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Are you thinking of getting a tattoo? Your new tattoo might look pretty awesome now, but have you ever wondered what it’d look like when you’re older? There are many reasons and factors why this happens, and many answers to the question of how tattoos age. 

One way to keep your tattoo looking fresh and prevent it from aging is to ensure that you follow the proper healing procedures, as even the best tattoos can be affected by not taking proper care. Most parlors will advise you about care and tattoo aging, so make sure you pay attention!

As tempting as it might be, don't spend too much time touching your new tattoo idea that came to life, as this can lead to discoloration and infection. If your tattoo is new, then try to keep it out of the sunlight, even when it’s fully healed. Make sure you always moisturize your skin with the highest SPF sunscreen on any exposed tattoos whenever you’re out and about.

Finally, never forget to search for a highly skilled and qualified tattoo artist, as he is the one who will execute the work, making sure you won't regret it. Now scroll down below to find how some of the old tattoos look today—not all of them stood the test of time.

What Happens to Tattoos Over Time?

Image credits: Life-Of-Pix

When it comes to aging, the type of tattoo ink can make a big difference, for example, with cheaper ink often fading much quicker than higher-quality alternatives. 

The color of the ink makes a big difference, too, as the lighter the ink, the faster it fades (remember that next time you’re thinking about getting one of those white ink tattoos!). Another thing to consider is the placement of your tattoo, as this can also influence the speed of fading. 

Tattoos on areas that see a lot of activity, such as your feet and your fingers, are much more likely to fade than tattoos on your back or chest, for example. Also, the design comes into play, too—the smaller and more intricate the tattoo’s detailing is, the more chance it will get blurred years later. 

If body art fades with time, what do tattoos look like when you get old? Well, check out this tattoo aging time-lapse compiled by Bored Panda to see for yourself how aged tattoos look now.

#5

Intricate Tattoo 10 Years Later

Intricate Tattoo 10 Years Later

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J.E.C.
Community Member
6 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I mean, it is small print very close together. You know it is going to bleed a little so this was a bad call, the tattoo artist should have told them this would happen. Maybe they did..

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#6

Aged Finger Tattoo

Aged Finger Tattoo

When I had decided to get the tattoo done, I knew that the area was not ideal and that the tattoo would fade at some point. I made a point to follow the aftercare instructions "to a T". My expectation was that I would have this tattoo for longer than a week.

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Martha Liebenberg
Community Member
6 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

It's called a blowout. Happens when the needle goes too deep into the skin. Fingers are very hard to do, the skin is flimsy. It could happen the most skilled artists. It's just a poor choice in placement. That's all.

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#7

Back Tattoo After Healing

Back Tattoo After Healing

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Laury M.
Community Member
6 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Lighting, camera angle and quality are all wildly different, so that's not entirely fair.

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#9

Aged Wrist Tattoo

Aged Wrist Tattoo

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Michel M. Prins
Community Member
6 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Interesting tribal design. A quick touch up should do the trick, that's the nice part about a tribal tattoo

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#10

Small Tattoo After 7 Years

Small Tattoo After 7 Years

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#12

Celtic Tattoo 15 Years Later

Celtic Tattoo 15 Years Later

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Michel M. Prins
Community Member
6 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

The dark tone of the current one actually compliments the fact that it should represent an ancient Celtic symbol. Giving it a touch-up would be nice, but won't be all that necessary

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#14

Aged Neck Tattoo

Aged Neck Tattoo

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#15

Tiny Aged Tattoo

Tiny Aged Tattoo

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Luc Mailloux
Community Member
6 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Where on the body is this? Context would be great... Looks like the foot to me, which would make this fading make perfect sense.

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#17

Aged Shark Tattoo

Aged Shark Tattoo

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#18

Aged Mouth Tattoo

Aged Mouth Tattoo

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Lucas Delaney
Community Member
6 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I'm wondering what she has done in order for it to wear that bad in just 6 months, I had mine when I was 18, I'm 33 now and mines only just about gone now, that's a good 12 years on show and 3 years deterioration until it completely disappeared

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Angelica Huber
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Generally speaking, the average lifespan for lip tats is about 6 months - 5 years due to the fact that your mouth cells regenerate much more rapidly than anywhere else on your body, so its RARE that you got that much life out of it. Congrats!

