Question 1

Red Light Tattoo Removal

Accepted Answer

We have been seeing a lot of spas and tattoo removal clinics offering “Red Light” therapy to aid in the tattoo removal process. But does it really work well with laser treatment?

More About Red Light Removal

Question 2

Tattoo Removal Cream

Accepted Answer

For those who want to have a tattoo removed without spending a lot of money or going to a dermatology clinic, the prospect of an over-the-counter tattoo removal skincare cream can be very appealing. Unfortunately, at-home tattoo removal creams as a tattoo removal alternative are more hype than anything, and in certain cases, they can actually harm the skin with harsh chemicals.

The majority of tattoo removal creams ‘work’ by bleaching the skin. Not only do you have to apply the cream multiple times per day for up to a year, but they can also create permanent light spots on your skin and may even lead to cancer as some of them use the carcinogenic ingredient hydroquinone. The use of this ingredient is banned in some countries such as England, Japan, and France but can still legally be used in the United States.

These creams should definitely be avoided by those with darker skin and used with caution by everyone else. The most popular cream, Wrecking Balm, can be found at Walmart. Like all over-the-counter cosmetics, this and other creams are not allowed by the FDA to penetrate the surface of the skin so the chemicals cannot reach the ink without actually breaking the skin’s surface. This manner of exfoliation is neither safe nor effective.

Question 3

Salabrasion

Accepted Answer

The process of using a salt/saline treatment to remove tattoos can be a partially effective method, but it usually only results in lightening the tattoo, and complete tattoo removal results should not be expected.

The process involves puncturing the top layer of the skin and opening it up so that a salt paste can be applied or a saline solution can be ‘injected’ in the skin in a manner similar to tattooing. This causes the water in the cells under the pigment to rise and start blistering, forcing the ink in the dermal layer to come to the surface of the skin and form a scab. When the scab eventually heals and falls off, it takes some of the ink with it. After three or four procedures, the tattoo should begin to get lighter.

The first thing to keep in mind with this method is that it will never fully remove a tattoo. While it can make tattoo cover-ups more successful, it should never be viewed as an alternative to laser tattoo removal.

The second consideration is that opening up the skin and injecting a caustic solution is much more aggressive and invasive than using lasers. This means there are higher chances for side effects, and healing can be prolonged.

Question 4

Chemical Peels

Accepted Answer

Chemical peels can be performed with a variety of different acid solutions and are very successful in treating fine lines, wrinkles, and dull skin. However, using these peels to remove tattoos is less effective because the solutions cannot reach the deeper layers of skin where the ink resides.

If the chemical could reach these deeper layers of the dermis, the results would come with a significant amount of damage to the tissue. This doesn’t stop many people from trying them, though, and many aesthetic centers offer this method as a treatment option for their patients. Chemical peels used to target tattoos are usually made of glycolic acid mixtures that contain AHAs such as malic and glycolic acid, phenol, or TCA.

The glycolic mixture is most commonly used to remove eyebrow tattoos. When applied to the eyebrow area, it causes the skin to become inflamed and forces out some of the ink particles. Because all of the pigments do not come out at once (and some do not at all), this procedure has to be repeated until sufficient amounts of the ink are gone. This solution can cause irritation, pain, and even scarring, and there’s no guarantee that all of the ink will be removed.

Trichloracetic acid, or TCA, is another substance used to remove tattoos in the same manner as the glycolic mixture described above. This is a slightly less caustic type of acid, but it still carries possible side effects. Phenol, on the other hand, is a much stronger product and can be more effective in lightening tattoos. However, it comes at a cost. There is more risk of scarring and loss of pigmentation with phenol acid, and the aftercare of the area treated with phenol is more complex and drawn out.

With all methods of acid treatment, the area must be kept clean and dry until the scab falls off on its own. This can take weeks and be cumbersome and inconvenient for the client.

Question 5

Picosecond Laser Pen

Accepted Answer

At Home Laser Tattoo Removal Method

It would sure be nice if you could have all the effectiveness of professional laser technology in your own home – and at the tempting cost of around $200. However, the laser tattoo removal pens that are on the market definitely fall into that ‘too good to be true’ category.

Those that are sold on the internet simply do not have the energy to safely and effectively remove a tattoo without causing skin fatigue. This means that you may see some very limited results after two or three sessions, but the laser will never be able to reach deeper ink particles, and the best you’ll get is a slightly lighter tattoo and very fatigued skin.

In addition, putting the power of a laser (even a weak one like this) in the hands of someone who is not trained to use it could lead to skin damage.

Question 6

Dermabrasion

Accepted Answer

Dermabrasion works by mechanically removing the first layers of skin and ink pigment to stimulate cell turnover. The concept is used in aesthetics to help promote cell turnover on the hands, neck, chest, and face to reduce wrinkles. The use of this method for tattoo removal can often include the use of chemicals, salt, or even lemon!

Dermabrasion is a challenging method of tattoo removal and not recommended for tattoos on the hands, neck, or face. Folks find this method to be painful and healing to be time-consuming. Open wounds require special consideration when healing dermabrasion.

Question 7

Tattoo Excision

Accepted Answer

Likely one of the oldest methods of tattoo removal, tattoo excision involves cutting out the area of skin where the tattoo pigment resides and stitching it back up. Sound like a painful process? It is, and it will certainly leave a scar.

Even if you’re okay with the pain and scarring, excision can only be used on the smallest of tattoos, and there is still some risk of skin discoloration, infection, and a raised or thickened scar that will likely be more unattractive than the tattoo was in the first place. This should be used only in the most extreme of circumstances as a last resort option for very small tattoos or portions of tattoos.

What is Tattoo Excision?

Question 8

IPL (Intense Pulsed Light)

Accepted Answer

intense pulsed light tattoo removal infographic

The IPL was used before Q-switched lasers came on the market and are still used from time to time. The pulse duration or time the light energy is on the skin with an IPL effectively removes ink. However, one of the major concerns when using an IPL machine is that the pulse is too long and damages the surrounding tissue. The risk of hyperpigmentation problems is higher than with laser, especially for darker skin types.

Tattoo Removal Methods

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If you have a tattoo that you want to remove, you’re likely looking into every tattoo removal method available. As tattoo removal experts, we’ve also looked into methods other than laser treatment so that we can provide our clients with the best possible advice.

The Truth About Tattoo Removal

Other Removal Methods

Laser Tattoo Removal is a Great Option for a Variety of Needs.

Below are just a few other ways our laser tattoo removal professionals can help you achieve your removal goals.

Laser Tattoo Removal

Tattoo Cover Ups

Eyebrow and Cosmetic Removal

Free Removal of Radiation Tattoo

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