This article was medically reviewed by Sarah Gehrke, RN, MS. Sarah Gehrke is a Registered Nurse and Licensed Massage Therapist in Texas. Sarah has over 10 years of experience teaching and practicing phlebotomy and intravenous (IV) therapy using physical, psychological, and emotional support. She received her Massage Therapist License from the Amarillo Massage Therapy Institute in 2008 and a M.S. in Nursing from the University of Phoenix in 2013.
There are 12 references cited in this article, which can be found at the bottom of the page.
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Tattoo scarring and blowouts can be caused when a tattoo artist pushes the needles in too far or at the wrong angle. This results in the ink going too deep into the skin, causing it to run into unwanted areas. It can also cause scars to develop because the skin has been damaged by the needle. In order to get rid of tattoo scarring and blowouts you can try concealing them, removing the tattoo completely, or healing the scar over time. In order to prevent these conditions you should always use an experienced tattoo artist, rather than giving yourself an at-home or homemade tattoo, and avoid tattooing thin skin.
Steps
Concealing Scars and Blowouts
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1Add background shading to the tattoo. Ask an experienced tattoo artist to add some additional shading to the tattoo in order to cover up the scarring or blowout. Typically, a blowout is visible on the outermost edge of a tattoo. To cover this up, you can expand on or add to the tattoo. Alternatively, you could add some background shading to cover the blowout. Choose a colour that matches with the tattoo.[1]
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2Avoid hiding it with a skin coloured dye. Some tattoo artists may suggest covering tattoo scars and blowouts with a skin coloured dye. You should not accept this advice. It will be extremely difficult to find a colour that completely matches your skin and this can actually make the tattoo look worse.[2]Advertisement
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3Cover up a scar or blowout with makeup. In order to cover up a tattoo scar or blow out with makeup, you will need to first put a makeup primer over the area you wish to conceal. Then, using a brush, apply a base foundation that closely matches your skin colour. Next you will want to dab eye shadow on the area. Choose a darker colour such as orange or pink (depending on your skin tone). A dark colour is necessary to cover all of the ink.[3]
- Then you will spray the area with hair spray to help lock the colour onto your skin.
- When the hairspray is dry, dab on a concealer that matches your skin tone. Blend the concealer into the skin surrounding the tattoo.
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4Wait for it to fade. In some instances tattoo blowout will fade over time. Wait a year to see if the blowout and scarring is still noticeable. For instance, the blowout may eventually disperse over a large enough area that it is no longer visible.[4]
- In some instances people may mistake a bruise as blowout. In these cases the bruise will fade and the tattoo will look fine.
Helping Scars Heal
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1Avoid direct sunlight. If you experience tattoo scarring, avoid placing the scar in direct sunlight. The sun can cause scarred tissue to darken or become red, making it look more noticeable. As a result, you should always apply sunscreen to the scarred area before sun exposure. Use a sunscreen that is SPF 30 and reapply frequently throughout the day.[5]
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2Apply aloe vera to the scar. Aloe vera gel may help to reduce the appearance of scars by moisturizing the skin. The gel from the aloe plant contains microbial and anti-inflammatory properties which may help heal the skin and reduce scars.[6] Apply the gel directly to the scarred skin 2 to 3 times a day.[7]
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3Moisturize the area. Moisturizing a scar will not remove the scar, but it may help to blend the scar tissue with the surrounding skin. Moisturizers will provide nutrition to the area and may reduce the appearance of scars.[8]
Removing the Blowout and the Tattoo
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1Try laser tattoo removal. Laser tattoo removal uses heat to break up the ink particles and remove the tattoo. This process sounds easy, but is actually quite expensive and takes a few rounds of treatment to complete.[9]
- Laser removal can cost anywhere from $75 to $300 per session, depending on the size of your tattoo.[10]
- Some tattoos can take 5 to 20 sessions to remove completely.
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2Remove a tattoo with dermabrasion or dermaplaning. Local anesthesia or a numbing spray will be used before these procedures. For dermabrasion, a doctor will “sand” the tattoo down to resurface the skin. It's not as effective as dermaplaning, in which a doctor will use a tool called a dermatome to “shave” the skin down until a new layer, with no tattoo, is reached. Most tattoos are quite deep and as a result these procedures often result in permanent scarring.[11]
- It will take a few weeks for the redness, swelling, and soreness to heal.
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3Consider surgical excision. Some small tattoos can be removed surgically by cutting out the tattoo and then sewing the skin back together. Larger tattoos may require a skin graft to replace the excised skin. This method is the most invasive and has minor side effects, including:[12]
- Infection
- Skin discoloration
- Incomplete removal of pigment
- Scarring
Preventing Tattoo Scarring and Blowouts
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1Use an experienced tattoo artist. The best way to prevent tattoo scarring and blowouts is by using an experienced tattoo artist. Make sure that you do your research before you get a tattoo. Search through the portfolio of potential tattoo artists, or ask a friend for a referral.[13]
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2Avoid getting a tattoo on extremely thin skin. Even experienced tattoo artists can cause blowouts when they are working on thin skin. If you are worried about tattoo blowout, do not get a tattoo on your ankle or chest. This skin is close to the bone and makes a blowout more likely.[14]
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3Do not stretch, pull, or twist skin after getting a tattoo. Blowouts can also be worsened, if you stretch, twist, or pull your skin immediately following a tattoo. For instance, you may unintentionally cause the ink to disperse into the wrong layers of skin. Do not make any sudden twists or pulls until the tattoo is completely healed.[15]
References
- ↑ https://authoritytattoo.com/tattoo-blowout/
- ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jo6QnuhF-n4
- ↑ http://www.inkedmag.com/how-to-coverup-a-tattoo-with-makeup/
- ↑ https://authoritytattoo.com/tattoo-blowout/
- ↑ https://www.aad.org/public/skin-hair-nails/injured-skin/wound-care
- ↑ https://nccih.nih.gov/health/aloevera
- ↑ http://scarsandspots.com/scar-treatment-aloe-vera/
- ↑ https://authoritytattoo.com/tattoo-scarring/
- ↑ http://www.businessinsider.com/how-does-laser-tattoo-removal-work-2015-6
- ↑ https://www.realself.com/question/how-much-does-tattoo-removal-cost
- ↑ https://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/healthlibrary/conditions/dermatology/dermabrasiondermaplaning_85,P01108
- ↑ https://www.asds.net/TattoosSurgicalExcision/
- ↑ http://www.slate.com/blogs/quora/2015/02/22/tattoos_how_to_tell_a_good_tattoo_artist_from_a_bad_one.html
- ↑ https://authoritytattoo.com/tattoo-blowout/
- ↑ https://authoritytattoo.com/tattoo-blowout/
About This Article
To get rid of tattoo scarring and blowouts, protect the damaged area of skin from direct sunlight by keeping it covered or by applying sunscreen. Keep the area moisturized with aloe vera to reduce inflammation and help the scar heal. To make it less noticeable, apply makeup that closely matches your skin color. If the scarring is still noticeable after you’ve given it time to heal, you can ask an experienced tattoo artist to add some detail or shading around the area to conceal it. For tips from our Medical co-author on how to prevent scarring and blowouts, keep reading!
