Why is My Tattoo Raised? [2021 Information Guide]

The Body’s Response to Tattoo

When applying a tattoo, the process outlined above takes place 3,000 time per minute, allowing the artist to create the dramatic images and fine script that will complete a piece. The repeated trauma also puts the body’s immune system into overdrive. It’s not the individual punctures that cause this reaction, instead it is the consistent irritation that puts the body into protective action.

The body releases special cells called macrophages to clean up the site of foreign body’s and shut down whatever is causing the irritation. Macrophages are the body’s anti-inflammatory response and they basically consume any intruding particles, in this case ink. Once each microphage has devoured its share of ink and can no longer continue, they become entangled in a gel-like matrix within the skin. Also involved in the process are specific skin cells called fibroblasts that work to consume intruding particulate and then become stuck in this same matrix.

These two cell types, once entangled in this gel-like matrix in the dermis, are unable to transport their loads to be absorbed by the body and remain trapped beneath the skin for the remainder of the wearer’s life. It is these humble cells that are the true reason why tattoos are permanent.

The Resulting Mess

For the first couple days following the session, a tattoo is essentially a large open sore. As with any wound, the body continues the work to repair itself. One noticeable effect of this trauma comes in the form of a gooey substance leaking from the affected area. Don’t worry, this is normal. Basically, the body is flooding cells to the area in a (hopefully) futile attempt to push out the invading ink, and the leaky goo is blood plasma. This is the body trying to seal the wound and create a massive scab to prevent further infection.