Tattoos are permanent, but the ink pigments that form your art can degrade to look dull and lifeless with time or improper care. Fading is an inevitable process (just like aging), but if you want your tattoo colors to stay nice, bright and vivid, you'll want to know what to do.
However, please note that newly tattooed skin is essentially a weeping wound. Some of the steps mentioned are only suitable for fully healed tattoos. It generally takes a month to heal but may take longer, depending on the individual.
For clarity, I will mark with a disclaimer the steps that are appropriate for fresh and/or completely healed tattoos so you can avoid any confusion.
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It’s a misconception that the more you exfoliate, the more ink you remove. That couldn’t be any further from the truth for two very simple reasons:
Our skin is made up of three layers: epidermis (which has five sublayers) on the top, dermis, and hypodermis (tissue layer) below.
Exfoliation happens when the outermost layer (first layer of the epidermis — stratum corneum) is shed or removed. Your tattoo is in the dermis layer. If the ink is deposited any higher, your tattoo will “bleed.” A good, qualified tattoo artist will make sure that doesn't happen.
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When you get rid of all the grimy dead skin cells, you help uncover the supple, new skin under it. This is why you’ll often find that skin that’s just been exfoliated tends to feel smoother and softer.
Before and after cleaning. A test was first made on the pale skirt of the Bishop on the left. (6th century oil on canvas after Masaccio - Christ's gift to St Francis – property of the Archdiocese of St Andrews & Edinburgh.)
An analogy I like to use in simplifying my explanation: Imagine your tattooed skin as a beautiful painting, old skin is the aged varnish that yellows and distorts the visual look of the colors beneath. Once the old varnish gets cleaned up, your painting is good as new.
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Both physical and chemical exfoliators are great for body skin (facial skin might require gentler formulations as that skin is thinner and more prone to damage).
Physical exfoliants include scrubs, microfiber or terry cloths, cleansing brushes, exfoliating mitts/gloves, loofahs, and other natural sponges. Anything that requires a little elbow grease to slough off dead skin falls into this category.
Chemical exfoliants use—you guessed it—chemicals or acids to gently dissolve or dislodge pesky old skin cells. Exfoliating moisturizers or body washes with AHA (alpha hydroxy acid) such as lactic acid or BHA (beta hydroxy acid) do a great job of eradicating dead skin and help lifeless-looking tattoos appear richer in color saturation.
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Even though exfoliation helps the skin shedding process, doing it too often can compromise your skin’s moisture barrier, throwing off the natural chemical balance of healthy skin. The last thing you want is sensitive skin. So once or twice a week at most is generally sufficient.
Don't buy into the notion that you need an exfoliant made “especially for tattooed skin.” It’s just a marketing gimmick and will cost you more money —any over-the-counter exfoliant will work just fine.
In almost all cases, a tattooist will send you home with aftercare instructions that will include applying some kind of moisturizer or healing balm/ointment to help the healing process.
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For fresh tattoos, it keeps the skin nourished and supple and eases itching, dryness, and peeling as the dead skin layers shed. The hydration also prevents your tattoo from cracking (ouch), which is both painful and detrimental to the final outcome.
Always make sure your tattoo is freshly cleansed before applying moisturizer. Wash with a gentle but effective body wash. You run the risk of a rash or infection applying moisturizer on skin that hasn't been cleaned, because what you are doing is to basically occlude (cover) the skin and trap bacteria and dirt under a layer of cream.
Dab your skin dry with a clean towel and apply a thin layer of moisturizer. Applying too much moisturizer might cause your pores to clog and develop nasty little whiteheads or pimples.
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This may sound like a no-brainer, but many people tend to forget that water is a great source of nourishment for your skin.
Water, plain and simple, hydrates your skin cells and plumps them up. This diminishes the appearance of wrinkles, fine lines and dullness. Parched skin causes dryness and is a bad environment for a healing tattoo (see above regarding skin cracking).
