Note: As an amazon associate I may earn a small commission from qualifying purchases if you click to amazon from my site and choose to make a purchase.You can read my complete affiliate disclosure for more details
Why Is My Tattoo Turning White?
Tattoos have gotten more popular now than they’ve ever been.
With the rise of celebrities like Rihanna and Angelina Jolie getting tattoos, it’s no wonder that people want to ink themselves up too.
Tattooing is a very personal decision that can be exciting or frightening, depending on your perspective.
The tattoo process starts with an idea which gets drawn onto the skin in pencil. Ink is then applied directly, creating permanent artwork on the body.”
If you decide to get a tattoo, make sure you research your artist thoroughly, so they aren’t just looking for an easy paycheck off of unsuspecting customers.
The ink has faded over time. as your tattoo ages, the colors will naturally fade. this process is accelerated by sun exposure and also infections can cause the ink to disperse and become lighter in color.
This process accelerates by sun exposure, so it’s important to keep your tattoo protected with sunscreen if you’re outside.
Another reason your tattoo might turn white is if it becomes infected. Infections can cause the ink to disperse and become lighter in color.
If you notice any signs of infection, such as redness, swelling, or discharge, see a doctor right away.
In some cases, a white or light-colored tattoo may be due to the natural pigmentation of your skin. People with fairer skin often have paler tattoos than those with darker skin.
There’s no special treatment, but you might want to consider getting your tattoo touched up.
Why Is My Tattoo Turning GREY?
There are various reasons why your tattoo is turning grey.
1) The most common reason for gray tattoos is exposure to sun damage. Sunlight contains ultraviolet rays, which break down ink pigments and cause pigment changes.
It’s super important not to expose your fresh tattoo ink from being fully healed before exposing it outside again because of these risks.
Try to always use sunscreen with an SPF of 30 or more on tattoos, and reapply often.
2) Another common reason is that the tattoo artist may not have used the right ink colors while doing your tattoo.
Some inks are commonly known to fade more quickly than others, so it’s important to do your research before choosing an artist.
Ask for referrals, and look at portfolios to see if the artist has a style that you like.
3) Age can also be a factor in tattoo discoloration. Over time, skin loses elasticity and becomes thinner, affecting how well the ink retains in the skin.
Sun exposure and smoking are also major contributors to premature skin aging.
If you end up with a poorly done tattoo, you can remove it. Laser treatment can be expensive and time-consuming;
The average session is around $100-$500, and you can expect anywhere from 8 – 12 sessions to see optimal results.
Prevention is key: make sure your tattoo artist sterilizes their equipment beforehand and wears fresh gloves and masks if they do more than one client at a time (double-dipping isn’t cool).
If the person doing your tattoo is wearing jewelry on their hands or clothes, they might not be as sanitary as they could be. It’s best to avoid these types of artists.
Another thing you can do if you have an older gray-looking tattoo goes back to the same artist and have them add some color back in.
They may need to touch it up a bit, but it can help refresh your tattoo and make it look newer again.
Can Tattoos Be White?
Yes. Tattoos can be white, though this is a less common option than other colors.
Some people choose to get white tattoos as part of a design, while others may replace traditional black ink tattoos.
However, white tattoos can be tricky to create and maintain, as they are more susceptible to fading and sun damage.
It’s important to take extra care when protecting a white tattoo from the sun and keep it well-hydrated with lotion.
In general, white tattoos require more frequent touch-ups than black ink tattoos.

Despite the extra care that goes into maintaining them, white tattoos can be beautiful and unique additions to anybody’s art collection.
If you’re interested in getting a white tattoo, be sure to talk to your artist about the best way to care for it.
With a little extra TLC, your white tattoo will stay looking sharp for years to come.
Can Your Body Reject White Tattoo Ink?
Yes. It does sound unbelievable, but let me explain it. First, any pigment added to skin with ink is not taken up by the skin.
No matter what color its natural tone, the skin may have a pigment that rejects anything added on top of itself, like tattoos, for example.
Even though a tattoo ink looks black when the needle penetrates the skin and mixes with this non-pigmented underneath layer, under a microscope.
You can see that no part of the tattoo color penetrates or stays in the epidermis or dermis levels of the skin.
Tattoo inks comprise tiny particles that range in size from a few microns to over 100 microns.
These pigments get deposited into the deeper levels of the skin, where they become encapsulated by macrophages.
– A type of white blood cell that engulfs and digests cellular debris, foreign materials, and pathogens.
The body’s natural defense against infection is one of the reasons tattoos take on their characteristic healed appearance;
Over time, the pigment particles are slowly dispersed by the lymphatic system, fading the tattoo until it eventually becomes barely visible.
The same process happens when your body rejects white tattoo ink- except that instead of fading away, the ink will disappear completely.
What Happens If Your Tattoo Is White?
When your tattoo is white, it doesn’t mean that it’s less permanent ink. White tattoos are just as permanent as any other color of the tattoo.
The difference is that white tattoos are often more difficult to see, especially on darker skin tones.
This doesn’t mean that you can’t get a white tattoo they’re becoming increasingly popular.
But it does mean that you need to choose your design carefully and make sure that you love it because it will be with you for the rest of your life.
