One of the questions that many people ask themselves concerns the durability of the tattoos we have on our bodies. How is it possible that a tattoo lasts so long that it becomes practically indelible unless removed with a special laser?
Let’s try to answer this question together, so as to clarify this point which, as you can see, is one of the most common curiosities people have.
Why do tattoos last over time?
We all know that the cells in our bodies do not live forever, which is why this question naturally arises. Numerous studies have attempted to explain this phenomenon. Over the course of our lives, we lose a significant amount of skin, approximately 20 kg to be precise! So how is it possible that tattoos remain indelible over time and are practically permanent?
A specific study published in the Journal of Experimental Medicine tells us. It has been established that tattoos remain on the skin despite everything thanks to a sort of cellular relay. Those that die pass everything on to the cells that replace them.
To tell the truth, until a few years ago, it was believed that the ink used for tattoos stained the fibroblasts, i.e., the cells that form the layer of skin under the epidermis. Today, however, thanks to the above-mentioned study, the scenario has changed, because it has been understood that it is immune cells, also known as macrophages, that allow the tattoo to remain in place until the end of our days.
What exactly happens to our tattoos over time?
When you get a tattoo, these cells rush to the site of the needle wound and capture the color pigments. After all, this is their job: to remove foreign bodies. Put like that, you might think that these cells live forever, thus preserving the tattoo. In fact, recent studies on mice have shown that this is not true. Macrophages die, but the tattoo remains imprinted on our skin. This is because, as mentioned above, there is a sort of relay between the cells that are about to die and those that replace them. In short, a process of capture, release, and recapture of the ink comes into play, allowing the tattoo to always look the same even if the macrophages that first took in the ink die.
In light of this, it is easy to explain why our tattoos are practically indelible and can only be removed by a specific laser capable of eliminating all traces of ink. This is all very interesting, especially because it refutes some of the ideas that were held in the past and, to tell the truth, until just a few years ago!
Link to image: https://ask.metafilter.com/80398/Help-me-find-this-old-Kewpie-tattoo
