Do tattoo removal creams really work?
For some, tattoos are a thing to be cherished. They can be a fashion of self-expression; a way to mark a meaningful event in their life; or even a means of memorializing a lost one.
For others, however, there comes a point—whether it’s because they’ve found a new job, made a significant life change, or have simply developed an allergy to the ink—at which a tattoo ceases to become something they enjoy having on their body, and begins to feel like a liability instead. If this happens to you, you’ll probably wish it weren’t quite so permanent . . . and then you’ll begin looking for solutions.
Perform a search online for “tattoo removal,” and two options will immediately present themselves: 1) laser surgery; and 2) do-it-yourself creams and ointments that claim to make tattoos simply fade away at a fraction of the cost of laser treatment. The most important difference between them? Only one of these methods has been shown to work.
Lasers work to remove tattoos by focusing a high-intensity light beam on the ink; the heat from the beam breaks up the tattoo’s particles into tiny fragments, which your body eventually absorbs. Every tattoo is different, and some colors respond only to specific laser wavelengths—this means that every treatment is different, and has to be adapted to the individual case. The number of sessions required to remove a tattoo will vary depending on its size and color, but generally at least two to four treatments are necessary.
Lasers can significantly lighten tattoos, and in some cases remove them altogether. Laser tattoo removal is less invasive and less painful than other methods, such as excision, dermabrasion, and salabrasion, because no incisions need to be made. Most practitioners consider laser treatment to be the safest tattoo removal method available today.
Whereas lasers focus beneath the skin to target ink directly, tattoo removal creams target the surface—they essentially bleach the area of skin where they are applied. Because of this, a cream can’t erase a tattoo entirely. The most a cream will achieve is a mild lightening or fading of the tattoo, not a complete removal. In addition, these products, which are acid-based, are not FDA-approved, and they have been known to cause bad skin reactions; FDA’s Consumer Updates page specifically directs the public not to attempt to use do-it-yourself tattoo removal products.
Tattoo removal creams are far less expensive than laser treatment, but the reason for their affordability is the fact that they have not been scientifically proven to work. If you’re serious about getting rid of your unwanted tattoo, speak to a doctor experienced in tattoo removal; don’t spend your money on an ineffective, unproven treatment.
About the author
Dr. Usha Rajagopal is a board certified plastic surgeon with over 15 years of experience specializing in tattoo removal in San Francisco.
Laser Tattoo Removal: Myths and Truths
Since the 1990’s, laser tattoo removal procedures have greatly increased in popularity. The rise of laser tattoo removal specialty clinics attests to the popularity of this procedure. Even so, myths about tattoo removal still abound. This article will attempt to debunk or confirm some of these myths.
Myth #1: Laser tattoo removal works by burning off the tattoo: This may have been true of older lasers, such as CO2, that burned off the superficial layers of the skin. Newer Q-switched lasers, such as the YAG and ruby, work differently. They photothermically fracture the tattoo pigments and rely on the body’s immune system to clear them from the tattoo. Although scarring is possible if too much energy is applied by a Q-switched laser, it is not necessary or common.
Myth #2: Fading creams work better than laser: Tattoo removal fading creams are plentiful on the internet. There is no data published in scientific journals to support them, as opposed to laser processes. This author has tried one of these creams personally and found no effect on his own tattoo. Unless a harsh acid is present in a fading cream, such as glycolic acid, that burns off the skin and leaves a scar, there is no conceivable “fading cream” that would remove tattoos. Tattoos are made from a myriad of inks with different chemical compositions. It is not clear what chemical in a cream would make these chemicals “dissolve” when applied over the skin.
Myth #3: Multicolor tattoos cannot be removed: It is well known that black tattoos tend to respond better to laser removal than some other colors. Certain tattoo inks are very difficult to remove, such as yellow, pink, and white. Certain colors do not come off well with a YAG laser, such as green and blue, and are more easily removed with a ruby or alexandrite laser. Also, even a black tattoo can be very difficult or impossible to remove if it contains metal-based inks, while a red tattoo might come off very easily. However, the more ink pigments that are contained in a multicolor tattoo, the more likely it is that one of them will not come off well.
Myth #4: Cosmetic tattoos cannot be removed: This is sometimes true. Some flesh-colored cosmetic tattoos contain iron pigments. When these are treated with laser, they may convert to a different chemical form that becomes black. These iron-containing inks are also very hard, if not impossible to remove. On the other hand, if they contain pigments that are non-metallic, they are as easily removed as other tattoos. Eye-liner tattoos pose a special challenge due to the proximity to the eye and require special laser eye shields to prevent damage to the globe. Also, there is the risk of losing eyelashes, though usually not permanently, from the laser treatment. Tattoos on lips can be treated but the teeth must be protected.
