Want To Get Rid Of That Awful Tattoo? | Skin & Hair problems articles | Body & Health Conditions center

Tattoos can be wonderful works of art you'll be happy to have for the rest of your life. They can be something you're not ecstatic about but don't hate either if you're a bit less lucky, or they can be... the result of a drunken night in Thailand, something your Aspiring-tattooist friend scratched into your skin, the name of an ex, the symbol of something you don't want to be associated with anymore, or just something extremely ugly.

A tattoo can, in short, be something you're really, really desperate to get rid of. What are your options?

DIY Tattoo Removal

I've got tattoos. Plenty, actually. I have tattoos I'm really happy with and tattoos I don't mind. I've also had a tattoo of the kind this article discusses. You know, the kind of tattoo that's so bad I don't even want to talk about it — the kind that caused me to wear too many clothes in summer, stopped me from going to the swimming pool, and made me think buying those tattoo removal creams from television sales programs was a good idea. Yes, we're talking about the kind of tattoo someone might be tempted to try to remove by themselves. Believe me, I understand people who are considering DIY tattoo removal.

People try to get rid of tattoos in all kinds of ways. I've heard of people pouring acid on their skin in the hope that their tattoo will be a thing of the past, trying to cut the tattoo out with a knife, burning the skin and then rubbing salt in the wound to remove the ink, and using sanding machines.

For educational purposes, I'll share that I cut into my Nightmare Tattoo and played around with salt. I did boil the knife to try to disinfect it first. If you really want to know, I will even share that the tattoo did fade a little, though not to the point that you couldn't see it. I was young and stupid, but immensely lucky to have escaped an infection.

Anyone who ever gets tattooed has to accept the fact that that bit of skin will never look the same again. Some so-called tattoo removal methods simply don't work, while others that may achieve much better results could simply be out of your price range. Still, responsible people who care about their health should never resort to DIY tattoo removal methods that could land them in serious trouble. Almost no tattoo is so bad that you'd rather end up with gangrene, requiring amputation. In short, don't do this.

Tattoo Removal Creams

Are you wisely reluctant to sand your own skin, but still hoping to attempt tattoo removal in the (dis)comfort of your own home? Tattoo removal creams probably speak to you. These creams aren't FDA-approved, but their mechanisms of action sound vaguely scientifically plausible. Tattoo removal creams contain such ingredients as Alpha Arbutin, Hydroquinone, Kojic Acid, and TCA.

Will these creams remove your tattoo completely, leaving smooth "virgin skin"? Absolutely not.

You're rubbing these, usually very expensive, creams onto the epidermis. That's the outer layer of your skin. Your tattoo is buried within the deeper-lying dermis, out of the reach of most creams. If you are lucky, the cream will reach the dermis and your tattoo will fade somewhat. Your skin may also become immensely irritated, causing scarring or a burnt look that may make other tattoo removal methods less effective.

Tattoo Removal: Your Best Options

Laser Tattoo Removal

More modern laser tattoo removal techniques can be extremely effective, eliminating your unwanted tattoo almost completely or completely without leaving scarring or other unwanted skin marks. Using a high-intensity light beam, lasers break up the pigments in your tattoo. Black ink is easier to remove than colored pigments, which only respond to certain types of lasers.

Scarring as the result of attempted DIY tattoo removal or the use of tattoo removal creams can make laser treatment less effective. People hoping to undergo laser tattoo removal will want to look for a very reputable clinic — either a dermatology clinic or a cosmetic surgery center.

Some people will find their tattoo has faded or disappeared within four treatments, while others will need 10 or more sessions to achieve the results they are looking for.

You're probably curious what the downsides to laser tattoo removal are. Some people are worried that the sessions will be painful. If you have been tattooed, you can probably also handle the pain of laser treatment without any type of anesthesia. You'll want to consider the risks of infection and hypo-pigmentation, in which the treated area of skin actually becomes lighter than the surrounding skin, before going ahead. The main downside is, for many, the cost. While prices vary greatly depending on the clinic and where you live, those living in the United States can count on an average cost of $100 per laser session. Don't expect your insurance policy to cover the treatment, which is considered a cosmetic procedure.

Surgical Excision

Surgical excision, in which the tattoo is surgical removed and the remaining skin stitched up, can be a good option for small tattoos. Larger tattoos are also occasionally removed surgically, though skin grafts from other areas of the body will be needed in that case. Larger tattoos may need to be removed over several sessions, allowing the skin time to heal before moving on to the next stage.

The advantages of surgical tattoo excision are that the tattoo can be gone right away, and that the technique can still be applied to scarred skin. Since we're talking about surgery, there is always a risk of infection.

Dermabrasion

Dermabrasion tattoo removal is the professional equivalent of using a sander on your tattooed skin. The epidermis and part of the dermis are scraped away to remove the tattoo's pigment. In the aftermath, a new layer of skin will form in the affected area. Dermabrasion is a more painful procedure that can take weeks to heal. In the meantime, the skin will be sore, inflamed, and red. Permanent scarring can occur, but the tattoo will probably be gone. The new skin layer will always be at risk of sunburn as well.

Cover-Ups

Are you curious what I did what that nasty tattoo I was desperate to live without? Like many — but certainly not all — people who want to remove a tattoo, I really do like tattoos. I just hated that particular one. After considering all my options, I decided to choose the cheapest option that was also most likely to give me what I wanted, which was for the tattoo in question to be gone forever. I looked around for reputable tattoo artists who were skilled at doing cover-ups, and ended up with a brand new tattoo I love. All evidence of the old tattoo is gone.

Cover-ups are a viable option for many people who like tattoos but hate one or more of their own tattoos. They work particularly well with smaller tattoos, but can also play out beautifully on larger pieces of skin.