While skin-colored camouflage pigment becomes permanent once it’s implanted into the skin in the sense that it won’t wash off once the skin is healed, it does eventually fade over time due to the layers of the skin gradually growing out along with regular exposure to light – which degrades lighter colors more quickly than darker colors – and chemicals. If the skin camouflage is located on a part of the body that is typically protected from exposure to light and harsh chemicals, then the color has the potential to last many years.

Scar camouflage is a long-term solution for disguising or minimizing the appearance of a scar with a cosmetic tattoo using skin-colored pigment. If a scar is severely discolored and hypertrophic, it may first require skin needling sessions to relax the raised scar tissue in order for repigmentation to be effective.

For a long term solution, deep scars require the stimulation of collagen induced by skin needling sessions performed over a period of time. More impressive results will be seen for newer scars rather than those that have been in place for years, as well as for younger skin which generally has the capacity to heal and regenerate more quickly. Lifestyle factors and dedication to a proper home care regimen post treatment can also have a significant impact on results.

Tattooing skin color over a scar is most effective when the scar is flat and lighter in color, or at least not significantly darker, than the surrounding skin. If the scar isn’t dark but is raised or hypertrophic, the pigment color alone will do little to disguise the surface irregularities for the scar. If the scar is flat but hyperpigmented and significantly darker than the surrounding skin color, then the appropriate pigment color is unlikely to be able to fully block out the underlying hyperpigmentation.

Stretch marks where the laxity in the bands of connective tissue have become lighter in color can be concealed with a matching skin colored pigment with camouflage tattooing, but that may not address any textural irregularities in the skin that are characteristic of more severe stretch marks.

For skin color to match the rest of the skin, it works best if the matching color is tattooed over a hypopigmented (i.e., white) area so that there is no interference from any underlying color, whether it’s from hyperpigmentation or preexisting ink.

A tattoo is a carefully controlled wound that is created in the dermis and is expected to fully heal with only the intended deposit of color left in the skin. If performed properly and allowed to heal without adverse interference, the healed skin should be healthy as before. However if the tattooed area has been unnecessarily and repeated irritated either during the procedure or during the critical healing window immediately after the procedure, then the tattoo can also result in a scar.

The purpose of skin camouflage is meant to conceal any apparent irregularity in the skin such as a scar, a blemish, a birthmark like a port wine stain, or a skin condition. Skin camouflage can be conventional makeup such as removable concealer or skin colored pigments formulated for intradermal use that does not wash off.

A well-done tattoo can certainly be good for covering up a scar, particularly as it refocuses the attention onto something else entirely. A camouflage tattoo, on the other hand, can help disguise or at least soften the appearance of a scar. Nevertheless, it’s important to keep in mind the limitations of working on scars as scar tissue can have a more dense and uneven texture than normal skin, which affects how well the ink can be implanted into the scar.

If you are looking to cover up an old scar with a cosmetic tattoo, the goal is to find a pigment color that will blend the scar into the surrounding skin. If the scar is hypopigmented, then you want to a close a match as possible with the surrounding skin color. If the scar has healed permanently darker than your usual skin color, then you will want to find a lighter pigment color that can conceal the hyperpigmentation.