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Signe Manat Hansen
Community Member
6 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Jesus Christ, people, it's just a fun tattoo. It's not hurting you and no one is making you get one. Don't be nasty.

belpanado avatar
Bel Panado
Community Member
6 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

All I could think of is how much did she drool while being tattooed.

laury-mdragon avatar
Laury M.
Community Member
6 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

This one should have been predictable. Anything in the mouth heals MUCH faster than normal skin, so this was never going to last. The tattoo artist will have warned them.

skeeter012774 avatar
Stacy Lauren
Community Member
6 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Those don't stay. Artist should have told you. But seeing as what you got, they probably figured you were too dumb to listen to not do it and just took the $

niklassandin avatar
Niklas Sandin
Community Member
6 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

It all depends on how deep you go, and what ink you use. I have 4 big letters tattooed there 5 years ago, looks exactly the same today.

hubbr2 avatar
Raigan Hubbard
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

The least painful tattoo I've ever gotten was my inner lip believe it or not

freebyrdraven1 avatar
Emily Cooper
Community Member
6 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Any artist will tell you a lip tattoo is going to fade away, it's inside your mouth for goodness sake.

aloisamazonas avatar
Lisschen Müller
Community Member
6 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

We'll doesn't happen to everyone, mine is still im great shape and 4 years old. Btw no pain at all and done in 5 min!

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Sarah Beaulieu
Community Member
9 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Yeah this is a placement issue this is what happens with 99% of inner lip tattoos

biankaleger avatar
Bianka Leger
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

It's been 12 years now and it still all nice it depend on who soothe tattoo 🤗

mirandachen avatar
Miranda Chen
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Bad idea, our mouths are made to heal rapidly, with that comes extra flooding of white blood cells that would automatically start to down the ink. Over a short period of time the body will absorb the broken down ink. Especially if the ink wasn't good quality to begin with.

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Daniel Cronk
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Those tattoos don't work ever it's the person who was dumb that wanted it there. The mouth is too moist for a tattoo

marijana_oros avatar
Marijana Oros
Community Member
6 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

What did u expect when u tattoo ur mouth... ofc it will come off faster...

slenczew avatar
Sara Lenczewski
Community Member
6 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Be glad it lasted 6 months some people's don't last 1 in this spot!!

chevygirl2057 avatar
Cara Flores
Community Member
6 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

My buddy has f*** off on his inner lip and it is still as bright as it was the day it got done which was minimum of 6 years ago

cheryl_birkhimer avatar
Cheryl Birkhimer
Community Member
6 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Hope, my question exactly.. Not many people saw it fresh, even less will see it now. Maybe it was a conversation starter, "Hey, wanna look @ my tat?". Bloody waste of time & money. Thankfully, not mine.

carinajohnson avatar
Carina Johnson
Community Member
6 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

You can't possibly expect this to last. The mouth sheds a lot and is one of the fastest shedding and healing parts of the body.

scarycarrie911 avatar
Carrie Smith
Community Member
6 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Something went wrong with the healing, or the artist didn't go deep enough. I've done a ton of these, some on friends and co-workers. I actually saw one I did 15 years ago just last week and it looks great. These actually age BETTER than other parts of the body because they don't see sun.

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Simone Vii
Community Member
6 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I don't think people understand the rate at which your mouth heals It pushes out ink like no other. If you get this, expect it to not last long most of the time

taylorslovernumber1 avatar
Reilley Francis
Community Member
6 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

That one is a given, tattoo artist will even say it's basically semi permanent

53ac3bb21223d avatar
Rebecca Hartford
Community Member
6 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Tattoos that are done in the mouth like this aren't meant to last for long periods of time, all the acidic and usage of our mouths, among other reasons I am sure, is the explanation for this.

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Psalm Kivinen
Community Member
6 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

The skin inside your mouth is "replacing" itself faster than on other areas of the body, and it is also a different structure of skin than outside your mouth. This result is totally expected, and hopefully the artist informed them of this, and the very high likelihood of this result.

