why does my tattoo look so faded after the scabs fall off?

Question

why does my tattoo look so faded after the scabs fall off?

Answer 1

Picking Tattoo Scabs

Answer 2

I just have to correct what some people are saying: a scabbing tattoo does not necessarily mean the artist went "too deep" OR that you didn't properly care for the tattoo afterwards. Depending on where your tattoo is, it will scab heavily, and this is quite normal. If it is on your hand, finger or foot, the tattoo artist will often go a little deeper to try and keep the color vibrant. Because your hands and feet naturally exfoliate a lot more often than say, your bicep or back, the scabs you get in those areas will be thicker and nastier looking than any other tattooed area of the body. Also, hand and foot tattoos often need to be touched up once after healing- this is all normal! It doesn't mean you didn't properly take care of it, or that your artist didn't know what he was doing (and went "too deep"). All that said, your tat will probably be just fine when it heals! If its a hand or foot tattoo, you may need one touch up after healing. Good luck!

Answer 3

Is there alot of scabbing in the tattoo? I hope not, because that means the artist went too deep. There shouldn't be a whole lot of scabbing. Tattoos will always scab, but usually in spots that the artist had to go over alot, because its a dark color or something, but the whole thing should not have scabbed over. You will probably have to get it touched up again, depending on how it looks when its comeletely healed.

Answer 4

ooh.... bad healing. If it scabs, thats a bad thing cause your artist both went too deep and it wasn't cared for in the proper way.



I got a black tattoo on my side. My artist was fantastic and gave my explicit instructions on how to care for it. I was wrapped in Saran Wrap for about 3 days, each day I was to wash it in the hottest water I could stand and wash off any excess ink that was on the skin with non scented soap. Then I would let it air out for about 15 minutes with A&D ointment, then wrap it up again. After the 3 days with Saran Wrap, I took it off, washed it, put A&D and kept the Wrap off. It healed within a week and no scabbing whatsoever and the color is very vivid.

Answer 5

tattoo faded shiny scabbing fell normal

Answer 6

actually, your skin most likely is just taking the pigment in its own way, and its very likely it will have to be recolored.. yeah that sucks especially if it hurt the first time, but just make sure it's good and healed before doing that or it hurts badly.. trust me.. mine was kinda on the faded side at first too and brightened up a bit but could still used to be touched up.. usually most tattoo artists give you one touch up just because everyones skin takes the ink differently.. good luck

Answer 7

Tattoo Gallery, Lettering, Photos & More

Answer 8

It's just going through a phase right now, give it some time to heal up and your tat will be looking all good and normal

Answer 9

PON,

Every artist knows their ink and I believe he/she knew what was appropriate for your type of tattoo. for instance my tattoo was wrapped for 3 hours

Answer 10

Welcome to the wonderful phase in your tattoo called: Silver-Skin.



When your tattoo is peeling, your skin underneath attempts in one last line of defense to protect itself with this shiny layer of skin. Do not fret, however. The silver/grey tone you are seeing is just these final stages of your tattoo healing.



Essentially, your skin will peel, the silver will show through and make the tattoo appear VERY faded. What you can do to help get rid of this strange layer of skin, is to go to your local Walmart or Target, and get a bottle of Vitamin E gel capsules. Break open a capsule and rub it gently all over your tattoo. I would do this about twice daily.



Give it about a week, and your tattoo will be much more vibrant. Once this grey " mask" is gone, I guarantee that you will be satisfied!



Good luck, dear :]



EDIT: Just for the record, the poster who says that his artist told him to wear saran wrap on his tattoo was very, very misinformed. Wearing any sort of bandage over your tattoo can cause moisture build up, and can actually pull out the color.

Answer 11

All of mine have looked like that. Give it time.