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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.

#1

Aged Tattoo

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

The person didn't take care of that piece right. I can't remember this tattooers name but all his work is amazing. This a client doing poor after care for sure.

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Kira Lombardo
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Tbh this looks way better aged, like the artist knew how it’d age and intentionally inked it to look like a realistic charcoal sketch

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INKED RITUAL Tattoo Care
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

There are several causes and reasons why your tattoos WILL fade. The main reason is getting older and AGING. Our skin breaks down continually which over time, makes your tattoos look faded and washed out. Several factors can speed up this process. Overexposure in the sun, which speeds the rate of skin breakdown and aging. And a lack of daily skincare to maintain proper hydration and moisturization. Now other factors that will affect the rate of how fast your tattoos will start looking faded, are improper aftercare; poor quality tattoo ink; specific body parts; and a tattoo artists' skills or lack thereof. Also, the more skin exposure with wear & tear will cause a higher skin turnover and a faster rate of tattoo fading. And on a final note, nutrition. Poor nutrition will lead to faster aging skin.

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

Phenomenal work! This tattoo artist really knew what they were doing—you can tell that they accounted for the eventual settling/fading in the initial ink. That's why it looks overly dark and contrasty at first, and why there's actually MORE detail and nuanced photorealism in the second photo. Incredible!

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

I like it. It has more depth without the high contrast slapping one in the face.

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

I think the 'later' tattoo looks good still, quite ghostly.

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

where does it say 10yrs later. this is a portrait tat and the artist knows better than to skip on the ink quality, as you can clearly see here..or they were light handed.

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alex monk
Community Member
5 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

If you’re searching for a tattoo artist of the highest caliber, thentattoo artist The Spectre is the right place for you. We serve as a shelter for the brave and tattooed.

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Erica D
Community Member
8 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Some tattoos look like c**p after they age, but this one actually looks better. The hand looks like leather in the original tattoo, and the shadowing above the eyes is way too dark. The older faded version looks more realistic and aesthetically pleasing

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Catherine Mendel
Community Member
5 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Getting a tattoo is like locking yourself into a room and throwing the key away... NEVER do something you can't UNDO...because the way you feel in five years from now, may be totally different from the way you feel right now!

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Ernestas Petkus
Community Member
5 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Can't really tell s**t because of massive retouch on the 1st pic. it still looks cool though

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Craig Mead
Community Member
5 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

This is deceiving. I know this tattoo. What they have marked as "Later", is what was brought into the shop to be redone. The "Before" is what it looks like now.

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

Ink is generally not UV resistant not surprising it would fade.

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

tattoos are supposed to be touched up every so often. this is just extreme lack of care over time. take care of your tats and this s**t doesnt happen

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

All the "After" photos are blurry,so the post makes no sense,waste of time

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

Why does her shirt sleeve look different? Not just faded--different!

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

The aged version looks like it's been done in the style of a Rembrandt sketch. Beautiful. Use sunscreen over your tats - they'll age much slower.

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

Fake!!!!!! Thats not real!!! Fresh tattoo makes silvano fiato! Great black and grey tattoo artist!

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

Dude needs a touch-up. Also he probably didn't take care of it properly after getting it!

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

Looks like he had an infection, ir is not poorly tattooed so it should have aged much better than this.

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

The subject was probably alive when the tattoo was done and is now dead so technically it's a good representation....

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

The "later" one is creepier! And who (which character) is this? So familiar, yet I cannot place him??

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

Looks to me like someone copied it as there are points thats are more detailed and highlighted that what is on the fresh one, as in on yhe fresh that are darl shaded/blacked out, and on the faded one it's more detailed where if anything it should still be greyed out

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

Beautiful rendition. The aging is intriguing in of itself. None of us can beat old man time, pun not intended.

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

Way better faded. . Can be redone really nicely from here. The freaking original hold no technical skills whatsoever. Good art, bad tatt.

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

Oh, that's too bad! I have 7 tats and 3 of them are on my feet, and none of them have faded like that! I really feel for the wearer, and they paid GOOD money for there tats, to see it like this, is too bad. Maybe a good artist might be able to touch it up! Don't count on it, though!

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

I knew I wasn't wrong when i commented in a previous post that I'd get a black tattoo if it wasn't cause the black ink doesn't stay black and it turns kind of greenish after a while. This is the prove.. or I need glasses xD

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#5

Intricate Tattoo 10 Years Later

Intricate Tattoo 10 Years Later

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J.E.C.
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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
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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.
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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

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Michel M. Prins
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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

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#15

Tiny Aged Tattoo

Tiny Aged Tattoo

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Luc Mailloux
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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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#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
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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

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Pe Ka
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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
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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
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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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