Why Are Tattoos Permanent and How Tattoo Removal Works?

When tattoo ink is injected into the skin it causes a wound. The immune system of the body reacts by sending macrophage cells to destroy the unwanted invaders and repair the wound. Not all ink pigments are wasted, some are stored in the dermal cells which makes the tattoo permanent.

PicoWay is the latest version of laser technology which emits dual wavelengths, It can reach the deepest layers of the skin and break up tattoo ink without damaging the outer layers. The broken ink particles are released through our normal waste system.

Can Permanent Tattoos Be Removed Completely?

Permanent tattoos can be completely removed, all light or dark hues and previously considered hard to remove colored ink will now disappear.

The number of sessions and the duration for each session depends on the size, age, and colors of the tattoo. Fewer pulses and shorter time will be required by smaller tattoos while more will be needed by larger ones.

Can tattoos be removed naturally?

Getting a tattoo is quite risky, down the line you might feel differently and want it removed. The safest way for tattoo removal is through the services provided by medical practitioners, but there are natural tattoo removal methods that you can try at home. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) hasn’t approved any home methods for tattoo removal due to a lack of proven effectiveness and safety.

Salibrasion

Salt is rubbed over the tattoo area. Space out applications to allow healing and the pain to subside.

Aloe vera

Aloe vera and yogurt are trending online. Although aloe vera is used topically a home remedy to treat skin irritations it lacks clinical evidence to prove its therapeutic efficacy.

Sand

You can mix sand with aloe vera and rub it on the tattoo. It operates similar to dermabrasion where a coarse surface rubs the epidermis to rejuvenate it.

Creams

A topical that can be bought online or in-store. Consult your doctor before applying to be safe from side effects.

Does tattoo removal remove all the ink?

All colors in the tattoo can be removed through these surgical procedures:

Laser surgery

Laser surgery is the method preferred by medical professionals. It focuses on removing the ink instead of scraping the skin layer. The laser machine sends out a strong pulse of energy which heats up the tattoo dye and breaks it.

Dermabrasion

Dermabrasion involves using a medical grinding tool to eliminate the external layers of the skin in a precise manner. The purpose is to extract the layers of the skin with pigments resulting in the removal of the tattoo. A local anesthetic is applied to ease the pain.

Surgical excision

The tattoo is removed surgically and requires sutures to close the wound. It will leave a scar and will require longer periods to heal. This method is suited for small tattoos and in areas where they can be hidden.

What Makes Tattoos Permanent?

During pandemic times you should find a professional tattoo artist that knows their craft well and before tattooing, all items should be sterilized except the one-use-only needles. The tattooist disinfects the work area and uses a new face mask and a pair of gloves.

A stencil is created from the design that is used to transfer the drawing to the skin. An outline of the design is shaped using a needle and ink to guide the tattooist to a detailed draw on the skin. Once the outline is done, the skin area is cleaned with soap and water and successive piercing with various needles and ink using a tattoo machine follows until the tattoo is complete.

Once the needle pierces the epidermis it signals the immune system to send cells to the site to repair the damage. Macrophage cells recognize tattoo ink as harmful organisms and eat the ink pigments. Some cells remove the ink and the remaining ink stays in the dermal cells, called fibroblasts, along with the color.

Fibroblasts remain in the skin until they expire and are absorbed by living fibroblasts with the pigment inside them which makes the tattoo permanent.

What is the Science Behind Tattoo Removal?

Advancement in technology can remove a tattoo without scar marks or skin discoloration. These were the problems of laser technology which were straightened out by PicoWay lasers.

PicoWay laser is an advanced tool for laser tattoo removal using dual wavelengths to penetrate the deepest layers of the skin. It can emit both 1064 nm and 532 nm de wavelengths covering a wide range of ink colors and skin types. Conventional lasers emit only a single wavelength that does not remove most tattoos.

Its laser pulses are shorter by 40 percent than other lasers, meaning it can eliminate the ink at the deepest layers of the skin without damaging the outer layers.

How Lasers Remove Tattoos

Each laser pulse produces a wavelength that specifically attacks the color in your tattoo. The ink is shattered into tiny fragments which allow the body’s immune system to remove it through our normal waste system. The ink particles are considered by the body as foreign materials and are discharged through the sweat glands, urinary tract, or fecal matter.

Laser facilitate the breaking process of the ink which will take years to happen through the normal route,

How Long Does Laser Tattoo Removal Take?

The reaction of your body to the laser treatment determines the amount of time for the tattoo removal to take effect. The type of ink should also be considered. Laser tattoo removal requires a number of clinic visits and the body ink fades with each one. Each session is spaced six to eight weeks to let the skin process the treatment.

The effect of the treatment varies from person to person, usually, a patient takes six to twelve clinic visits to entirely get rid of the tattoo. With the time gap between each session, it will take from about one or two years to see your final results.

Although the treatment does not deliver quick results, you can enjoy the gradual progression as the tattoo fades into extinction.

Guest Written by Duke Addison