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Can Laser Tattoo Removal Cause Cancer

Complications Of Medical Tattoos

Can laser hair removal cause cancer?

Tattoos by physicians are used in certain medical conditions for camouflage, like resistant vitiligo, breast areola reconstruction following surgery, scar camouflage following burns or surgery and hair camouflage for permanent hair loss following radiation or craniofacial surgery. In these settings infections are less common as compared to decorative tattoos as they are carried out in sterile environments, but general complications of tattoos can still occur. The commonest complications are changes in colour, leading to colour mismatch. In vitiligo it is essential to get a good cosmetic skin-coloured tattoo matching with the surrounding normal skin. This requires a great degree of skill and often a colour mismatch leads to worsening appearance of the patch and a dissatisfied patient . This is more common on the lips, exposed skin and the acral areas. The colour can fade if the pigment is placed superficially or it can appear bluish due to the Tyndall effect if it is placed too deep . Tattooing should be avoided when the skin is tanned, as when the tan fades, the tattoo will appear darker than the surrounding skin. Management for a mismatched tattoo in vitiligo is skin grafting if the tattoo fades, though it is difficult to cover the tattoo adequately if it is deep in the dermis. Small patches can be excised, followed by suturing.

Fading of the tattoo and bluish discolouration due to Tyndall effect on a patch of vitiligo

Why Do I Need Multiple Laser Hair Removal Treatments

People wonder why it takes multiple sessions to achieve the amount of permanent hair reduction they seek. Why cant it all go away in a single session? The reason is the hair growth cycle. The human body has around five million individual hairs on it, and each hair operates independently of the others. Each hair can be in a different phase of the growth cycle. This cycle includes active growth, called the anagen phase a transitional period called the catagen phase, and a resting phase called the telogen phase.

Laser energy is only effective if the hair is still actively anchored in the hair follicle, and this only occurs in the anagen/growth phase. But hair can also be in the catagen or telogen phases. In these phases, the hair is already on the path to being shed. The hair is no longer receiving any nourishment from the follicle and it may have already separated from the follicle. This is why laser energy applied to hairs in these phases cant get down into the follicle.

It Doesnt Damage Underarm Sweat Glands/lymph Nodes

A common question that gets asked regarding laser hair removal for the underarm area is whether or not damage can be done to the sweat glands or lymph nodes. Hair follicles are located very superficially under the skin, just a few millimeters under the skin. Lymph nodes and sweat glands, however, are located much deeper and the lasers depth of penetration is too short to reach them.

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What To Expect During A Treatment

You can expect the following during a laser tattoo removal treatment session:

  • You are given a pair of protective eye guards or shields
  • Your skins reaction is tested with lasers to determine which is most effective for tattoo removal
  • The technician uses a laser to have pulses of light through the topmost layers of skin where the tattoo pigment lies.

If you have a smaller tattoo, fewer pulses are needed, but more is required if your tattoo is on the large side. Regardless of the size of your ink, however, you need several treatment sessions to completely remove it. The tattoo is lighter with each appointment.

You probably wont need anesthesia, but you may get an anesthesia cream to apply to the area depending on where your tattoo is situated. After treatment, you can use an icepack to soothe the area, use the antibiotic cream and cover the area with a bandage for protection. Sunscreen or sunblock should be used whenever you go outside as well.

Factors Contributing To Tattoo Clearance

Do Tattoo Removal Creams Work? What

Every persons immune systems is different and each tattoo is different. Eden Tattoo Removal Specialist will do a full consultation and then customise the treatment protocol. A list of different factors affecting the number of treatments vary for every individual based on the following factors:

Skin Type: The Fitzpatrick skin type rating scale from Type I skin to Type VI. This is basically from fair skin that burns and never tans to very dark skin that never burns and tans very easily.

