White Tattoos
Does the sun fade white tattoos? The answer is actually quote complex and here’s why:
First, think of tattoo ink like paint that is being used to cover a pinkish red wall. If the wall were painted black it’s highly possible that it could be covered in one coat. If it were painted white it would take numerous coats, or the case of tattooing packing in the color. (This is why covering a dark tattoo with a lighter one is almost impossible) Also, besides “masking” any underlying color of the skin, the ink is still under the body’s natural melanin. (This is why darker skinned people cannot get light tattoos)
Physics and Biology:
Just like melanin, tattoo ink will block and/or absorb radiation. Commonly white inks contain Titanium Dioxide. Ti02 in it’s natural state is white, but when it is exposed to radiation, the composition of the molecule changes giving it a bluish color. Although, this means the tattoo is actually darker, this accounts for some of the fading. Besides changing the ink color, solar radiation also causes the body to produce melanin which is on top of the ink. This tan/brown/black color obscures the ink and in turn makes the tattoo to appear less bright. Furthermore as most people know, sun exposure destroys tattoos through the body’s process of repairing the dermal and epidermal damage caused by UVA, UVB and possibly UVC radiation.
Optical Illusion
Besides all the factors stated above, the more dramatic the difference in color, the less noticeable the fading. If you look at traditional tattoos they normally have a black outline. This is done to create a visual barrier between lighter inks and natural skin tone. Without the separation the tattoo can appear to blend into the surround tissue, giving the appearance of faded tattoo. Lastly, there is ink absorption. As already mentioned the body absorbs ink over time. However, the first month after the tattoo is put into the skin, the body removes ink particles down in the lower levels of the dermis. Even if white is packed in, there is a very good chance that your body’s lymphatic system will remove enough of the white to show some fading. Does sun exposure effect the tattoo during this time? Sure, but the basic healing period is often just a factor people don’t take into account and the sun is blamed for the fading of the tattoo.
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Well… even if all my white fades… I married the man that did it.
Good article.
<3
-Jolie
So… would the melanin also result in the white ink appearing to yellow? Or is that the result of something else… not packing enough white in there…. different qualities of ink, etc?
Asking because I have an old tattoo (17 yrs) with white that still looks white, though faded. And a new tattoo (1 month) with large-ish white sections where the white all looks really yellowy now.
I was trying to figure out the difference. You posted this, so I thought why not ask? Thanks.
As stated in the blog entry, the body’s natural skin tone blocks or obscures the tattoo. This “dirty window” effect can cause a white tattoo to appear yellow or brown. However if this is the case, long-term coverage with sunblock should eliminate the problem.
Now permanent discoloration is another issue. One that I’m not sure I have all the facts to answer, but I will give my opinion.
Also stated in the blog, the most common coloring agent of white ink is TiO2. However there are multiple other ingredients that may react differently when exposed to sunlight. Any of these compounds could oxidize in the same way that the lignin component of paper pulp turns yellow when exposed to the sun.
Another fact is that most things that are colored white eventually turn gray, brown, yellow, etc The main reason for this change is that environmental factors such as, pollution, smoke, containments, etc, leach into the surface of the material.
Also, we know that accidental tattoos can occur where foreign substances get trapped in the dermis. Common examples are graphite from pencil lead, dirt from road rash, etc.
Now if we eliminate ink oxidation and take the two facts above into account, here is a hypothesis. If a person were to expose a white tattoo to sunlight during the healing stage, melanin could get trapped with the tattoo ink causing the tattoo to take on a permanent yellowish/brown hue. However as I stated before, this is simply an opinion and at this point I cannot site any studies to support my conclusion.
the last section to your article is very interesting:
“Now if we eliminate ink oxidation and take the two facts above into account, here is a hypothesis. If a person were to expose a white tattoo to sunlight during the healing stage, melanin could get trapped with the tattoo ink causing the tattoo to take on a permanent yellowish/brown hue. However as I stated before, this is simply an opinion and at this point I cannot site any studies to support my conclusion.”
i would love to tell that to my clients simply to scare them into staying out of the sun!
Well I’ve always tried to tell people to stay out of the sun, but this makes sense.
I myself have some white ink about 4 years old and it is more faded towards the area that gets more sunlight.
Of course, could easily cover it with a darker color and it’ll be fine.
-Nate
Wow Tattoos -Ambigram Tattoo Lettering
I’m one of the crazies who’s considering an all-white tattoo, but I’m still not very sure… Could you tell me a few things about them, please? First off, I really wanna know what happens when they “fade”. Can you still see them up close, or do they leave a scar, or ANYTHING? Or does it just look like you really NEVER had anything drawn on that piece of skin? Is there anything in particular that an artist can do to prevent or provoke a tattoo being permanently “raised”? Is that even healthy?
I don’t know all that much about tattoos, so I’m basically asking around. Sorry if I said anything stupid or noob-ish (AND i might be back with more!)
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