Time and Tattoos
Tattooing has been around for thousands of years with early examples found in Europe and Asia dating from as far back as 5000 years BC.
In various cultures, tattoos have served as marks of status or rank, decorations indicating achievement, symbols of religious devotion, sexual lures and the marks of undesirables, slaves or criminals. These reasons are much in contrast with modern Western motives where past stigmas and taboos have all but vanished and tattooing is now frequently undergone for primarily cosmetic reasons.
Although tattooing as a discipline has weathered the ups and downs of many centuries and now enjoys a great resurgence in popularity, time might not be so charitable to the individual's tattoo. Time and prolonged exposure to sunlight cause natural fading in the pigments used in tattooing. Although exhibiting care in keeping tattoos out of prolonged direct sunlight and the use high factor sunblocks may help keep the colors vivid, invariably they do fade.
Proper aftercare is the singlemost important factor to retaining vivd and vibrant tattoo coloration. Be sure to religiously follow the tattoo artist's aftercare recommendations and be sure not to expose a fresh tattoo to prolonged sunlight before it is fully healed. A new tattoo should be bathed carefully and only with the recommended solutions in order to prevent patchy setting of the pigments.
Some artists offer free follow up touch up work should there be any noticeable fading in the period immediately following the application of a new tattoo provided the patron has followed the artist's aftercare instructions.
In order to maintain the clarity of lines and vibrancy of color, individuals choose to have their designs re-inked as colors fade with time.