What happens to the tattoo ink after it has been processed by the body?

When tattoo ink is introduced into the skin, it becomes lodged within the dermis, the second layer of skin, where it is intended to remain permanently. However, the body's immune system identifies these ink particles as foreign substances and responds by attempting to remove them. Macrophages, a type of white blood cell, engulf and transport these ink particles to lymph nodes, where some of the ink can be broken down and processed.

Over time, the body gradually eliminates some of the tattoo ink through these natural expulsion processes. This is why tattoos can fade over time, as the ink is indeed being removed in part, leading to the eventual fading of the design. Therefore, the concept that the ink is eliminated aligns with the body’s response to foreign substances and its capacity to break down and remove them through the lymphatic system.

Attributes of permanence associated with tattoo ink should be understood within this context of natural elimination, leading to potential changes in the appearance of the tattoo over time as some ink is lost.