Tattoo Removal »

Home tattoo removal methods are as diverse as they come – we’ve seen it all.

Creams that ‘swear’ they work for everyone – and it’s not the ‘everyone’ that is the problem here. The lack of detail in the effectiveness of the cream for various types of tattoos makes the difference.

The decline in popularity of tattoos has been mainly because of two key reasons:

1. Prohibition of tattoos in almost all workplaces and by nearly all employers.

2. Permanent Tattoos can only be removed using surgical procedures.

This also spawns a large market for tattoo removal creams and kits which have been rising exponentially. So far has this gone that is no longer possible to distinguish between functional products and brands and scams.

What a tattoo is:

A Tattoo that has been created using a needle or a gun is not on the skin – the ink is below the dermis as well as the epidermis. Quite obviously, the ink cannot be scrubbed off. The conventional method is to use lasers and surgical excision to entirely erase the tattoos but they leave the area open and vulnerable to infection and scarring. The colour and the type of ink also makes a difference – Black is surprisingly easy to remove but red, yellow and green are more troublesome even using laser removal technique. The size and the duration of the existence of the tattoo are also important factors which contribute to the cost and ease (or difficulty) of removal of tattoos.

A review of home tattoo removal systems:

WreckingBalm is one such product which uses a cream as well as a dermabrasion tool to lighten the tattoo erasing it completely in a period of 4-6 months. This works on the basis of skin regeneration and its nature to discard old skin cells regularly. This is possibly the only system which uses both a chemical peel and a dermabrasion appliance. The customer satisfaction speaks for itself and it is fairly priced at $149 which is pretty reasonable when you consider laser and surgical alternatives.

Another popular Tattoo removal system that has been around for some time now is the Tat B Gone. This is a three step solution:

1. A fluid is applied to the skin to ease and enhance the effectiveness of the solutions to follow.

2. An Activation solution which chemically breaks down tattoo ink is then used.

3. Finally, a removal cream initiates the fading action.

At $67.50 for the trial kit, the system can fade a tattoo in approximately 6 months considering the age, size and depth/colour of the ink used.

Then, there is perfect peel solutions which are basically a chemical peel to revitalize the skin and remove freckles and birthmarks, listed by price and manufacturer. It is equally effective on tattoos. TCA based chemical peels use agents that cause the skin to shed layers in stages. The process is simple, if a little alarming. The solution, when applied causes a slight burning or tingling sensation as the chemicals cause the skin to peel off. These can work in as little as a month. A consultation with a physician or a dermatologist is essential since different people react differently to chemicals.