The Wet Healing Method Your tattoo will begin to drip fluids at this time, which is a typical part of the healing process. This sob contains plasma, blood, and lymph fluid. As the cells inside these fluids begin to die and disintegrate, they generate terrible scents. The Dying Process As your skin sloughs off of its outer layer, it will turn black. This is called "Darkening of the Skin." Darker colors mean that more pigment has been absorbed by the skin. Even after your skin has healed from the tattooing process, it will still darken over time. This is because new skin is being created underneath - even after you wash your body regularly, there will be traces of ink on your skin. The Stinking Ink The chemicals in some dyes can break down skin tissue, causing pain, infection, and inflammation. If you have a tattoo that uses acid dyes, then you should know that they can be hard to remove. Acid dyes contain the chemical paraphenylenediamine (PPD). This dye is also used in permanent hair color products so if you have dark hair then you are already exposed to PPD. In addition, needles used for tattooing can also be used for piercing ears or nose holes, which means that they're not exclusive for artists' tools.