TCA (Trichloroacetic Acid)
TCA is generally used as a skin peeling agent. It is used in the presence of health care providers and has the potential to cause excessive trauma to the skin if too much of it is used. In the 1970s, a study was conducted using TCA to remove tattoos. While it did work for the most part, there were and still are substantial risks to using this ingredient to remove a tattoo.
Even though most TCA products are watered-down, it is still dangerous to use this ingredient to remove a tattoo at home. Remember, that this ingredient is still an acid and works by essentially dissolving layers of skin. Eventually, the tattooed layers of skin will rise to the surface and fade away. However, many of those that have used TCA have reported substantial scarring over the area where their tattoo is.
The only other topical tattoo removal option is to use a tattoo removal cream. These products in conjunction with an exfoliating pad or device bring the tattooed layers of skin closer to the surface while prohibiting new skin from developing color. Over time, they can fade and help erase unwanted tattoos. These tattoo removal creams are the least expensive way to remove a tattoo, but they also take the longest. However in addition to being inexpensive, the are also the least risky and least painful to fade a tattoo at home.
Here are a couple of things to know before you pay for laser treatments to remove your tattoo.
- A laser will leave a scar. It has to. Whenever skin breaks it scars.
- A laser can tear up the skin. Here’s how the American Academy of Dermatologists puts it: “The skin is rarely as perfect as it once was.”
We don’t hear much about the complications from lasers.
- Just being in the room with laser light pulses can damage your eyes.
- Infection has been spread from the skin cell splatter a laser causes.
- The skin has turned permanently darker where the tattoo was.
- The skin has become permanently lighter.
- Blisters, crust and lesions are common and invite infection.
- Bruises develop and shadows remain for long periods of time.
- Some people suddenly become allergic in the removal area.
- Eyebrows, eyeliner and lip liner tattoos may darken, not fade.
More problems.
Some people need artwork removed because their ink migrated and caused an infection. A laser can encourage more infection.
You will want to consider tattoo removal creams – which are very safe – and available with all natural formulas.
We sometimes hear about people who are disappointed with a tattoo removal cream. When you talk to them you find out they usually they didn’t give it enough time. Often they didn’t use the fading cream consistently. Fading is gradual over several months.
Some people take pictures during the process and see the changes in their tattoo clearly.
What do you want to pay?
You need repeated treatments with creams or lasers. So what if you’ll need a lot of tattoo fade cream? It will always be much cheaper and it works. We hear about people who end up using tattoo removers to finish the job when they ran out of cash for lasers.
