Can Older People Get Tattoos?
The simple answer is, yes, of course they can!
But I want to be clear: I’m not encouraging young people to wait until they are older before getting a tattoo. Nor am I saying that body art is right for everyone.
Rather, I am sharing some good reasons why people who want tattoos should get them, regardless of their age.
“I always wanted a tattoo, but I never got one. I guess it’s too late now…”
Is this you? It shouldn’t be. Even though society places stereotypes on tattoos, in truth, they are body art. As such, they are a thing of beauty and meaning—no matter the age of the wearer.
Do Tattoos Look Good on Older People?
Tattoos can look fabulous on older people! Just think about the incomparable Dame Judi Dench, who got her first-ever tattoo at the age of 81 (it was a birthday present from her daughter).
Or look at Charlotte Guttenberg, who in 2017 entered the Guinness Book of World Records as the most tattooed female senior citizen. She was 67 at the time.
Judi Dench and Charlotte Guttenberg aren’t alone. Older adults are increasingly choosing to get inked. In the United States, 13% of baby boomers have at least one tattoo.
How Our Skin Changes as We Age
While tattoos can definitely look amazing at any age, it’s important to take into account some of the ways in which our skin changes as we get older.
The top layer of our skin, the epidermis, thins and loses elasticity as we age, causing it to wrinkle or sag. Areas of thinner skin, such as the neck and hands, are less elastic—so tattoos in these areas may appear more distorted over time.
Areas of skin that are more elastic, on the other hand, such as the upper arms or thighs, may be better choices for tattoos because they will be less prone to age-related distortion.
That said, genetics and self-care play a huge part in how your skin ages. Some people are naturally more prone to wrinkles and sagging skin, whereas other people seem to be blessed with younger-looking skin. How you take care of your skin can make a big difference, as well.
Areas to Potentially Avoid
As we age, these areas tend to have thinner, less elastic skin that is more prone to wrinkles and sagging:
Neck
Hands
Better Choices
These areas tend to have more elastic skin and/or more “cushion” (fat or muscle) so they may be better choices for body art:
Upper arms
Thighs
Calf muscle