Tattoo blowout is a common occurrence that happens when ink spreads out in the fat layer beneath the skin surface or due to scarring. It is typically caused when a tattoo artist presses too aggressively into the skin, deposits ink at the wrong angle, or overworks the skin, which occurs more often with a less-experienced tattoo artist but can happen with any artist. Other common causes for tattoo blowout include fidgeting or moving around while being tattooed, rushing the tattoo process, or being careless or distracted. Tattoo blowouts cause the lines in a tattoo to blur, and the ink used to create the lines usually moves well outside the edges of the tattoo, giving it a smudged appearance. Tattoo blowouts can’t necessarily be prevented, but there are steps you can take to minimize your risks, such as picking the right tattoo artist for your design, taking your time as you get tattooed, and ensuring you are properly taking care of your skin as it heals. If blowout does happen, then you may need to consider more tattooing or perhaps lasering to reduce the appearance of the blowout.