Tattoo Removal
No, tattoo removal creams don’t work—and they can cause serious damage to your skin.
These creams claim to fade tattoos, but they can’t reach the layer of skin where ink actually sits. Many also contain harsh acids or allergens that can cause rashes, chemical burns, permanent scarring, or skin lightening.
In this article, we’ll break down what tattoo removal creams are, what ingredients they use, what risks they pose, and why laser tattoo removal is the safest and most effective option to remove your tattoo..
It’s impossible for any topical cream to reach deep enough to extract ink from the dermis. Despite this, many people still try these products hoping for a quick fix.
Tattoo removal creams contain all kinds of chemicals like topical acids that could eat away your skin’s epidermis. The FDA has sent warning letters to companies involved with products that burn the skin with acids.
It is impossible for any tattoo removal creams to penetrate through all the layers of the skin and actually remove a tattoo, but that doesn’t stop people from buying these products in a misguided attempt to remove their tattoos. We break down some of the ingredients most commonly found in creams to remove tattoos.
Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice, Anthemis Nobilis Flower Extract, Butyrospermum Parkii(Shea Butter), Ceteareth-20, Cetearyl Alcohol, Citrus Medica Limonum(Lemon) Peel Oil, Dihydroxyacetone, Dimethicone, DMDM Hydantoin, Epilobium Angustifolium Extract, Eugenica Caryophyllus(Clove) Flower Oil, Glycerin, Glyceryl Stearate SE, Glycine Soja(Soybean) Oil, Iron Oxides, Isopropyl Myristate, Juglans Regia(Walnut) Shell Powder, Lavandula Angustifolia(Lavender) Oil, Melaleuca Alternifolia(Tea Tree) Leaf Oil, Methylparaben, Mineral Oil, Petrolatum, Phyllanthus Emblica Fruit (Indian Gooseberry) Extract, Polysorbate20, Propylene Glycol, Propylparaben Rosemarinus Officinalis(Rosemary) Leaf Oil, Salicylic Acid, SD Alcohol 40-B, Silica, Talc, Theobroma Cacao (Cocoa) Seed Butter, Titanium Dioxide, Tocopheryl Acetate, Water
You may be wondering about all the plant ingredients on this list–it’s an interesting trick. With so many plant allergens in the mix (as well as formaldehyde-releasing preservatives), there is a high likelihood that a user of the product will develop a contact dermatitis reaction (a form of allergy to topical materials, similar to the reaction to poison ivy).
This inflammatory reaction predictably causes textural changes of the skin which creates the illusion that the tattoo is fading. There is no evidence that tattoo removal creams actually remove tattoos, and we have yet to see a case where the tattoo removal balm was successful.
Due to allergens and caustic ingredients, tattoo removal creams can cause:
The risk is especially high for people with more melanin in their skin (Fitzpatrick skin types 4–6). Ingredients like trichloroacetic acid, found in many creams, can cause permanent scarring or discoloration.
Tattoo removal creams aren’t the only risky method. Alternatives like dermabrasion, salabrasion, surgical excision, and trichloroacetic acid (TCA) all come with their own dangers.
Dermabrasion is typically performed by a doctor and uses a circle-shaped medical grinding tool that resembles a rotary sander. The tool is an abrasive brush that is used to scrape or sand off tattooed skin.
This procedure usually uses ice to numb the area or local anesthetic. The cost depends on the size of a tattoo and this method can often lead to scarring. With sanding the skin down to remove a tattoo, a lot of scar tissue can develop, hypopigmentation can occur, and in some cases, the treated area could become infected.
Tattoo ink is placed within the dermis and this tool should only remove the epidermis or it risks going too deep which is ineffective in removing the ink. It’s neither the safest nor most effective method of removal and on average costs around $1,700 according to the American Society of Plastic Surgeons.
Salabrasion is an at-home remedy that works by rubbing salt and water into your skin to remove the epidermis. It’s the equivalent to the internet trend, the salt and ice challenge–but even more severe. The process continues until the skin is raw and the healing occurs over several weeks.
This process takes multiple painful attempts to even remotely fade the tattoo and the likelihood of receiving a scar from the process is high. The skin will become a tough leather texture and develop a lot of scar tissue.
As demonstrated by the photos, the skin’s texture has changed and there is remaining ink. This person could choose to do multiple salabrasion sessions, but it will only develop more scar tissue without the guarantee the ink will be removed.
This method must be done by a doctor. The doctor will numb the surrounding area with a local anesthetic and use a scalpel to cut the tattoo out of the skin. Sutures are used to stitch the skin back together. It’s quick and effective because it takes only one session, but it can leave a visible scar and will likely not work well on larger tattoos.
The cost depends on the size and location of the tattoo and skin grafting may be necessary depending on the size of the tattoo. On average the cost of excising a small tattoo is between $150 and $350.
Chemicals like trichloroacetic acid are approved for in-office use by medical professionals and are regulated by the FDA. However, their use in tattoo fading creams is not. This method is dangerous to use at home without experienced supervision.
Tattoo removal creams often have trichloroacetic acid within their ingredients which makes using those at-home remedies very dangerous for inexperienced people to use. On average tattoo removal creams cost around $50 over the counter per bottle.
No, tattoo removal creams cannot effectively penetrate the dermis where tattoo ink resides in the skin. Tattoo removal cream ingredients often contain harsh acids or bleaching chemicals that can have negative side effects like permanent scarring, chemical burns, or skin discoloration.
Here are some examples of people who took their chances with tattoo removal creams.
Unfortunately, tattoo removal creams do not work to remove tattoos. Laser technology is the safest and most effective method of tattoo removal, specifically at Removery. We would be more than happy to actually help you remove that tattoo.
Ready to start your tattoo removal journey? Book a free consultation today with a removal expert.
Curious about the cost of removal? Check out our tattoo removal cost page to learn more. But how does tattoo removal work? Learn more about the process at the link and follow us on Instagram @Removery.
We’re on a mission to give you the most straightforward, easy and efficient laser tattoo removal experience. Your estimate will be entirely bespoke to your tattoo; the size, the colours, the ink. It won’t take long and afterwards you’ll have a plan to finally get rid of your unwanted tattoo and get back to being you.
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