Why Is My Tattoo Ink Not Staying In The Skin?

Why Is My Tattoo Ink Not Staying In The Skin?

Tattoo ink is becoming more and more popular every year. It has been estimated by a leading tattoo artist to be up to 40% of their customers.

Tattoo ink is used for permanent makeup, cosmetic tattoos, or as a way for people to protect their skin from the sun.

Your tattoo ink is not staying in the skin because the skin tends to expel the ink. This process is called desquamation, It can be as a result of how you were tattooed, or it can occur due to movement in the skin that presses ink up against the surface and then forces it out.

Why tattoos fade over time is not fully understood. The healing process of the skin, or the lack of proper skin hydration, can be a cause.

This is why it’s important to hydrate your skin and moisturize daily for some time after getting a tattoo.

After six weeks, you should apply an unscented lotion or hydrating cream every day. 

Water retention is another reason you see tattoos fade. Water retention causes the skin to stretch, making the ink below it lose and eventually “squeeze” the ink out.

It’s also a contributing factor in how quickly a tattoo heals. If you have a tattoo that’s healing poorly, it’s probably because of water retention.

Fading happens to be another reasons besides water retention and is also one of the main reasons ink does not stay in the skin very long.

The highly pigmented ink and resistance to fading can last up to one year on the skin.

This is because chronic inflammation causes a decrease in melanin production; this, in turn, can suppress the pigment production of the ink.

Reasons For Ink Not Stay In The Skin When Lining?

Ink does not stay in the skin when lining because it seeps into the layers of skin and is absorbed. The skin has a lot of tiny capillaries that connect to form venules.

The “inner lining cells” are too thin but the next layer, called the dermis, is thicker and more robust.

It’s made up mostly of collagen and elastin so that it can hold onto ink more easily than the other layers.

After the dermis absorbs the ink, it will eventually be re-circulated back through the body.

As you get older, your skin thins and becomes more transparent. This makes it even harder for the skin to hold onto the ink, so if you start lining at an early age, your skin will have the ink better than someone who starts later in life.

Ink is absorbed much faster through the inter-cellular spaces in the dermis (the layers just below your epidermis).

So, it takes time for the ink to be absorbed by the intercellular openings in your epidermis.

Your body also has a natural barrier on top of your skin that helps prevent ink from seeping into your deeper layers, including the epithelial linings.

This means that the ink seeps into your body at a very slow rate. This is why people don’t die after getting tattoos.

Sun, water, and soap can all help the ink be washed from the body as these substances loosen up the bonds between cells and cause cells to shed more often than they normally would.

How Do You Get Tattoo Ink To Stay On Your Skin?

You can get tattoo ink to stay on your skin by using a tattoo ink that contains a high amount of pigment.

Pigment causes the tattoo ink to adhere more tightly to the top layers of your skin. Creating tattoos with high pigment levels is important because it reduces the risk of your tattoos fading in color or fading altogether.

Tattoo artists also apply topical treatments like A&D ointment, petroleum jelly, and other skin-soothing products before they start working on your tattoo to ensure it stays safe and sanitary.

Another way to make your tattoos last longer is by choosing a tattoo design with solid colors. Solid colors like black and gray last longer than designs that contain a lot of shading.

Solid colors don’t have to be boring, though. You can get colorful tattoos to remember friends and family members who are special to you.

Another great idea is choosing a tattoo design that represents something meaningful in your life, like your school’s mascot.

It’s also important to get your tattoo design done by a talented artist.

If you live in a smaller city, you might be surprised to learn that plenty of talented tattoo artists can help you create some amazing designs.

The best tattoos last for years, but if you give them some time, your new tattoo can last a lifetime.

How Do You Know If Your Skin Is Rejecting Tattoo Ink?

You know that your skin rejects tattoo ink when getting a tattoo hurts more than you anticipated.

To determine if your skin is rejecting ink, make sure that the ink isn’t getting irritated or red where you got your tattoo.

If the skin is still tender to touch, it may be best for you to wait on getting the tattoo done again.

You can let your skin heal in 10 to 14 days.

On the other hand, if the area is red or tender but not painful, you may continue with the same artist.

To avoid rejection, you can keep your tattoo covered with bandages when you shower. Try not to get the tattoo wet as much, so it will stick better after getting covered.

You also want to ensure that the area is taut and straight before getting it done again.

In case the area still feels tender after you cover it for a few days (about 8 hours), then you can start applying ointments on area 2-3 times a day until the pain subsides or your skin heals completely.

How Far Should The Needle Stick Out When Tattooing?

The needle should stick out between 1mm-2mm from the skin’s surface. This creates an invisible outline.

The needle will contact the skin for a few seconds, and during that time, ink is deposited from the syringe into the dermal layer of your skin.

It should take on average 50 seconds to perform a 1-inch tattoo, but you should vary this time to suit your preference and skill level.

Make sure you position yourself comfortably. 

If you are using a very fine suture needle, which many tattoo artists do, make sure that any closed lumen (clogged) areas are cleaned with sterilized ink and re-inked so that the needle does not become blocked and the ink cannot enter your body.