Adequate water intake helps flush out toxins and aids in cell renewal, turnover and keeps all its functions performing at best—such as keeping out germs and infectious microbes.
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This means, no sunbeds or tanning booths. Tanning devices emit artificial UV radiation to create a cosmetic tan, these ultraviolet light can break down the chemical structure of the pigment in tattoo inks, as well as increase the possibility of skin cancer.
Regardless of where it comes from — the sun or a tanning bed — UV rays are bad for your skin in general and dulls your tattoos.
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Avoid prolonged sun exposure between 10 am to 2 pm, these are the hours were sun intensity peaks and UV radiation is strongest.
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For fresh tattoos, have your tattoos properly covered and away from direct sunlight (you might find that it burns or stings if you do not). If your tattoos have already healed, apply a broad spectrum sunscreen generously, and frequently — ideally a SPF30 and above.
The general consensus is that both UVB and UVA rays contributes to skin cancer, they alter the DNA of your skin on a cellular level and causes cell mutations, and ultimately, skin cancer.
If you love having your body in a sun kissed bronzed shade, try alternatives such as fake tanners or self-tanners. Sometimes known as “sunless tanning”, these bronzing solutions are topical applications of skin-safe chemicals in various methods.
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You can get yourself spray tanned at a profession studio where you get coated with even mists of DHA. Or, if you’re an avid DIY type, self-tanners now come in a myriad of forms — from gels, lotions, aerosol spray cans, mousse, dry oils to even towelettes you basically wipe on! All these options provide such a diverse way of achieving that beachy glow, all at your own time and within the comforts of your own home.
Everybody heals at different speeds and our skins' recovery process can sometimes produce outcomes that are less than desirable — sometimes due to the application technique, sometimes due to naturally occurring conditions of the skin.
You might be fully healed and find that colors may not be completely even throughout; accidentally rubbing your scab off might also create patches once your skin recovers. This is where a touch up (within six months to a year of a newly healed tattoo) comes in.
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Touch-ups usually involve going over the existing tattoo with a fresh coat of color or to include additional details, but generally done in small sections where required—instead of the entire tattoo (unless it is a small one).
Depending on the common practice of where you are located, some tattoo artists may touch up your ink for free (if the original was done by them). Others will require a small fee.
This content is accurate and true to the best of the author’s knowledge and does not substitute for diagnosis, prognosis, treatment, prescription, and/or dietary advice from a licensed health professional. Drugs, supplements, and natural remedies may have dangerous side effects. If pregnant or nursing, consult with a qualified provider on an individual basis. Seek immediate help if you are experiencing a medical emergency.
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Question: I have a sleeve for 3-4 years. I use an exfoliating cloth once every two or three weeks and have noticed my a few areas of on my sleeve are raised or bumpy after the shower and exfoliating. It doesn’t hurt, I just notice when I’m putting lotion on. Within no time the skin on my arms are back to normal and soft as can be. Is this normal? Or should I discontinue using the exfoliating cloth? I’ve looked online for similar experiences to no avail.
Answer: What I'd say is that perhaps the exfoliating cloth — or it could also mean that this general method of physical exfoliation — isn't suitable for you. Bumps that appear (only) after exfoliation and disappear shortly (of if they're persistent) are signs of skin irritation and a sort of red flag/defense mechanism to signal a stop.
If you feel that besides the initial bump that goes away fairly quickly isn't a big deal to you, in my humble opinion, I'd just continue since it sounds like you're happy with the results. If you'd like to explore other types of exfoliation methods, chemical exfoliation is extremely effective and can be very gentle (despite how it sounds, i.e. chemicals must be harsh).
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Goat's milk soaps contain natural Lactic acid which is great! Exfoliate gently and daily while showering. But if you're thinking soap bars consider getting one with a low pH (less irritating as bar soaps tend to be more acidic and drying/moisture stripping). OR you can opt for an exfoliating lotion,
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