Ink is deposited into which layer of the skin to ensure pigment retention, and why?

• A. Epidermis
• B. Dermis
• C. Subcutaneous tissue
• D. Hypodermis

Answer: (B)

Ink needs to be deposited in the dermis because this middle layer is stable and contains a dense connective-tissue matrix that can trap pigment. The epidermis on the surface is constantly shed and renewed, so any pigment deposited there would gradually fade as skin cells turnover. The dermis, with its collagen network and resident cells, anchors ink particles and holds them in place for long-lasting coloration. Depositing ink deeper, in the subcutaneous tissue or hypodermis, risks unpredictable spread and fading, since those fatty deeper layers don’t provide the same stable anchoring and can allow ink to migrate with movement or over time.