Exposure to the sun can shift the appearance of the pigment in our skin, cause it to slide into a different shade of the previous color, or often to a lighter tone. Those who work outside will often see an accelerated amount of fading with their tattoos.
Wipe with Baby Oil or Coconut Oil: - Applying baby oil or coconut oil can help dissolve some of the ink. Gently rub it over the tattoo and then wipe it off with a clean cloth. Tattoo Removal Creams: - There are over-the-counter tattoo removal creams, but their effectiveness varies, and they can irritate the skin.
Like memories and printed photographs, even permanent tattoos fade over time. Tattoo needles deposit ink beneath the epidermis. This is deep enough that the ink won't be immediately shed with the skin cells of the upper layers, but macrophage cells from your immune system will gradually absorb the ink and disperse it.
Prolonged exposure to the sun can be super harmful to the longevity of your tattoo. Ultraviolet (UV) rays from the sun will penetrate the skin and essentially break down the pigments in the tattoo. Once those pigments are damaged, the tattoo will ultimately appear much lighter and less vibrant than it once did.
Lastly, the American Academy of Dermatology states that petroleum-based products can cause the ink to fade. After all the pain and hard work you had to endure to get that beautiful new piece, surely you're not too keen on it just fading from something as simple as petroleum jelly, would you?
Laser Tattoo Removal: The Gold Standard
A laser emits fast pulses of light directly onto the skin. This causes the skin to heat up and break apart ink molecules. The small particles of ink can then easily pass through your immune system as waste. The final result is a truly erased tattoo.
When you get a tattoo, the needle deposits ink in a layer of skin known as the dermis. Over time, cells from your immune system – called macrophages - gradually absorb the tattoo ink and disperse it, which can lead to some tattoo fading.
Hydrogen peroxide
It is designed to work as a disinfectant but is moderately effective at fading superficial layers of ink. On its own, hydrogen peroxide is not potent enough to penetrate the second layer of skin. As a result, fresh tattoos or deeply embedded tattoos won't be phased by it.
Factors like sun exposure, skin elasticity, friction, improper aftercare, smoking, and tanning can accelerate tattoo fading. Natural methods like exfoliation and using lightening agents may help fade tattoos, but professional laser removal is the most reliable and safest option.
There are rumors that Aquaphor makes tattoos fade, but from our experiences and many others, this just isn't true. If a tattoo is done correctly and the ink is where it needs to be, ointment should only help your tattoo heal correctly.
While laser is definitely the best method of removing tattoo ink, certain pigments used in cosmetic tattoos don't respond well to laser treatment. The ingredients in these pigments can be very different from those used in conventional ink, and laser treatment could change the color of some rather than lightening them.
Laser tattoo removal uses bursts of light energy to break down tattoo pigments under your skin. Once the ink is shattered into tiny fragments, your body's immune system processes and flushes it out. Sessions are typically spaced several weeks apart to allow your skin to heal and give your body time to clear the ink.
Lemon, lavender, frankincense, helichrysum, and tea tree essential oils are the best options for fading tattoos. To use essential oils for fading tattoos, dilute the oil, use a carrier oil, and apply the mixture to the tattoo regularly.
If you're finding excessive amounts of color coming off as your tattoo heals, it's possible that the ink wasn't deep enough the first time. You may be looking at a touch-up, but those are fairly common. Should you keep a peeling tattoo covered? After the first day or so, you want your tattoo to be able to breathe.
first reason as your tattoo heals a new layer of skin grows over top. so you do have like a skin filter over the ink versus when it's fresh. the second one maybe the tattoo was done incorrectly. the artist didn't put the ink where it needs to be.
One of the most common home tattoo removal methods we see talked about is salabrasion or rubbing the skin away with salt. It's an old method, and it does technically work, provided you rub enough skin off to reach the layer where the ink is held. You could also achieve the same effect with coarse sand or sandpaper.
A salt/saline solution is a common, effective approach to lightening tattoos. Although it is a slower process than other treatments, this method is popular because it is safer than other tattoo lightening procedures.
For the best results and to speed up the tattoo removal process, it's recommended to combine laser treatments with proper aftercare and lifestyle changes. Maintaining good skin hydration is crucial; well-hydrated skin heals faster and is more resilient, enhancing the effectiveness of each laser session.
We too were surprised to learn that certain moisturizer formulas can actually have a negative effect on your tattoo. The AAD states that petroleum-based products, like petroleum jelly itself, can actually cause your tattoo ink to fade.
Wash the tattoo regularly but gently, especially after dirty or sweaty activities. Drink plenty of water to help keep the skin moist and supple. While healing, cover the tattoo with clothing or a bandage whenever it might be exposed to the sun.
No, Tattoo Goo will not cause your ink to fade. Even if you over-apply Tattoo Goo, it won't damage your tattoo because it does not contain lanolin or petroleum.