Is my tattoo bruise or blown out?

Author: Earline Spinka  |  Last update: Tuesday, November 18, 2025

However, bruising from a new tattoo can make it look a little blurred or smudged as it goes through the healing process. As the bruising fades, your tattoo should soon begin to look better and cleaner. If it's a tattoo blowout, on the other hand, it will begin to look worse.

What does a blown out tattoo look like?

A blowout is a term that refers to when the ink is put in too deep in the skin. They can look like fuzzy spots in lineart or unintentional shading.

How soon does a tattoo blowout show up?

Blowouts typically won't be noticed right away. A blowout, as you know, is the ink that was deposited bleeding into unwanted area. Of course it takes time for the ink to bleed, so it will not be immediately noticed hahaha. By time I mean anywhere from a few days to 6 months after.

Why does my tattoo look smudged while healing?

As new skin grows over the wound it looks cloudy, like looking at something through frosted glass. It's called silver skin and is a natural part of the body's healing. Keep using your lotion and you should see over time that the shininess goes and the detail comes back up.

Can you fix a tattoo that has bled?

Tattoo blowout is one of the most frustrating and disappointing conclusions to the tattoo process, leaving a blurred, diffused mark permanently in its wake. Unfortunately, tattoo blowout cannot be fixed unless it is removed. However, it can be prevented.

The Truth About Tattoo Blowouts

Is my tattoo bruise or blowout?

However, bruising from a new tattoo can make it look a little blurred or smudged as it goes through the healing process. As the bruising fades, your tattoo should soon begin to look better and cleaner. If it's a tattoo blowout, on the other hand, it will begin to look worse.

What a tattoo should not look like when healing?

Persistent redness: Skin shouldn't stay red for weeks or start to darken or spread. Green or yellow fluid: Pus oozing from your tattoo is a sign of infection. Persistent swollen skin: Skin on or around the tattoo shouldn't look puffy for weeks, which indicates an allergy to tattoo ink.

Can you fix a blown out tattoo?

While it may not look as you had hoped, it can usually be fixed with proper care and treatment. 2. Keep the tattoo clean and moisturized. To prevent infection and promote healing, it's important to keep the tattoo clean and moisturized.

Is it normal for a tattoo to bruise?

Bruising is normally kept to a minimum as long as the artist isn't too rough and the needle isn't forced too deep – though you can sometimes also expect some swelling and extra tender areas where the needle has had to pass several times (usually on dark shaded areas).

What areas are prone to tattoo blowouts?

Delicate Skin Areas

Certain areas of the body, like wrists, ankles, fingers, and toes, are more prone to blowouts due to their thin skin.

Does over moisturizing a tattoo cause blowout?

Over-moisturising can lead to inflamed tattoos and potentially infection. Excess moisture can clog your skin's pores which prevents it from breathing, something that's important for your skin to heal. This can lead to breakouts on the skin that can damage the tattoo.

Will my tattoo smudge if I sleep on it?

Back is Best: Whenever possible, try sleeping on your back to relieve pressure on your tattoo. This helps prevent smudging and ensures your tattoo heals beautifully. Don't: Squash Your Art: Avoid sleeping directly on your tattoo, especially during the first few nights when it's most sensitive.

How do you know if your tattoo artist went too deep?

In addition to excessive pain, bleeding, and scabbing, a tattoo that is too deep may also have a blurred or distorted appearance. When the needle goes too deep, it can cause the ink to spread beyond the intended area, leading to a smudged or blurry appearance.

Is my tattoo a blowout or stain?

A blowout is a noticeable place where tattoo ink has been placed incorrectly in the skin. This is is caused when a less experienced tattoo artist presses the needle too deep into the skin. This delivers ink into the fat tissue of the skin, where the ink spreads, leading to a blown out tattoo.

What does tattoo shedding look like?

Normal peeling usually starts within a week after getting your tattoo and might last about a week or so. The flakes should be thin, and you might see tiny bits of color in them. That's just the stained dead skin coming off in the majority of cases.

How to tell if your tattoo is blown out?

Blowouts can appear as:
  1. Rough lines.
  2. Green-blue blurring around the entire tattoo.
  3. “Veins” of ink flowing through the skin's capillaries.

How much does tattoo blowout removal cost?

Across the United States, laser tattoo removal cost can range between $200 to $500 per removal treatment, which usually varies based on factors like tattoo size. At Removery, we also offer the option to pay-per-session and the average cost per removal session is $175 to $600, depending on the size of the tattoo.

Is it normal for a new tattoo to look smudged?

Tattoo blowouts are the unruly rebels of the ink world. They happen when the ink spreads beneath the skin, causing a blurred or smudged appearance. This isn't some mystical skin behavior; it's often the result of the needle going too deep or hitting the skin at the wrong angle.

What does poor tattoo aftercare look like?

First, your tattoo will have some irritation around it. After you remove your bandaging after the allotted amount of time recommended by your artist has passed, your skin around the tattoo may be red. It may also be secreting a fluid, or ink may be dripping off of it.

Should I let my tattoo dry out and peel?

If scabs develop, they can remove the color beneath them if prematurely removed. It's important that they're allowed to dry out completely, and not get waterlogged at any time. The scab will eventually fall off on its own, and the tattoo should be fine if no deep cracks have formed.

Do tattoo blowouts happen immediately?

As the hypodermis layer is made of fat tissue, the ink spreads out easier, creating those unwanted blurred lines in your design. Tattoo blowouts tend to appear a few days after the tattooing session as the ink seeps through the wound, becoming fully noticeable in a matter of weeks.

How long do tattoo bruises last?

Minor reactions to tattoos are common, and most fade within a week, so don't panic, especially if you tend to bruise easily.

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