Location: As fractured tattoo pigments are being attacked by the bodys immune system the effectiveness of the immune system varies based on the body region. As the head and neck maintains the largest vascular supply, the immune system is the strongest in this area resulting very effective tattoo ink elimination. Then the upper and lower trunks are next then the extremities receive the last of vascular supply. This means tattoos on the hands and feet will take the longest time to have total tattoo clearance.

Colours: Tattoo ink is made from a mixture of varying compounds. Professional inks are different to inks used by amateur tattoos. The colour of the pigment differs in the size of the granules. Black ink is the easiest to remove due to small size and lacks metallic elements and absorbs the laser wavelength. Red is the next easiest then green, yellow and orange.

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What Are The Risks Of Laser Tattoo Removal

Laser removal by a reputable facility offers an extremely high level of safety. Most side effects disappear within a matter of days or weeks. The potential for improper aftercare poses the greatest risk, but fortunately, clients who follow their simple aftercare guidelines closely can easily avoid these risks. For example, by keeping the area that has undergone laser removal out of the sun, they can avoid the risk of skin discoloration. Clients can also avoid complicating the healing process by simply leaving the area alone rather than scratching or picking at it. A skilled removal specialist will explain exactly how to ensure that healing occurs as quickly as possible.

Laser Tattoo Removal And Cancer

Some people have a fear that laser tattoo removal can cause cancer. While the treatment itself cannot lead to cancer, if a person has a suspicious lesion on their skin that they have since covered with a tattoo, getting the treatment can worsen it if it is skin cancer. For that reason, the tattoo should never be treated with lasers.

Contact Farmington Dermatology to get a consultation with Dr. Baird so he can address all of your concerns surrounding laser tattoo removal.

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Could A Laser Like The Ipl Spread A Skins Cancer

No, skin cancers wont spread or be affected in any way for better or worse by the IPL lasers. But IPL can be used for more than just hair removal. So, for people that dont have cancer, the laser may actually be beneficial towards them being that it can help improve your damaged skin.

But for people with skin cancer, the doctor may insist on you are taking care of that first before any treatment.

Is There Anything That I Can Do To Improve My Results

Why Laser Tattoo Removal Can Ruin Your Life : A Doctor Explains

Yes, you play a key role in the results you see. Doing the following will help you to achieve the best results and reduce your risk of side effects:

  • Keep all of your appointments for laser tattoo removal. Too often, people stop treatment before they see optimal results. Each treatment removes more ink.

  • Follow your dermatologists instructions for at-home care. You may need to wash the area and apply an antibiotic ointment for a few days. Slathering on moisturizer and covering the area until the skin heals are also important.

  • Protect your treated skin from the sun for 3 months. The best way to protect your skin is to wear clothing that covers the area. The clothing covering your treated skin must block light completely.

  • You want to cover your treated skin with clothing that completely blocks light

    The white and yellow shirts in this picture let light shine through.

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    Does Hair Laser Removal Really Cause Skin Cancer

    over a year ago

    Hiya,

    OK, weâve had some discussions about laser hair removal lately and some people were saying it causes breast and skin cancer. Iâve seen no evidence for breast cancer but skin cancer makes more sense to me. Iâd like to get to the bottom of this. Iâm not actively considering hair laser removal right now but Iâve toyed with the idea of course, who doesnât want perpetually smooth skin? Loads of people go for it, thatâs for sure! So, is laser hair removal dangerous and can it cause skin cancer? If anyone knows more about this, please comment.

