What happens if a tattoo goes too deep?

Author: Khalid Bednar Sr.  |  Last update: Tuesday, September 2, 2025

Dangers of Going Too Deep The increased depth can lead to excessive bleeding, scarring, and prolonged healing times. In some cases, the ink can spread out, causing a blurry or "blown out" appearance, where the lines of the tattoo are no longer sharp.

How to tell if a tattoo is too deep?

If the lines split, you're going too deep. Faded lines or not completed? Too light of a pass or too fast. If the mag snags, you're going too deep. Mag looks scratchy? Too fast or too light.

What happens if a tattoo needle hits a nerve?

When a needle grazes or “hits” a nerve during dry needling, you might feel a quick, sharp sensation. It's often described as a zapping or shooting feeling that travels along the nerve pathway. This happens because nerves are essentially your body's electrical wiring—they're designed to send signals to your brain.

What does a tattoo look like when the artist went too deep?

Yes, when the tattoo needle goes too deep it causes trauma which often leads to a blowout. This will make the tattoo look super blurry and smudged. The tattoo ends up looking very blurry and the skin gets irritated, and ink actually starts to spread out.

How to care for a tattoo that went too deep?

Wash your tattoo gently with warm water and fragrance-free soap, then pat it dry with a clean towel. Avoid using harsh soaps or scrubs that can irritate the skin. Apply an ointment or lotion: After cleaning your tattoo, apply a thin layer of ointment or lotion to keep the skin moisturized.

Tattoo Needle Depth Visually Explained

What happens if a tattoo needle goes too deep?

If it were to go too deep, this is when scarring can occur, and blowouts. A blowout occurs when the needle penetrates too deep and the ink spreads out within the skin, causing a shadow-like effect around the tattoo.

What is the most painful tattoo spot?

Here are the most painful places on the body to get a tattoo.
  • Head. The head, including the scalp and face, is a highly sensitive area due to the high density of nerve endings. ...
  • Rib Cage and Chest. ...
  • Stomach. ...
  • Nipples and Breasts. ...
  • Face and Ears. ...
  • Hands, Fingers, Feet, and Toes. ...
  • Neck and Spine. ...
  • Groins and Genital Area.

How do you tell if a needle hit a nerve?

Pain is the most frequent symptom of a nerve injury. It is usually described as a severe shooting or burning sensation at the injection site with radiation to the dorsum of the forearm and hand. Patients could also present numbness, paresthesia, hypoesthesia and other sensory disturbance.

Can a tattoo be too deep?

If you go too shallow, your tattoo will fade in just a few days. If you go too deep, you can cause scarring, blowouts, and extra pain for your client.

What happens if you don't inject deep enough?

Medication leakage – If the needle does not penetrate deep enough, the medication may leak into fatty tissue instead of being absorbed into muscle tissue, reducing its effectiveness.

What happens if tattoo ink is too deep in skin?

Dangers of Going Too Deep

The increased depth can lead to excessive bleeding, scarring, and prolonged healing times. In some cases, the ink can spread out, causing a blurry or "blown out" appearance, where the lines of the tattoo are no longer sharp.

Can a tattoo needle hit a vein?

While not likely, there is a possibility that a tattoo needle could go too far and puncture the hypodermis and rupture a vein. Tattoos typically do not puncture regular veins, but there is a higher risk of encountering more problems with spider veins. So, yes, you technically could try to tattoo over a spider vein.

How fast do tattoo needles move?

There are many different methods of tattooing. In most contemporary tattoo studios, tattoo artists use rotary tattoo pens. The tattoo machine uses a specific drive mechanism to push the needle into the skin at a rate of 6,000 strokes per minute, but the needle does not inject the ink directly into the skin.

What tattoo needle hurts most?

Needles used for lining are the least painful. Whereas magnum needles used for shading and coloring have larger tips and can be applied a bit deeper into the skin to get the desired effect. Areas with more nerve endings and less flesh feel more painful.

What is tattoo pain comparable to?

How bad do tattoos hurt? There's no one-size-fits-all answer when it comes to how much pain you'll feel when getting tattooed. But if you're wondering what type of pain to expect, Caranfa says the experience is comparable to the feeling of a cat scratch or a sunburn.

Where not to get a tattoo?

Areas like the feet, hands, stomach, chest, elbow, lips, and inner ear are not good tattoo locations. It's essential to consider a few things when choosing a proper placement, such as pain intensity, practicality, and visibility.

Why does my tattoo hurt after 3 days?

Pain, Swelling and Scabbing (Days 3-6) – The first several days will go by with your tattoo essentially still being a raw open wound. It will likely be painful during cleaning or when clothes/other body parts rub against it. Scabs will start to form towards the end of this stage.

What does the swallow tattoo mean?

The History and Symbolism of Swallow Tattoos

In the past, sailors would get a swallow tattoo to signify that they had traveled a specific distance or had returned home safely after a long journey. Swallows, known for their migration habits, became a symbol of loyalty, hope, and the promise of return.

What voltage should a tattoo liner run at?

Linework. When it comes to linework, using the right tattoo voltage for lining and shading is important in achieving clean, crisp lines that don't blow out or look fuzzy. For that, you'll typically use higher voltage than for shading. Recommended voltage: 7-10 volts for coil machines, 6-8 volts for rotary machines.

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