such Skin Care Routines
A squeaky-clean feeling after cleansing your skin is what most people prefer. However, this may affect the quality of your tattoo over time. Some skin cleansers can be a tad bit abrasive, and strip your skin, of its natural moisture content This can result in fading, as dehydrated skin will not be able tot latch on to the colour pigments of the tattoo, very well.
What you can do to avoid blurring?
Tattoos were made to last forever, but their quality is bound to change over the years, based on several conditions that differ for every individual. Remember to keep your skin hydrated and use tattoo-friendly sunscreen before exposure to UV rays. Stay away from cheap tattoo studios and invest in an experienced tattoo artist’s expertise. Check out our Youtube video for more information on the same. You can contact us via mail (inked@machutattoos.com) or call us to book an appointment. And we provide free consultation as well. What are you waiting for? Give us a ring already!