Tattoo FAQ 19: Are black tattoos more likely to fade or develop 'spots'?

Original question from our visitor: I have a question regarding skin type. Are there some people whose skin just doesn't like to hold the ink? The reason I ask this is, I have four tattoos, received over a space of six years. I like black art, so there's a lot of black in my tattoos. The most recent one (two years ago this month) healed beautifully, but now, there are tiny spots in it that aren't black anymore. I don't scratch at it, I take care of it, but it seems like it's losing color. Is there something I may have done without realizing it to cause this to happen? Or does my skin not like ink as much as I do?

Answer:
The first answer is: yes: some people keep color in better than others, but a lot depends on how you "treat" your ink as well.
Not just the "no scratching" part while it is healing is important, but also factors like exposure to the sun have a lot to do with how good the colors age. Other factors are where your tattoo is on the body, your skin type and what style and size of tattoo you got.

In other words: a pure black and rather small tattoo on the foot with you walking around on the sunny beach all the time will fade and get spots much faster than a color tattoo on your hip that does not have any exposure to the sun.

There is word that black is more likely to fade and get spots than other colors, but personally I think that this is not true. I think it depends much more on the type of skin and the other above mentioned factors, but having said that: It will SEEM like black is more likely to fade and develop spots simply because you can SEE it better on (light) skin. Black areas are more likely to need a touch-up than color areas because in colored areas any kind of "spots" blend in better.

Another factor (apart from placement of the tattoo, style, color, exposure and skin type) is of course how professional the tattoo was done in the first place.
In your particular case that does not seem to be a factor, because you said it healed good and solid.
A tattoo that was not done professionally could fade much faster, for example if the tattooist did not put the in the correct layer of skin: If the ink is in the 1st layer of skin, it will pretty much be gone after it healed and only a dirty looking something will stay. If the ink went in too deep, chances are the tattoo as a whole will "raise" and most of the color will bleed out.
Another cause for "spots in the color" may be that the area was "overworked" while the tattoo was done. It might heal OK, but after it is healed you will see those light spots develop soon.

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