Dermis

Category: science

The middle layer of the skin, where the tattoo ink is permanently deposited.

The dermis is the "sweet spot." It is deeper than the outer epidermis (which flakes off) and contains the stable skin cells that hold the ink for a lifetime. If ink is placed in the epidermis, it fades quickly; if it is placed too deep, it causes a blowout.

Common Examples

• A professional tattooist uses consistent depth control to ensure the ink is locked securely into the stable dermis layer.
• Understanding the biology of the dermis is why tattoo needles are calibrated to reach a depth of roughly one to two millimeters.