why do tatoos remain even though all the skin cells get replaced?

Question

I heard that after 10 years our whole body is different as existing cells, particularly the skin layers die off and are replaced by new ones. I'm curious to know why the ink does'nt get expelled along with it! Anyone know why/how ?

Answer 1

The dye of the tattoo is idjected in the DERMIS ,which is deeper than the EPIDERMIS.

In skin shed off it is only the superficial layer of the epidermisthat is shed off. The deeper dermis layer is not renewed.

Answer 2

Your skin is made of loads of layers - the most superficial layer is more prone to damage so it repairs and regenerates the most whereas the deeper layers don't so much.

Thats why if you injure yourself, a superficial scratch heals without a scar whereas a deeper cut will scar. The deeper the cut, the longer the scar takes to heal.

Tattoos act the same way as the deeper cells are stained with the ink where the cells don't regenerate as much. So a tattoo will fade, but as they are the deeper layers of skin, they fade really really slowly. If you look, older people have lighter tattoos than people who have had them done more recently.

Answer 3

The ink stains the layer of skin below the layer that regenerates and is shed.
Not every cell in the body is replaced some you only get once.

Answer 4

That's a really interesting question. Hmmm. I'd love to know the answer- because all cells do indeed regenerate- otherwise all burns and cut victims would leak to death.

Answer 5

the way it can last is that it is so deep in the skin that the ink is almost dyeing the muscles

Answer 6

the epidermis(surface) of your skin changes alot but the dermis doesn't change.

Answer 7

you can find more here:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tatoo