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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...
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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