"For the most part, it is engulfed [by skin or immune cells] and then kind of sticks around in the dermis." But researchers are now taking a closer look at the tattoo ink that does travel to other parts of the body, particularly the lymph nodes.
Tattoo inks sit under the epidermis in the deeper dermis skin layers. Contrary to popular belief, the lighter your skin, the better white ink shows through the epidermis. Unfortunately white ink tends to act quite differently in the skin. It changes it's appearance over time and can completely disappear.
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.
Underneath that layer lies the dermis. This is the layer of skin that houses small blood vessels, hair follicles, lymph vessels, and sweat glands. In order for a tattoo to remain permanent, the ink must enter this second layer of the skin. This is why tattoo artists use needles for tattooing.
Inks applied under the skin can migrate through the body by blood flow. Various diseases, deformations, organ failures, and adverse effects have been reported in humans due to metal toxicity.
Presumably, ink particles are moved into the deeper dermis over time due to the action of mobile phagocytic cells (think immune cells), causing the tattoo to look bluish, faded and blurry. Examination of older tattoos (e.g. 40 years) show that the ink is in the deep dermis, and also found in local lymph nodes.
Leave it alone. If the bandage starts to leak body fluid from the seal, you can only replace the bandage within the first 24 hours. If you are past 24 hours and the SecondSkin comes off, exposing the tattoo, do NOT replace the bandage.
Natural migration of pigment in the skin is manifested by: lines become visually wider; a small (about a millimeter) shadow may appear near the tattoo lines; there will be less empty space between the lines.
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.
In animal studies, tattoo pigments have been found in the kidney, the liver, and the spleen. Therefore, although this has never been studied in humans, exposure to hazardous ingredients of tattoo inks and even subsequent cancer development should not be ruled out.
Most people with tattoos can donate blood as long as they don't have risk factors that prohibit or limit blood donation, and if they got a tattoo at a state regulated facility. In the U.S. you have to wait 3 months to donate if the tattoo was from a state that does not regulate tattoo facilities.
Thus, each macrophage releases the ink when it dies, only for another macrophage to recapture the ink. Successive generations of these immune cells just hold onto the tattoo ink for years. Even newer studies suggest that other cells also contain tattoo ink.
Tattoo will look fuzzy and full of liquid under bandage; this is normal as the tattoo will continue to weep and release ink and fluid for 12-24 hours after initial session.
Blowout occurs when the ink extends beyond the intended boundaries of the design, resulting in prominent spots. More often than not, this situation arises due to poor execution of the tattoo.
Although bleeding into the skin may sound serious, it usually doesn't cause severe symptoms. It often leads to a bruise that heals within several days or weeks.
As long as it has not been contaminated, remains properly sealed, and is properly stored, tattoo ink has about a two-year shelf life.
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?
Once the ink is in the fat layer rather than just in the skin, the ink can slide past the tattoo lines, which can leave the piece looking distorted. It's not a sign of infection, which is an unrelated complication.
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.