The type, size and color of a tattoo will determine what method is best for removal. Some tattoos are harder to remove than others because of the colors used and the size of the area that needs treatment. Removal is a process that eliminates the tattoo over time with multiple treatments. It can take anywhere from two months up to a year to complete the process. The types of tattoo removal include laser, excision, dermabrasion and cream tattoo removal.
Laser
Laser is one of the most common types of tattoo removal, according to the Mayo Clinic. Laser tattoo removal is neither painless nor cheap. The different types of laser removal available are intense pulsed light therapy (IPL), Q-Switched Ruby Laser (for green colors), Q-Switched Nd (for dark blue, black, red and orange) and Q-switched Alexandrite Laser (for green and blue-black). The colors, or pigments, in the tattoo are treated with high-intensity bursts of laser light. The laser affects the pigment under the skin surface while leaving the surrounding skin untouched. The type of laser used will depend on the size and color of the tattoo. Multiple treatments will be required to remove the tattoo. Treatments are spread out by weeks or sometimes months. The treated area needs to heal and the body needs time to remove the ink that is broken down by the laser.
Creams
There are a variety of creams on the market that claim to remove tattoos. Many of these creams are designed to fade or bleach the tattoo till it fades from the surface skin. A 2002 study at the University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston, Department of Dermatology using tattooed guinea pigs found positive results with the use of imiquimod cream as a non-surgical method of tattoo removal, but efficacy in humans has not been proven. Other creams, such as trichloroacetic acid, has a skin peeling affect that may help fade tattoos, but cannot result in complete removal of most tattoos. Creams may be used in conjunction with laser removal to decrease the number of laser treatments necessary.
Excision
Excision is surgical removal of the tattooed skin. This works if the tattoo is small. The skin is numbed with a local anesthetic and the tattoo is cut out using a scalpel. The skin is sewn together and treated with antibacterial ointment. This treatment gets rid of the tattoo, but leaves a scar.
Dermabrasion
Dermabrasion is done by first using a chemical spray to freeze the skin or by chilling the area with ice until numb. The skin with the tattoo is then sanded down with a high-speed wheel or brush, allowing the ink to seep out of the skin. The affected area is treated with antibacterial cream. It can take several treatments before the tattoo is removed. Sometimes, dermabrasion does not completely get rid of the tattoo.
About this Author
Caroline Thompson has been a professional photojournalist since 1999. She combines writing and photography in her stories. Thompson’s work has appeared in the “Sacramento Bee,” “People Magazine,” “Newsweek” and other publications. She holds a Bachelor of Arts in photojournalism from California State University Hayward (CSUH) and a personal trainer certification from the Health and Fitness Institute out of CSUH.