White tattoos can also be more susceptible to fading over time, so you’ll need to make sure to take care of them properly if you want them to stay looking bright and new.
Ensure to keep them out of direct sunlight, keep them moisturized, and always use antibacterial ointment.
Getting a white tattoo means that you’ll want to prepare yourself for it to fade or wash out over time.
And if you’re not happy with how long it remains visible, there are ways to revive the ink without having to go through all the pain of getting your tattoo done again.
This includes using laser removal.
Laser removal is one of the best things to remove tattoos because it can break down the ink into smaller fragments that your body can then expel naturally.
But laser removal isn’t cheap, so make sure not to make it too big, cover too much skin or keep your tattoo out in the sun for too long (which will cause fading).
One final thing to keep in mind: white tattoos don’t look good on all skin types. It can be difficult to see if you have dark skin and show up against bright clothing.
If you’re not happy with the way your tattoo looks because it disappears against your skin tone, there are other options.
For example, get a light tattoo over a darker one so that the lighter-colored ink appears bolder and brighter than it normally would.
You’ll need to take care of the tattoo just like any other, though, by keeping it out of direct sunlight and moisturizing regularly.
Can You Remove White Tattoos?
Yes. You can remove white tattoos, but the process is more difficult than with other colors.
The laser used to remove tattoos emits light in pulses targeted explicitly at the tattoo’s color. Since white comprises all colors.
The laser has to have a tune that targets all colors that make up white ink.
This makes the removal process more time-consuming and expensive than with other colors. However, it’s still possible to remove white tattoos completely.
Some people may also experience side effects, such as skin irritation or scarring, but you can treat these with medication or ointments.
Overall, you can successfully remove white tattoos, but it may take a little more effort than with other colors.
Is Tattoo Sunscreen The Same As Regular Sunscreen?
No. Tattoo sunscreen is specifically designed to protect tattoos from the sun’s rays. Sunscreen for regular use is not always effective in protecting tattoos.
Tattoo sunscreen contains ingredients that help keep the colors in your tattoo from fading. It also helps to prevent new tattoos from becoming blotchy or faded.
Regular sunscreen may not have the same ingredients as tattoo sunscreen, so it may not be as effective in protecting your tattoo.
Make sure you are using sunscreen with the label “tattoo safe.” This will ensure that you are getting the most protection for your tattoo.
If you are not sure which sunscreen is best for you, talk to your tattoo artist. They can recommend a product that will work best for your specific tattoo.
Can I Use Neutrogena Sunscreen On My Tattoo?
Yes, but there are some things to keep in mind. Neutrogena makes multiple products designed to be gentle on the skin.
They advertise their Ultra Sheer Dry-Touch Sunscreen as “non-comedogenic,” PABA-free, and suitable for sensitive skin.
However, not all Neutrogena sunscreens are equally created.
Neutrogena Sheer Zinc formula – NOT RECOMMENDED FOR TATTOOS
The active ingredient in the Sheer Zinc formula is zinc oxide (20%). You should avoid this form of sunscreen when applying it to freshly-inked tattoos.
The reason behind this warning is that the tattoo ink pig has not yet fully penetrated your skin.
Zinc will act as a barrier between your tattoo and the sun, which diminishes the power of your tattoo ink to make it more vibrant over time.
When selecting a sunscreen to use on tattoos, read the label carefully to ensure that the product does not contain any ingredients that may react with the tattoo ink.
Therefore, if you want to apply Neutrogena sunscreen on your tattoos, you should choose a product free of zinc oxide and other potentially harmful ingredients for your skin.
While Neutrogena offers multiple sunscreen products, Kendall recommends applying any of the company’s lotion sunscreens over top of your new tattoo.
While it all depends on what you are comfortable putting on your skin, I would advise anyone to use a gentle daily moisturizer along with an SPF 30+ non-comedogenic sunscreen.
Will SPF 30 Protect Tattoos?
Yes. Sunscreen with an SPF of 30 will protect tattoos against the sun’s UV rays. Sunscreen is important for everyone.
But it’s especially important for people with tattoos because they are more likely to fade and lose color over time if they’re not protected from the sun.
It’s a good idea to use sunscreen every day, whether you’re at the beach or just going out for a walk.
Make sure you choose a sunscreen that’s both broad spectrum and water-resistant so that it will protect your tattoos from both the sun’s UVB and UVA rays.
Look for a sunscreen that has an SPF of 30 or higher. Sunscreen is available in lotion and sprays forms, so choose whichever you feel most comfortable applying.
It’s always smart to apply sunscreen daily, even if you’re not planning on going outside.
The sun emits harmful UV rays all year long, and they can damage your skin whether you plan to be in the sun or stay inside.
When spending time outdoors, apply sunscreen liberally and reapply it frequently. You should wear clothing that covers your tattoos when in the sun.
Conclusion
Tattoo ink comprises pigments suspended in a carrier solution. The suspension medium can be water or glycerin.
The most popular choice for tattoo artists today is an alcohol-based solvent called ethyl alcohol.
Ethyl alcohol evaporates faster than water and leaves behind color pigment on your skin when it does so.
Since tattoos last forever, you may want to think about what type of tattoo sunscreen you’ll use to protect them from fading over time—especially if they happen to be white.