The science behind why your tattoo doesn’t last forever and ever. The science behind a tattoo is one of the oldest processes in history, even if our ancient ancestors didn’t entirely know the biology behind their art. Just as people have been mixing pigment with various locally found ingredients since the first cave paintings were done, tattooing has been a part of cultures across the world for a very, very long time. But how does a tattoo actually stay in your skin?
1. Tattoo Guide: Your skin has three layers.
2. Tattoo Guide: The tattoo needle is puncturing through your top layer of skin into the second layer.
3. Tattoo Guide: Your body’s natural healing abilities help keep that tattoo stable.
Tattoo needles, carrying ink, puncture into that dermis and your body goes on a healing spree immediately. White blood cells travel through your bloodstream to heal the site of the open wound — which is essentially what a tattoo is — bringing with them tiny cells called macrophages. Macrophages basically eat the pigment and any other invaders, with the intention of helping your body process out anything that might be a foreign contaminant. Those little consuming macrophages, as well as some free hanging pigment, wind up trapped in the gel matrix of your dermis, visible through the epidermis.
4. Tattoo Guide: Your outermost skin initially has ink in it, then pushes the ink out and heals.
Think about the first week or so of having a tattoo — you have a very pretty scab that eventually turns into a really crunchy scab. This is all part of the skin’s healing process, and paying attention to what your artist explained for aftercare is key. Eventually, your epidermis will heal completely free of ink, letting your tattoo shine cleanly through. Proper hydration, cleanliness, and following your artist’s orders will make sure you don’t mess with the healing process. A scab that goes deeper than the epidermis has chances of leaving permanent keloids — a bundle of overhealed skin — unless treated properly.
