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Comparing Laser and Creams for Tattoo Removal

Tattoos have gotten increasingly popular over the last decade, and with that come more regrets. It’s a permanent decision, however it doesn’t have to be a permanent reminder on your skin thanks to the advancement of technology. More than 36 percent of Americans between the ages of 18 to 25 have at least one tattoo. In total there are approximately 45 million Americans of all ages who have a tattoo and more than 17 percent of them regret it.

Myth #1: Laser Tattoo Removal Will Leave a Scar

If it’s performed correctly by a board-certified dermatologist, like Dr. Rokhsar, who is also a fellowship-trained cosmetic surgeon , then there will be no scars left behind. Laser tattoo removal targets the second layer of the skin, which means it penetrates the top layer that contains the color pigment.

Dermatologists and cosmetic surgeons have been trying to keep up with the increase of tattoos and the regrets that sometimes accompany them. If you are one of the many with regrets, understand the myths and truths behind removal before you decide on your treatment path. Lasers are the ideal treatment of choice for removal of tattoos on the skin of any area on the body. The Q-switched lasers including the Q switched Alexandrite or Nd-Yag are utilized to break up the pigment particles in tattoos resulting in gradual clearing. Multiple sessions are required. How fast a tattoo clears depends on the several factors including the colors, depth and age of the tattoo.

Myth #2: Tattoo Removal Creams Work

They just don’t work, it’s a simple myth to debunk because creams cannot penetrate deep enough to affect the tattoo pigment. It could actually harm your skin. tattoo removal is something to be taken seriously, which is why choosing laser surgery is a safer and more effective way to attain desired results.

Myth #3: Black Ink Is Hardest to Remove

Actually, this is completely false because black ink on light skin is one of the easier tattoos to remove. In addition, black ink usually has the least amount of ingredients (ingredients or additives are usually mixed into ink to make different colors, which makes it harder to remove). Black ink is absorbed by all wavelengths of the treatment laser, while other colors, such as purples and greens, tend to be more difficult to pick up and completely remove.

About author - Dr. Cameron Rokhsar

Dr. Cameron Rokhsar

Dr. Cameron Rokhsar, MD, FAAD, FAACS, is the founder and medical director of the New York Cosmetic, Skin, & Laser Surgery Center. Dr. Rokhsar is a graduate of Harvard College and NYU School of Medicine. Dr. Rokhsar is double board certified in dermatology and micrographic dermatologic surgery, being one of the few select dermatologists in the country who is also fellowship trained in laser surgery. A researcher and innovator, Dr. Rokhsar is the creator of the non-surgical nose job and has been instrumental in the research and development of laser systems such as the Fraxel, CO2, Mirady, Vbeam, Themitight, and Ulthera devices. An Associate Professor of Dermatology at Mount Sinai Hospital in NYC, Dr. Rokhsar actively teaches the cosmetic dermatology clinic to the resident at Mount Sinai. An expert injector of fillers, and a trainer for many companies, patients fly in from around the world to see Dr. Rokhsar in his Garden City and Manhattan offices in New York.

Learn more about Dr. Rokhsar | Dr. Rokhsar's Google Scholar