Jolene Schwartz
Tattoos have represented personal identity, affiliations,
philosophy and creative, choices, from Paleolithic man to
Corporate Execs, and are gaining a new interest and popularity
with both sexes. It's a fact that 10% of the people in the
United States have at least one tattoo somewhere on their body.
A tattoo by definition is permanent. Pigment is inserted under
the epidermis with a needle or sharp object into the dermis
where the color is captured by the body for all time..... well
almost.
Tattoos change over time because the skin is constantly changing
from regeneration, sun, wind, water and other assaults. The
appearance of a tattoo therefore must also change as the skin
stretches, shrinks and ages. Pigment moves imperceptibly over
time on a cellular level and elasticity and skin resiliency
naturally decline. Age spots, tanning and wrinkles can take a
toll on the clarity and color of tattoos too.
How well and how long a tattoo stays defined and the colors
vibrant, is most affected by the immediate aftercare and then
the lifelong skin maintenance. Aftercare guidelines vary, but
the common denominator is: prevent infection and promote healing
to retain as much ink as possible in the tattoo. Tattoos
generally heal completely within two to three weeks, but must be
kept continually moist to prevent scabbing, which removes color
from the tattoo.
A tattoo's number one enemy is sun, tattoo pigments fade like
all other color under direct sunlight; red and yellow are the
most difficult color to maintain, black and blue is the most
stable. Tattoos are part of the living skin organism and a
minimal amount of color is treated like foreign molecules and
transported away through the lymph system. The best defense in
the battle of the fading tattoo is to stay out of the sun, cover
the tattoo with clothing and wear a really good sunscreen.
Tattoos reside in the dermis layers and are seen through the
epidermis. Simple common sense steps will keep the epidermis
clean, healthy, smooth, and hydrated for optimal clarity of body
art. Use a gentle cleanser weekly to remove the build-up of body
oils, dirt, grime, and the dull ashy film that blocks the color
of your tattoos. Daily use of a moisturizer (that dries with a
residue free finish) reflects deeper color.
A tattoo that is expertly applied, healed properly and protected
from the sun can remain vibrant for decades, but there is no
escape from those changes that come, simply as a result of time.
© 2005 Jolene Schwartz
About the author:
Jolene is a licensed barber, cosmetologist, and salon owner,
specializing in men's grooming for over 20 years. She developed
her own line of men's products; "Face Tools" and "Tattoo ReNew
and her ecommerce site, http://appearancesformen.com
, features new products, trends, advice and Q&A articles.
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