Overview
Though the life circumstances that led you to get a tattoo may have faded away, the tattoo isn’t going anywhere—at least, not by itself. You’ll need to find someone with the proper skills and equipment to erase it. Some tattoo parlors are investing in removal equipment, but the Food and Drug Administration strongly suggests you see a dermatologist instead.
Laser
The most common method of tattoo removal involves using a laser to break down the ink pigments so they can be absorbed by the body. Laser tattoo removal usually requires several visits, particularly if you’re trying to get rid of a multicolored tattoo. That’s because different pigments respond to different wavelengths of light, which means you need treatment with different lasers. According to the American Academy of Dermatology, black pigments, which absorb all wavelengths of light, are the easiest to remove, followed by blue. Yellow and green are the toughest to get rid of. Amateur or homemade tattoos, which are closer to the skin surface, are easier to remove than professionally applied tattoos.
Innovation
According to The New York Times, scientists at Brown and Duke universities have developed a special tattoo ink—dubbed Freedom2—that breaks up in one session under a laser.
Advice
In an interview with USA Today, Steve Huntsberry, who both applies and removes tattoos at a shop in Charlotte, North Carolina, advised people to use the same care in picking a laser operator as they would a tattoo artist. Ask the operator about her experience: How long has she been doing this? How many tattoos has she removed? Also ask to see a portfolio of before-and-after images.
Alternatives
Before lasers came into use for tattoo removal in the mid-1980s, dermatologists used surgery, abrasion and chemical peels to eliminate tattoos. These methods are still available, though they are much less common than lasers. In a surgical excision, a doctor simply cuts away the tattooed skin. If the tattoo is small, the cut can be sewn up. Larger excisions require a skin graft. Needless to say, this method can produce considerable scarring. In abrasive tattoo removal, layers of skin are literally scrubbed away with a rotating brush or a caustic salt solution. Chemical peels involve applying acid to burn away the skin one layer at a time. The FDA advises against using at-home chemical peel kits.
Considerations
The FDA, which regulates the cosmetic pigments used in tattooing as well as lasers for removal, advises that getting a tattoo removed will be time-consuming—and probably painful. It’ll also be expensive and won’t be covered by insurance, says USA Today. On top of it all, depending on the age of the tattoo and how deeply it has set into the tissues, the removal process might not even work. The American Academy of Dermatology notes that, regardless of method, tattoo removal almost always leaves a scar of some kind and at least some pigment is frequently left behind.
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