Ask Dermatologists: Tattoos and Tattoo Removal

Ask Dermatologists: Tattoos and Tattoo Removal

Many of us calculate the riskiness of a risk based on the safety net–the backup plan that will help us retrace our steps and make a better decision if we don’t like the outcome of our first choice. Luckily, many choices come equipped with this safety net; it may be expensive, it may be tiring, it may be difficult, but we can fix our mistakes. However, other choices–especially the big ones–don’t exactly come with a safety net. Most of the time, it’s easy enough to tell before we make a decision whether or not we will have this safety net. Tattoos are one exception to this rule. It’s difficult to calculate the risk if we don’t fully understand what, if any, safety net exists–so today, our Dermatologists are going to explain tattoos and tattoo removal.

The Truth About Tattoos

Before we get into the safety net specifics, let’s take a step back and explore tattoos themselves. When you get a tattoo, the ink is placed in the dermis, the thick and sensitive deeper layer of your skin. The bad news: this part of the skin is responsible for scarring. The tissue can’t heal the same way that the thinner top layer of your skin, the epidermis, can. This means that tattoo removal and scarring often go hand-in-hand. The truth is that, no matter what those ointments, creams, and “Internet professionals” might promise you, there are very few ways to get rid of tattoos completely–the safety net is almost nonexistent. That being said, our opens in a new windowexpert Dermatologists do know a few tricks for high-quality tattoo removal.

Laser Tattoo Removal

Dermatologists agree that laser tattoo removal is the safest and most efficient “safety net” when it comes to tattoos. Here’s a quick look at the details!

• Laser specifics. The power of laser tattoo removal is in the use of multiple types of lasers, each targeting a different color of ink. The lasers “attack” ink fragments and your immune system does the rest, removing the leftover color and ink. Although the top layer of your skin will be undamaged, a shadow of the tattoo is likely to remain.
• Long-term details. Laser tattoo removal itself is a long-term undertaking. Multiple sessions are usually required; different colors, different skin tone, and specific tattoo designs can impact the number of sessions. Overall, the process will likely take many months–not to mention the cost.
• New technology. If the world of tattoo removal seems a bit grim, you might want to look into the new technology being offered by professional tattoo artists. Today’s tattoo ink is stepping up to the plate; ink is being created specifically so that it is easier for the laser to target and remove, thus making tattoo removal a more viable safety net. (It’s still a good idea to think carefully before you get a tattoo, though, as no technique has been perfected as of now.)

Interested in more information on tattoo removal? Looking for an expert Dermatologist? opens in a new windowContact us today!