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Jenna-Leigh Dyck
Community Member
6 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

This fades asap like as well and the artist would've told you that and if they didn't then you just have a s****y a*s artist. Do your research before getting a tattoo and she's so lucky it fades like you can hardly even tell what it says fresh and she'd regret that for the rest of her life evenif it ever has the possibility of not fading.

selectedsociety avatar
selectedSOCIETY
Community Member
6 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

if they inform themself first they would know that this one is gone after a couple of months.

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Claire Copland
Community Member
6 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

This is rediculous, I cant understand why artists do this kind. Like others have said, why?

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Emma Thorp
Community Member
6 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Do they not realise that the mouth sheds and regenerates skin very quickly plus all the saliva....

kal1596 avatar
Kendra Asaph
Community Member
6 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I have friends who have gotten lip tattoos specifically because they only last a short amount of time so they can get something stupid and it will fade. Again, it's common sense that these won't last.

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Dannielle Dycus
Community Member
6 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Most real tattoo artists will not tattoo hands, faces, ears, or inside the mouth because these tattoos do not last or they fade too quickly. -_-

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Nancy E
Community Member
6 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Why would you tattoo the whites of your eyes like I've been seeing now , either ? Or the tip of a man's private part as I've seen in nursing ? People can be nuts.

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Savannah
Community Member
6 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

You could just say penis... most people on here would know what that is..- a 13 year old.

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Kyra Bhisey
Community Member
6 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

That's probably just the chemicals from the tattoo and the ones from inside ur mouth clashing……

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#19

Finger Tattoos Months Later

Finger Tattoos Months Later

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#21

Finger Tattoo 6 Weeks Later

Finger Tattoo 6 Weeks Later

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Crazy Cow Lady
Community Member
6 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

This one almost looks intentional, like the words really disappearing, like they do on the map.

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#23

Aged Tattoo

Aged Tattoo

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Pe Ka
Community Member
6 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

How much better cameras they've had 14 years ago!!! Unbelievable :)

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#24

Faded Tattoo

Faded Tattoo

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Wanni
Community Member
6 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I don't know why artists did tattoos on this parts of a boby. They know that the tatt fades out on feets and fingers

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#26

Faded Palm Tattoo

Faded Palm Tattoo

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Cat Meow
Community Member
6 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Not sure what they expected when they decided to get a tattoo on their palm

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#30

Aging Of A Finger Tattoo

Aging Of A Finger Tattoo

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Most Popular Questions About Aging Tattoos

Despite ink changing over the years, this doesn't mean old people with tattoos look bad. We have answered some of the most popular questions about tattoo aging, so you can be more prepared.

Do Tattoos Fade Away When You Get Older?

Many people wonder what will happen to their tattoos as they age. Will they fade away or lose their vibrancy? The answer depends on several factors. Your tattoo may  begin to fade due to aging skin, natural skin cell renewal, ultraviolet rays, ink quality, and poor tattoo aftercare.

Have you ever seen an old person with tattoos? As you probably noticed, they may become blurry, dull, or wrinkled, while others maintain their look longer. Generally, tattoos on old people's skin tend to fade more than on younger ones because the aging skin loses collagen and elasticity, causing it to stretch and sag. 

Additionally, factors such as diet, weight gain, weight loss, and smoking can also affect the appearance of tattoos. Some tattoo styles, such as watercolor or colorful tattoos, may be more prone to fading than black or tribal tattoos.

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Therefore, before getting tattoos, consider these factors and choose a design that will age well. Prevent tattoo aging by taking good care of it by applying sunscreen, moisturizing, and avoiding infections. By doing so, you can enjoy your tattoo for many years.

What Are the Possible Options to Consider With an Old Tattoo?

Ultimately, a tattoo is a part of your skin and will change as you change. You could find yourself getting a tattoo cover-up, a new tattoo that hides the old one, or a laser removal.

However, both options can be expensive, painful, and risky and may not guarantee a perfect result. A touch-up is a great way to refresh the beauty and brightness of your tattoo. Still, it should be done by a professional and experienced tattoo artist, as a bad touch-up can ruin your tattoo even more. 

How Do Fine Line Tattoos Age?

Fine line tattoos are a popular tattoo style created using a single needle and has  thinner and more delicate lines. This technique is often used for small tattoos or small details in larger tattoos.

However, fine line tattoos are more prone to fading, blurring, and distortion over time, leaving you with a design that looks very different from the original. 

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