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Tattoos can express personal style and carry commemorative meaning, but what if you regret one after getting it? Can aesthetic laser treatment remove it? What types of laser tattoo removal are there? This article explains how laser tattoo removal works, compares how hard it is to remove tattoos of different colors, looks at how different laser wavelengths differ in removing each tattoo color, and covers how to care for your skin after laser tattoo removal.
How Laser Tattoo Removal Works
A tattoo is made by injecting pigment and ink into the dermis so that it stays permanently. Laser tattoo removal works by using the instantaneous energy of laser wavelengths, which is absorbed by the pigment particles deep in the skin tissue and makes them break apart, after which the body's phagocytes gradually clear away the shattered pigment. Also, because tattoos come in many colors and the pigment lies at different depths, laser tattoo removal is still fairly difficult, and multiple treatments are needed to clear the tattoo completely.
How Hard Is Laser Tattoo Removal?
1. Easy to remove
Eyebrow and eyeliner tattoos, line-style tattoos, black, dark blue, and other dark tattoos, amateur tattoos with shallow pigment depth, and tattoos more than a year old are all relatively easy to remove, and laser treatment results are better.
2. Harder to remove
Professional tattoos with pigment settled deep in the skin (about 0.5 mm to 2.0 mm below the skin), as well as tattoos in yellow, green, red, blue, and other intense colors, and tattoos covering a large area, are all types that are harder to remove and may need multiple sessions before results show. In addition, for a new tattoo less than a year old, the pigment has not yet fully integrated with the tissue, so the response to laser treatment is poorer.
3. Cannot be removed
Some people cover up an original tattoo by tattooing over it again in skin-tone or reddish-brown ink, but the ingredients of these pigments often contain iron, which is reduced to black during laser treatment, making the tattoo get darker and darker. In addition, some pigments are mixed with titanium dioxide to increase brightness, and these may also turn darker after laser treatment and cannot be removed by laser.
Comparing Lasers for Tattoo Removal
Aesthetic lasers are currently the mainstream way to remove tattoos. There are many kinds of lasers, and they suit different tattoo types. Traditional skin-clearing lasers only break the pigment into large chunks, which are harder for the body to clear, while picosecond lasers use the photoacoustic (shockwave) effect, which turns the pigment into fine powder, making it easier for the body to clear and giving better results. Below is a comparison of how well common picosecond lasers remove each tattoo color:
| Red | Orange | Yellow | Green | Blue | Purple | Brown | Black | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Discovery Pico Wavelength 532nm | ★★★ | ★★ | ★★ | – | – | – | – | – |
| Discovery Pico Wavelength 1064nm | – | – | – | – | ★★ | ★★ | ★★ | ★★★ |
| Discovery Pico Wavelength 694nm | – | – | – | ★★★ | ★★★ | ★★ | ★★ | ★★★ |
| Nanosecond Nd:YAG Wavelength 532nm | ★★ | ★★ | ★ | – | – | – | – | – |
| Nanosecond Nd:YAG Wavelength 1064nm | – | – | – | – | – | ★ | ★ | ★★ |
| StarWalker PQX Wavelength 1064nm | – | – | – | – | ★★ | ★★ | ★★ | ★★★ |
| StarWalker PQX Wavelength 532nm | ★★★ | ★★ | ★★ | – | – | – | – | – |
[Learn more]Discovery Pico, third-generation StarWalker PQX
Avoiding Darkening or Whitening: Aftercare for Laser Tattoo Removal
- Cold compresses can reduce burning and discomfort at the treated area
- Use a sterile cotton swab to apply anti-inflammatory ointment to the wound until the scab falls off
- You need to wait for the scab to fall off on its own, and never pick at it, otherwise scars are likely to remain
- Stop using makeup and skincare products on the treated area; only use gentle products after the scab has fallen off
- Strengthen sun protection: apply sunscreen and avoid direct sun exposure as much as possible
- For one week after the laser, do not use acids, irritating products, or exfoliation
- Avoid smoking, alcohol, and spicy food, and eat more foods rich in vitamin C
Although laser treatment can help remove tattoos, most multicolor tattoos cannot be removed completely and can only be faded to a certain degree. Tattoos in black, blue, and gray tones with simple pigments may, after multiple treatments, fade to the point of being invisible to the naked eye. So think twice before getting a tattoo, to avoid spending more time and effort removing it later if you regret it!
This article is for general information only. Results vary from person to person; please consult a doctor in person before deciding on any treatment.
