Can you cover a tattoo with another tattoo?

In the majority of cases, a new tattoo can be used to cover up an existing tattoo. Carefully plan the design, size and coloring of the tattoo to ensure the original tattoo is fully covered.

Tattoo ink is placed in a layer of the skin called the dermis, which is about 1 millimeter from the surface of the human skin. The ink from the new tattoo will not cover up the existing ink but will instead blend with it. Darker colors camouflage an old tattoo well, but clever and careful designs work just as well without large areas of black. A talented artist can use elements of an existing tattoo in the design of the new one to keep the coverage complete but discrete.