It’s a complex process that results in beautiful wearable art!

It’s a question you might not have really considered, but something that’s important to understand if you’re looking at getting a tattoo! We all know tattoos are permanent works of art that are inked into the skin, but just how does the process of getting a tattoo work?

Ink is Placed Into the Skin

When you get a tattoo, ink is placed into the second layer of the skin, known as the dermis, by small needles. This layer of skin is below your outer layer of skin called the epidermis, and includes nerves and blood vessels. Tattoo artists use tattoo needles that prick the skin anywhere from 50 to 3,000 times per minute! Each prick of the needle delivers ink into the skin, and each individual pinprick builds upon the ones before it to create a beautiful masterpiece on your skin.

The reason that tattoo ink is injected into the dermis layer of the skin is to make the tattoo permanent. The outer layer of skin—the epidermis—is constantly shedding. This means that any tattoo ink deposited into the epidermis wouldn’t last—it most likely would be completely gone in just a few weeks. When ink is deposited into the dermis layer of the skin, however, it stays for years to come.

Ink is Dispersed Throughout the Tattooed Area 

Once the tattoo ink is initially deposited into the dermis, your body kicks in and reacts. Because each prick of the tattoo needle is essentially a micro-injury to the second layer of your skin, your immune system responds. Cells are rushed to the area of your new tattoo, and ink is taken up by keratinocytes and phagocytic cells. 

Once you’ve had your new tattoo for one month, the base layer of the skin starts to reform with new cells, and those new cells contain ink. After two to three months, the base layer is completely reformed and ink is permanently fixed in place when macrophages—types of blood cells—remain in the dermis after ingesting some of the ink that was deposited into the skin.

Ink Can Sometimes Fade Over Time

While most tattoos are permanent, there is a chance that your new tattoo can fade slightly in the coming years. This has to do with the very same macrophages that can make your new tattoo permanent! Some macrophages, instead of staying in the dermis where your tattoo is, actually move ink through the lymphatic system. When ink is transported away from the site of your tattoo, it can cause fading.

Long exposure to the sun can also cause fading over time. The sun, even in small amounts, can cause damage to the skin and trigger an immune response similar to when you first get your tattoo (though on a smaller scale.) This immune reaction sends more cells to the area and can disperse ink, making it appear faded over time.

Getting a tattoo is exciting, but can still be a bit of a mystery! While tattooing has been around for centuries, an understanding of just how tattoos work hasn’t always been around. Now you can be a bit more prepared when you’re getting ready for your next tattoo with a basic understanding of just how tattoo ink is permanently affixed to your skin. So go ahead, book your free consultation today to get started!