Tattoo is three weeks old and faded?

Question

I've had a tattoo for three weeks and the red appears to be faded to a pinky-red colour. It's still slightly scaley - does this mean I need a touch up? How much longer until it's healed? I followed the after care directions exactly.

It's only the red that is faded - the other colours are fine. And I never let it near the sun.

Answer 1

you are not healed until they scales are gone. the scales will make it appear not as colorful as it will be. wait until the scales are gone. if they go away & it is faded looking then call the artist and ask for a touch-up.

Answer 2

I've got 2 tattoos and my husband has 14. The only way I can think that it faded is that you kept putting gauze on it after the one the artist put on, or you laid on it when you were sleeping. I also suggest that you use A+D Ointment until it stops hurting when people touch it, that could also be another reason why it's scaly. After about 2 months when you know it's healed for sure I would go back to the artist and the shop you got the tattoo from and ask how soon you would be able to get a touch up and how much it would be, usually the artist won't charge but you never know about the rules of the tattoo shop.

Answer 3

It's most likely not fully healed if it's still scaley. If it still remainds faded then you might have had it in the sun while it was healing. Or maybe they didn't use enough ink. But then the ink would be kinda splotchy and sparse. Give it a couple more weeks, or at least until it appears full healed, then go back to the place and ask them.

Answer 4

tattoos can take up to two weeks to heal, although mine usually heal within 5 days, some of my friends have taken nearly 3 weeks. it may also peel a few times during this healing process or scab over. it may just be that the skin is ready to peel and thats why it looks as if its not as details and fading. i'd give it another 2 weeks max and then if you still arent happy with it.....go back to whoever done it, any good tattooist considers themselves as artists and will touch it up for free. if the artist didnt go deep enough, your tattoo would have gaps in the colouring and bits would sort of disappear. i'm sure its just normal and everything will be fine

Answer 5

Your tattooist used cheap quality ink! Red is one of the hardest colors to make stay in but if the ink is high quality it stays very nicely! Also use Tattoo Goo on it for healing. Petroleum base products such as vaseline and neosporin will suffocate the tattoo and draw out the colors.
Hope this helps and good luck!

Answer 6

If you got it done by a professional that is normal for most. Depending on your skin and the way you heal that probably all it doing is drying out or in the peeling stage. you need to put something on it such as Vaseline keep it lubricated at all times the pink will show red in a couple of days

Answer 7

a lot of times the bright colors will fade and do need to be touched up. i have 3 so far, a mainly green, a mainly red, and a solid black one, and both the green and the red have needed to be re-filled. it's not a big thing, and the place i went to did it for free both times. maybe go to another shop and ask the artist there if it's normal.

Answer 8

Get the red touched up and use bag balm to keep the whole tattoo covered. Ask your tattoo artist if there is any way to prevent that from happening as quickly. Good luck.

Answer 9

A bad red ink was used Touch up is a good idea. Probably after two months to let your skin grow.

Answer 10

Being a tattoo artist myself, you should only be putting water-based lotion on a new tattoo. Lubriderm only!!! Go see your tattooist as soon as possible. Something is not right. Normal healing time is about two weeks.