The more experienced the tattoo artist is, the more likely they can locate and clean these areas.

If you put the needle in the same place, you should get the same result. Once again, the most effective approach is to make tiny dots.

The needle should always be dipped in ink and wiped off after a dot or line.

The tattoo artist might have made a mistake, so do not take it personally if they tell you they need to start over.

They are only working to provide you with a service and will only start over if necessary.

If the tattoo artist struggles to see the tattoo, they might accidentally push the needle in too far.

Maintain a good skin and lip barrier after having a tattoo. This will stop any germs that could result in infections developing.

It also helps to minimize the possibility of infection from bacteria that enter your body through your wound sites.

How Do You Fix A Moisturized Tattoo?

You can fix a moisturized tattoo by placing it in a glass of room-temperature water, soaking it for twenty minutes, then gently pat dry with tissue paper or a towel.

If the tattoo is still moist and the stains are not coming out after twenty minutes, repeat the process and let your tattoo soak for an hour.

If you choose to leave your moisturized tattoo in water overnight, there is no need to remove it before going to bed because that will only stress your tattoo more and make the ink shift or break.

If your tattoo has broken, you will want to get it fixed as soon as possible. If it’s still damp, you’ll be able to fix it with a leak-proof archival-quality sealer like Dermacolor Fixing Spray.

If the tattoo is dry and cracking, you will need to re-moisturize it first.

If your tattoo is already dry and the stains are not going away, you will need to remove the old moisturizer before you can fix it.

Do this by gently rubbing a toothbrush on or around your tattoo as long as it is not tender or sore.

Ways To Tell If You Are Allergic To Tattoo Ink?

You can tell if you are allergic to tattoo ink if you react to the tattoo ink on your skin. These reactions can include itching, redness, scarring, and swelling under the tattoo.

Tattoo ink allergies are very rare, and most people are not allergic to them.

If you do not know if you are allergic to these types of ink, then consult with an allergist doctor who specializes in tattoos.

If you are allergic to tattoo ink, you can do a few things. For example, you can get the tattoo removed by laser surgery or cosmetic surgery. This is the only way to eliminate the allergic reaction to the tattoo ink.

If you are just worried about possible allergic reactions to the tattoo ink, talk to your doctor about getting an allergy test for the specific tattoo ink used on your tattoos.

You will have to do a skin test to see if you are allergic to the ink. You can do this by placing little amounts of ink on your skin and seeing how you react to it.

If you notice any redness or swelling, then there is a possibility that you are allergic to the ink that the artist used on your tattoo.

Your doctor can take measures for you or tell you what type of treatment is needed for your specific reaction.

How Can You Tell If You Are Allergic To Tattoo Ink?

You can tell if you are allergic to tattoo ink by reacting to it. If you respond in red patches on your skin, this is a sign that the tattoo ink caused an allergic reaction.

If your skin swells and becomes red, itchy, and painful, this is a sign that the ink has attacked you.

If your skin dries out and cracks, this is a sign that the reaction has reached the point where infection can occur.

In addition to the red skin reaction, you may experience headaches from contact with tattoo ink.

You may also experience swelling of the throat or other breathing problems caused by ingesting it while inhaling the ink.

For this reason, it’s important not to smoke while getting a tattoo done.

If you notice any of these signs of allergy, you should talk to your artist about them before he continues with his work.

Usually, there are ways to change the design so that these problems do not occur.

What Voltage Should A Tattoo Shader Run At?

A tattoo shader should run at 8-10V. The voltage used to power a tattoo shader can affect its performance.

A tattoo shader should run at this voltage so that it can deliver enough current to power your tattoo without causing too much heat in the process.

If a tattoo shader has too high a voltage, it will not provide enough current for your device and may blow out.

A normal startup load is around 3-4 Amps, with roughly 800mA-1 Amp consumed when your device is on.

A voltage anywhere below 8V will not allow your tattoo to power on, and anything more than 12V can cause problems with your machine as well.

The clamp diode is an important part of the machine and protects you from a short circuit. If the current limit screw is turned too high or the load is too much for the machine, it may cause damage due to a short circuit.

The clamp diode will automatically kick in when there is not enough voltage to provide the necessary current.

When you have a machine with a VFD, the voltage will adjust automatically to fit your needs. The voltage knob, therefore, is for altering the speed of the machine.

These machines tend to give you a little more control over how much current you want, but not all VFD tattoo machines offer this feature.

Tattoo shaders powered by an AC 110V outlet will not use this feature. Ensure that you are careful when turning up the voltage on your machine.

Too high a voltage for your machine can cause some serious damage, so pay close attention when increasing the voltage.

Conclusion

Tattoo ink and voltage are not to be taken lightly. There can be a lot of damage caused by the wrong voltage and too much tattoo ink.

Before getting an inking, you must research your machine and the ink used.

You should also have professional help when using the machine and learn how to better care for your device to use it in good condition for years to come.

If you take care of your tattoo, it can last a long time, even if you change the color.