What does a failed tattoo look like?

Author: Mozelle Swift  |  Last update: Monday, June 23, 2025

Wonky lines are a big indicator of an unskilled artist. How a tattoo heals is a huge sign of a good tattoo vs a bad tattoo. If a tattoo scars, blows out or straight up falls out of the skin, it's a bad tattoo.

How can you tell if a tattoo is poorly done?

  • Fading: Some fading is normal over time, but if the colors appear significantly duller or washed out, it may indicate damage.
  • Blurring: If the lines of the tattoo have become fuzzy or indistinct, this could be a sign of poor healing or aging.
  • Scarring: Look for raised areas or scars around the tattoo.

What does a tattoo rejection look like?

What are the common symptoms of tattoo ink rejection? Red, hot, and swollen for longer than a couple of days. Rash or bumpy skin around your tattoo. A thick, tender scab that's oozing plasma and gunk. A nasty smell. Feeling rough or feverish. Tattoo suddenly becomes raised. Tattoo becomes itchy.

What are the red flags after getting a tattoo?

Signs of Potential Problems: Excessive Redness: If the redness spreads beyond the tattoo or lasts longer than a few days. Severe Swelling: If swelling is significant and does not improve. Pus or Oozing: Any yellow or green discharge could indicate infection. Foul Odor: An unusual smell can be a sign of infection.

What does an improperly healed tattoo 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.

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How to tell if a tattoo isn't healing properly?

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 a badly healed tattoo be fixed?

The above badly healed tattoos can be fixed through retouching it again. However, it's hard to restore its original beauty. We keep track of all the tattoos done by us, try our best to make sure things are going well and tattoo care is followed.

Why does my tattoo look like it's missing ink while healing?

Your tattoo is going through the normal healing process.

This milky skin sticks around for 1-2 weeks, and it might make your tattoo ink appear less vibrant. A lack of ink isn't a problem if your tattoo is still peeling and healing.

How to tell if a tattoo is infected or just healing?

What Does an Infected Tattoo Look Like?
  1. A rash that can be itchy with scaly, raised, or swollen bumps.
  2. Excessive redness or discoloration, where the skin beneath the tattoo becomes darker instead of lightening up as it heals.
  3. Pus that oozes from blisters on the skin.
  4. Open sores that may have crusting.

Why has my tattoo gone bumpy and itchy?

One of the most common side effects of a tattoo is an allergic reaction to tattoo pigment. Allergic reactions to red tattoo pigments happen most often. If you're having an allergic reaction to your tattoo, you might get a rash that's red, bumpy, or itchy.

What does tattoo rejection look like?

The reaction usually appears as an inflamed red rash or may sometimes be scaly and flaky (exfoliative dermatitis). Red tattoo pigments cause the most reactions, particularly those made from mercury sulfide (cinnabar).

What defines a bad tattoo?

A 'plethora of factors' can lead to a bad tattoo, according to Killagain. As Killagain told Insider, a tattoo could be bad because it's "technically done poorly," with lines that aren't connected, messy shading, and more.

Is my tattoo blowout or not?

If you've recently gotten a tattoo, but it appears blurry and smudged during and after the healing process, you may be experiencing tattoo blowout. "A blowout is when a tattoo expands below the skin layer when it hits fat [and] veins or when scarring occurs," says Crys.

When should you seek medical attention for a tattoo?

If you notice changes in the look or feel of your tattooed skin, contact your healthcare provider. Tattoos can cause chronic skin diseases, such as: Lichen planus. Skin cancer.

Can your body reject tattoo ink years later?

Allergic reactions to tattoos are often caused by an immune system reaction to tattoo ink. These reactions can occur immediately after getting a tattoo or years later. Common symptoms include itchiness, redness, swelling, and the formation of bumps around the tattooed area.

How can I tell if my tattoo is healing properly?

After a few days, the tattoo should begin to feel less sore and red. A person may notice their tattoo appears duller than it did initially. This appearance is not a cause for concern but a sign that the tattoo is healing. Sometimes, as the skin is healing, people may notice some scabbing.

Why does my tattoo look smudged while healing?

While a new tattoo can push out ink, along with blood and plasma, it typically does no harm and doesn't lead to a tattoo blowout. This leaking typically lasts no more than 48 hours. However, bruising from a new tattoo can make it look a little blurred or smudged as it goes through the healing process.

How to tell if a tattoo is over moisturized?

Signs of an Over-Moisturized Tattoo
  1. The moisturizer you've applied isn't absorbed in the skin. ...
  2. Your skin looks or feels irritated. ...
  3. The tattoo isn't scabbing or the scabs don't fall off.

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.

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