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

it looks like a very small bird, i'm guessing, but by the looks of the side of the second photo, i'm gonna say it's on the top of the foot. Skin if thin there. small tattoos and thin skin.

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

Also the mole got a lot bigger , maybe you should have have it checked

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

I think it looks like a chest on the left and a foot on the right, which would make a REALLY big difference.

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

Only 4 years? Why the short life span ? Where is this tattoo on the body? LOtssss of soap would do this?

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Greg Le Goire
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Man… All I see here are people not taking care of their tattoos. Sad.

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

This is definitely not even the same tattoo lol. Look at the moles on her skin in the first photo that have disappeared in the second, or the veins in the second that arent there in the first. The edge of the body part is totally different between photos - and is clearly in two different places, plus the bird itself: much longer more defined bottom wing in the second, longer and thinner tail in the first on a different angle, and the lil birdie got a fat tum in the second

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Joel Rodriguez Aguiar
Community Member
5 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Ok I'm sick and tired of these fake before and after lies they are clearly not the same, how the f**k does the tail get straight after time!!! Wtf did the bird heal it's f****d up feathers or some s**t and they are shorter too. Most of these before and after pics are b******t. Obviously that one on the right didn't protect their tattoo from getting bleached in sunlight but that's not even the point here

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

It's top of the foot. No tattoo fades that much unless it's on the foot, palms, soles.

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

None of my tattoos have done this, some of them are over 10 years old ???

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

This doesn't even look like the same bird for one the wing in the second pic is way longer the tail in the first pic is longer the head on second bird is bigger I do not think tattoos fade like this

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

Sad this has faded so badly. The swallow started out so full of life! Guess we all fade out eventually..

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

yeah, but the after photo obviously has a brighter lighting or a filter on it.

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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
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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