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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?

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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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#8

Tattoo 4 Years Later

Tattoo 4 Years Later

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person (i think)
Community Member
6 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Why are ppl saying this is not the same tattoo? (I am genuinely asking.) They look the same. The picture is just taken from a different angle as far as I can tell.

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

Skin changes over time, people gain and lose weight, different sized photo, different angle, same tattoo

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

The dementions look different and the top part now looks lopsided, the bottom of the key is smaller

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

It looks like the skin is twisted in the older pic, they still have the same mole in the same place.

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

Don't understand why people so insistent that this isn't the same...

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Bria Leanne
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

To be honest I kind of like the muted look it has taken on with age.

brialeanne avatar
Bria Leanne
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

To be honest I actually like the muted look in the aged version.

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Rae-Mischel Cooper
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

That’s literally not the same tattoo. The lines in the second one are super wonky.

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

This isn’t even on the same person I spotted three 3 differences in these two . Stop reaching

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

this isnt the same tattoo. The other key is more squished and round-edged that the previous

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

U sue this is the same persoon? Second tatoo looks like somebody stole the design and faild the hell out of it, there are not straight lines in the first tattoo

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

I was hoping these pics would discourage me from getting tattoos in the future... So far its not working. These well some of em still look aiiiit.

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

This is a different tattoo 😂 look at the dimensions of everything it's all slightly off it's just a s****y version of the first one. Why u lying

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

The key part that turns the tumblers in a lock has shrunk. It's not near as long. I don't think it's the same tattoo, lol

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

bad tattooer, lines blown all the way. Can you post some tattoo from a professional artist and not from the beach tattoo place?

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

UM, not the same tattoo. Look at the bottom part of the key one is longer than the other. And the top of the key isn't even straight.

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

Look at the "bridge" crossing the upper oval: it's completely different.

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

It's not surprising that color tattoos will need recoloring after time.

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

That's not the same tattoo. Look at the keys details. Bottom right of the key look completely different. Plus the one on the right is crooked. Tattoos don't heal crooked and shrunk lol.

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

But they can become distorted as you grow, gain weight, or lose wait. There's still the same mole to prove it if you don't believe me.

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

That doesn't look like the same tattoo. Unless there was a lot of weight gain, the angles, width, and length shouldn't change. Even if there was weight gain, this is an odd location to have this many additional curves with some areas shrinking in size while others increased.

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

The thick areas show where they went too deep, the color wasn't saturated enough to stay

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

Sadly, no vibrancy left. Guess It's an old antique key now. Hope he/she finds the treasure box it opens.. full of gold & silver! Lol.

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

That's not even the same tattoo! It's the same design, but if you look closely, you'll see how they differ in many areas.

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

That's not even the same tattoo look at the linework how does it become not straight anymore?

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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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#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
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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
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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