Side Effects of Removing Laser Tattoos

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Do you have several tattoos and want to delete one? When you have a tattoo, white blood cells try to remove tattoo pigments on the skin. This is the reason why when you first have a tattoo, the pattern becomes less firm and fades, but does not fade permanently. White blood cells are not able to permanently remove them because the particles of the tattoo ink itself are much larger in removing white blood cells. The solution, you can use a laser as a method of removing tattoos. However, is there a risk of removing a tattoo with a laser?

Each tattoo has a unique pattern, so the technique for removing it must also be adjusted to the case of each individual. Before removing it, make sure you know that the scar may be something that is not comfortable to see later, depending on the method used. Tattoos that have not been effectively removed with other treatments or home remedies usually can respond well to laser therapy that offers treatment without producing excessive scars.

What are the side effects of removing a laser tattoo?

Removing a tattoo with a laser technique does not cause too many side effects, as long as it is done by experts. However, here are some factors that can be considered, such as:

The point of the tattoo being removed can be at risk for infection. You may also be at risk for all pigment removal. Permanent scars are also very possible.
Chances are you are also at risk for hypopigmentation (the skin becomes brighter than the surrounding skin) or hyperpigmentation (where the skin is darker than the surroundings).
Not only tattoos with large patterns, but also cosmetic tattoos; tattooed on the lip line, eyeliner and eyebrow tattoos can darken after the technique of removing the tattoo with a laser.

The relationship between tattoos, lasers and skin health

Ink on the tattoo can cause reactions and infections on the skin. Not to mention if the process of making tattoos is not sterile, even blood-borne diseases can also arise, such as tetanus, hepatitis B and C. Researchers from New York University ask 300 people in Central Park about the experience of having a tattoo, there are 4 out of 10% who report side effects, there are also those whose complaints disappeared less than four months. However, the remaining 6% needed treatment, such as having itchy, scaly skin, swelling around tattoo patterns for more than four months. Researchers suspect that an allergic reaction occurs because the tattoo dye itself, especially the red one.

There is news about health problems due to the presence of toxic substances in tattoos. Research shows that benzo (a) pyrene is a chemical used in black ink that can cause skin cancer in tests carried out on animals. Benzo (a) pyrene is found on coal asphalt, included in carcinogens according to the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC). Make sure before tattooing, the ingredients used are clear. Because, there are results of surveys that say that millions of people in Europe are tattooed without knowing the chemicals they use.

In addition, a study published in the British Journal of Dermatology in 2011 first revealed the presence of nanoparticles in tattoo ink. Scientists from Bradford University show that nanoparticles can move to the skin, enter the blood and form in the spleen and kidneys. This can be a poison in the body.

Chemicals from tattoos can also be found in lymph nodes, even when tattooing medically or without laser therapy. However, according to Kathleen J. Smith, MD, Dermatologic Decatur Surgery, quoted by the Real Self website, there is no good evidence to mention that tattoos and methods of removing them can cause cancer. The same opinion was also expressed by Ariel Ostad, MD, a dermatologist in New York, who was quoted as saying by the Skin Cancer website, he had never found ink on a tattoo could increase the appearance of cancer again after recovering in skin cancer patients. However, it's true that the metal contained in tattoo ink can cause allergies.

Is the laser method safe to use?

Today technology is increasingly sophisticated, so laser therapy can be used more effectively and less risk of causing scars. Actually, lasers are safer to use than excision, dermabrasion, or salabrasion (using damp gauze with a salt solution to scrape the tattooed area). In some cases, certain colors are safer to use than others. For example blue and black, both respond well to the laser method.

What is written here is general information involving two sides, you still need to visit a doctor to find the right advice. As explained above, each case or pattern of tattooing is different in how it is handled. So, it's a good idea to find a doctor who is also experienced in using laser tattoos.

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