A colorful tattoo is a creative way to cover up a scar. Some tattoo artists and customers are so pleased with scar coverage results that they share before and after images of their tattoo cover up transformations.
For those with chronic acne, it’s a relief when breakouts finally clear up. But acne is one of those skin conditions that leave scars behind. Back scar tattoos are one way to conceal the remnants of acne.
Similar to stretch mark coverage, tattoos to hide scars from acne are about drawing attention away from scar patterns. As with all other scars, the skin affected by the acne needs should first be completely healed. Otherwise, the bacteria present with acne breakouts makes the skin susceptible to infection.
Surgical scarring (especially with a mastectomy) is a prime opportunity for tattoo coverage, but just like other scars, the success of tattoos to cover surgery scars depends on if the area has healed completely.
Future body changes are another consideration for tattoos to cover surgery scars. Do you expect dramatic weight fluctuations after your tummy tuck? Would someone with a c-section scar have more children? Stomach skin stretching from weight change or pregnancy can distort the design of a tattoo.
Those whose scars are the result of trauma might work best with a tattoo professional who will be understanding and considerate of their medical background. Likewise, if you’ve undergone cancer treatment and have a radiation tattoo you’re ready to remove, find a tattoo removal service like Removery that offers free radiation tattoo removal for cancer survivors.
You may not think of stretch marks as being scars, but they are. Stretch mark patterns tend to resemble animal prints. Some refer to them as “tiger stripes.” To conceal stretch marks, it’s best to work with the depth and breadth of the patterns rather than against them.
As you would with other scars, stretch marks need time to heal. If stretch marks have not yet healed, reopening the wounds will reset the healing process causing the appearance of the tattoo to change unpredictably. Also, it takes time for stretch marks to form a set pattern. For these reasons, old stretch marks are the safest to tattoo over.
Normal scars are from injuries that needed simple stitching ,are relatively shallow, and can have minimal to no raised scar tissue.
These scars are straightforward to tattoo over, especially when they are linear. Scars shaped like a line can easily frame a feather, garland of flowers, tree branch, barbed wire, etc
You didn’t choose to be in the circumstances that led to the scars you bear, and a tattoo is a way to take back your power. With the help of a talented tattoo artist, feeling out the design of tattoos to cover scars is the opportunity to reimagine what your body looks like.
If you’re considering getting tattoos to cover scars, there are several things to consider before getting it done: timing, how it all works, if it makes the injury worse, and more
It does take some time before a wound has healed enough to be ready for a tattoo cover up. According to Healthline, “If you want to cover a newly formed keloid scar, wait at least a year until it’s completely healed. For deeper or larger scars, you might have to wait much longer for than that, like 3 or 5 years. Tattooing a keloid scar that’s completely healed reduces the risk of worsening the scar.”
Once you’ve given it enough time to heal, the time is right for a consultation with an experienced tattoo artist. They should give you a realistic picture of what to expect with tattoos to cover scars for your situation.
Tattooing a scar that hasn’t fully healed is likely to be more uncomfortable than your typical tattoo. Skin that has remaining inflammation or irritation from an injury isn’t ready for a tattoo applied to this area. If wounds reopen during the tattoo process, rehealing from this might distort the appearance of the tattoo design.
The longer you wait to get tattoos to cover scars, the better. How your skin will respond to being tattooed becomes predictable and manageable if the area has fully healed and the scar is set.
Connect with us to start your tattoo removal journey
