Whether you're a novice tattoo artist or just worried about getting your first tattoo, you're probably wondering about ink. Will it go bad? Should you ask for brand new ink? What is the industry standard for tattoo ink? This guide explains it all, including when tattoo ink expires and why it's important to never let expired tattoo ink touch your skin!

Does ink expire? Yes, for both meanings of the question.

The ink in your body doesn't technically "expire," but it fades with UV exposure and the natural aging process. If that's the kind of expiration you're worried about, the solution is simple: Get a tattoo artist to touch it up.

Another implication of this question (is the tattoo ink in the bottle used by the tattoo artist expired). The simple answer is yes, tattoo ink does expire. But when and how depends on many factors. All tattoo inks have an expiration date. After that date, no tattoo artist should use tattoo ink.

But like milk in the fridge, it will definitely be gone before its expiration date!

Improper storage

Really old tattoo ink

Bacterial contamination

1. Exceed the validity period set by the manufacturer

2. The liquid has split, the liquid and the solid are separated

3. The liquid has evaporated, so it becomes thicker or firmer

4. It is not stored properly

5. There is a potential moment, it may be contaminated

If the ink is at risk of contamination, the tattoo artist should throw it away.

When tattoo ink expires, whether it's contaminated, cracked, or just expired, it can have serious consequences when it gets into your skin.

One of the secondary side effects of using old ink is that you get dull results. Fresh ink offers vibrant colors and tones that really stand out. But old, expired ink can produce dull tattoos.

Also, as the liquid starts to evaporate from the ink, the texture of the ink changes. Tattoo artists who distill their ink with more water or alcohol not only increase the risk of contamination but also dilute the ink. The ink that is too thin won't absorb well to your skin, resulting in a poor design.

This is the most obvious! Bacterial-contaminated ink can cause a bacterial infection on the skin where the tattoo is located.

Signs of bacterial infection include excessive redness, swelling, pus, and lumps. You may also have chills or a fever. Tattoos are naturally sore, like a sunburn, and scab over as they heal. However, if you notice any other symptoms, you may have an infection that needs treatment. A course of antibiotics should clear it up.

Although unlikely, it is not unlikely that heavily contaminated tattoo ink could give you non-tuberculous mycobacteria, hepatitis, and tetanus.

Bacteria that contaminate ink don't just cause serious infections. By disrupting the healing process, bacteria can distort the ink and even cause permanent scarring.

This is by far the worst side effect of using expired ink, which is why tattoo artists shouldn't risk using old ink. Permanent scars are serious. Imagine if you had a full back tattoo and the area got infected. The scars it may leave behind will be hard to hide!

The above briefly introduces the hazards of expired tattoo ink. If you want to buy new tattoo ink, please contact us. We can provide high-quality tattoo ink.

Charming Tattoo is a top custom PMU and microblading ink manufacturer. We have professional production equipment and a 100,000-level dust-free workshop in line with ISO9001 standards. We provide professional product, packaging, and post-design, as well as professional pigment knowledge support. In order to achieve a win-win situation, our company has formulated a policy to protect customer privacy.