Here's What You Should Know About Overworked Tattoos
New tattoos usually take two to three weeks to fully heal, and with good aftercare, they should heal perfectly, per Glamour Magazine. However, there are times when the healing process of a new tattoo doesn't go as smoothly as it should. This can be so in the case of overworked tattoos.
Otherwise known as a tattoo blowout (via Healthline), an overworked tattoo is what happens when a tattoo causes scarring or when the tattoo ink goes past the dermis layer and reaches the hypodermis, per Demi Ink. An effect of this is that the tattoo begins to look blurry, per Byrdie.
Overworked tattoos are more likely when you patronize beginner tattoo artists, and the problem with overworked skin is that it only becomes truly apparent to the client once the tattoo begins to heal, per Saved Tattoo. The discolored skin that slowly forms is a big hallmark of a tattoo blowout. It can be the result of the high voltage on the machine affecting its speed, per Tattooing 101. A tattoo artist going over a patch of skin more than once can also result in a tattoo blowout.
Good news: Overworked tattoos can be corrected
A major sign of an overworked tattoo is excessive fluid loss from the surface of the tattooed skin. This includes bleeding and loss of plasma and migration of ink to the skin's surface during the healing process, causing the tat to appear smudged, per Byrdie. Inflammation and raised lines in the tattoo are also signs of a tattoo blowout.
But these signs are not the same in everyone. For some, it can only be discoloration of the tattoo itself, or a complete shift of the shape of the tattoo as the colors bleed through the lines, per Healthline.
The best and least expensive way to deal with overworked tattoos is to avoid it altogether. That means going only to professionals. So before you get that next tattoo or maybe even your first, make sure to pay attention to the tattoo artist's experience, photos of past work, and reviews from previous customers.
If you already have a blowout, you can have it examined and reworked, per Saved Tattoo. Reworking involves having an expert tattoo artist go over the faded or blurry tattoo to either restore the original tattoo or make tweaks to the original design and create new art. Reworking a tattoo is both expensive and time consuming, since it is more complicated than simply getting a new tattoo. However, the results are usually worth it.
You can also go for laser correction, although it's more expensive than getting the tattoo reworked, per Sorry Mom Shop.