How Do Tattoos Work? - Creative Ink Tattoo Studio (2024)

FAQs

How does tattoo ink work? ›

The oscillating ink-coated needle punctures the skin in the range of 100 times per second, depositing the ink pigments 1.5 to 2 mm below the skin surface. Thus, the needle penetrates the skin through the epidermis and into the papillary layer of the dermis, where the ink particles accumulate.

Tattoos are permanent images in the skin, delivered by needles injecting ink into the dermis. This tissue is just underneath the outer layer of your skin, called the epidermis. The ink is injected into the dermis by a machine that delivers thousands of tiny pricks per minute via needle.

A tattoo artist creates permanent images or words in clients' skin by injecting ink and other pigments just underneath the skin with a small, sanitized needle. Tattoo artists can set up their own shops, work privately for clients, or work for others.

As we've just learned, the reason tattoos last permanently is because of their location in the dermis layer of our skin, where the macrophages cells that live there hold onto your tattoo ink and pass it to future generations of cells like a microscopic family heirloom.

Most of these ink containing fibroblasts are located beneath a layer of fibrous tissue which has replaced the granulation tissue. A network of connective tissue surrounds and effectively traps these fibroblasts. It is assumed that these fibroblasts are the cells that give tattoos their lifespan.

Tattoo inks are typically made of a mixture of solid particles of pigment, molecular dyes and binders suspended in a water solution. The color comes from light either being reflected from or absorbed by the particles and dyes.

French researchers say they have found the answer, and it's a little bit surprising. They found that immune system cells called macrophages eat the ink, and then pass it to their replacements when they die. So the tattoo ink doesn't stain skin cells, as many people had believed.

A Tattoo needle penetrates 5 layers of the epidermis

That may sound like a lot of skin, but in reality it is only 1/16th of an inch, about 1-2mm. That's pretty tiny. It goes through five layers of the epidermis, through the dermal layer, and into the topmost layer of the dermis.

Upon tattooing, pigment particles (green) are captured by dermal macrophages. With time, macrophages laden with tattoo pigment particles die and release the tattoo pigment particles.

Although the risk is small, it is recommended that you wait to get a tattoo until after your baby is born. Little information is available about the safety of skin dyes used for tattooing during pregnancy. It is possible that the chemicals in the dye may affect the development of the baby during the first 12 weeks.

What are 3 dangers affecting getting a tattoo? ›

However, getting a tattoo can still put you at risk of: infections, such blood-borne viruses. allergic reactions. thick scars.

I usually book two or three appointments per day. I try to reserve an ample amount of time to put the bells and whistles on each drawing and to make any changes that need to be made when the client comes in. Some days are totally swamped and I do not get a chance to eat.

Quality work takes skill and time. And a lot of the tattoo price essentially comes down to the total time spent on the service, from designing the tattoo to changes made, to how long it takes to apply it to your skin.

Scratching pain is the most common sensation experienced when you're getting a tattoo. This kind of pain can feel like an intense scratch moving across the tattooed area, as if a cat were dragging its claws across your skin.

Over time, cells from your immune system – called macrophages - gradually absorb the tattoo ink and disperse it, which can lead to some tattoo fading. On top of this, factors such as sunlight, friction and improper care of your tattoos can all accelerate the process of aging your skin and/or fading your tattoos.

The dermal cells remain in place until they die, and when they have completed their life span, they are absorbed by younger cells. This means that the ink travels from one generation of cells to the next, and so the tattoo remains in place.

With proper aftercare, black and gray colors last for up to 10 years or longer before requiring a retouch. Dark blue: Like black ink, dark blue tattoo colors are suitable for dark skin. They have long-wearing pigments and can also last for up to 10 years.

To prevent the tattoo ink from moving to other parts of the body, your immune system isolates the tattoo ink by keeping them engulfed in the white blood cells. This is why your tattoo stays in the same place it was drawn, without fading significantly over the years. Of course, white blood cells die.

As long as it has not been contaminated, remains properly sealed, and is properly stored, tattoo ink has about a two-year shelf life. The expiration date set by the manufacturer and shown on the label is the best indicator of this shelf life.