    Loadingâ¦

    Guest over a year ago

    over a year ago

    In reply to anonymous on 2017-03-06 â click to read

    Londongirl347945 over a year ago

    Thanks. That kinda satisfies my curiosity but not 100%. Thereâs people out there who say that laser hair removal causes skin cancer. Why do they think that happens? Like whatâs the mechanism by which they think hair laser removal leads to cancer? I assume this has something to do with radiation. Hair laser removal involves radiation, right? Like x-rays? What kind of radiation is that and what do we know about it? So âsciency people say that laser hair removal doesnât cause cancerâ isnât quite enough for me, Iâd like to know more and I would love to hear from people who do think this kind of hair removal can cause cancer and why they think that.

    over a year ago

    In reply to Londongirl347945 on 2017-03-07 â click to read

    over a year ago

    Does Laser Tattoo Removal Cause Skin Cancer

    December 9, 2016 By Premium Tattoo Removal

    If you want to get a tattoo removed, youre bound to have a number of questions. What are the side effects? Does it hurt? How long will it take? These are some of the most common questions we receive and are all answered on our FAQ page.

    The question whether laser tattoo removal causes skin cancers warrants its own blog post, as such a serious subject requires a fair amount of attention. The short answer is no and no evidence exists to suggest otherwise. Whats more, the lasers used for tattoo removal do not emit UV rays , which can increase the risk of skin cancer. Even so, it is a good idea to explore this topic in more details.

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    Are There Any Serious Complications Of Ipl Hair Removal I Should Know About

    The only serious risk I have come to experience with IPL hair removal is the light actually overheating. When this happens you can get blisters, some bad scarring of the skin, and risk of an infection because of the damage of the skin.

    If you have darker skin, you may be more at risk since your skin has much more pigment and that is what the light energy dispensing from the lasers is attracted to.

    Fallen Out Of Love With A Tattoo

    Laser Tattoo Removal

    Tattoos are a personal choice, but maybe youâve changed your mind about a tattoo on your body. Perhaps itâs an exâs name youâd rather forget about, or maybe itâs a design you got when you were much younger and that just doesnât fit in with your aesthetic anymore.

    If youâve got an unwanted tattoo and youâd like to find out about laser tattoo removal results, and what to expect from a laser tattoo removal course of treatments, we explain everything right here.

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    Do You Treat Cosmetic Tattoo

    In the past, nanosecond laser systems were advised not to be used on cosmetic tattoos as the heat of the laser could cause the tattoo to be darkness so the results were unpredictable. The Picoway laser system uses photoacoustic energy rather then photothermal energy. This means the power of the picosecond laser is able to shatter even cosmetic tattoo ink. It is highly effect for this purpose as cosmetic tattoos are normally applied on the surface of the dermal layer.

    Protecting Your Skin After Laser Tattoo Removal

    While tattoo removal doesnt cause cancer, the skin will be in a particularly vulnerable condition following the treatment. As such, following a suitable skin care plan will be vital. You must speak with your dermatologist to make this happen. In the early days following a procedure, you will probably need to use vaseline or other products to help prevent scarring.

    Aside from reducing the laser tattoo removal cancer risk when out in the sun, it is a key step to preventing irritation, pain, and discomfort. In addition to wearing sunscreen in the appropriate settings, you should keep the skin moisturized at all times. Following a healthy lifestyle and staying hydrated will naturally promote better skin too, which will help it recover from minor injuries.

    To find out more about laser tattoo removal, get in touch with our experts today.

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    How Many Laser Sessions To Remove Tattoo

    This is a question we get asked often, and the answer isnât an all-encompassing one. As we are all different, so too is the process of removing a tattoo. A number of factors need to be considered:

    • The pigments used in your tattoo
    • How well your body responds to the treatments
    • The size of your tattoo

    We are also often asked how many laser treatments to remove a small tattoo? Certainly a smaller tattoo should be much less time-consuming to treat as the surface area that the lasers have to target will be smaller.

    However, there is still the matter of the pigment used and how your body reacts to the treatment to consider. The best way to find out your answers to these questions is to book in for a no obligation consultation.

    Is laser tattoo removal safe?

    At Este Medical we use the most advanced laser tattoo removal machine technology available and our team are highly skilled and trained in what they do.

    You can rest assured that you will be in safe hands here, and we will do everything possible to ensure your procedure is safe from start to finish.

    Whatâs more, we pride ourselves on our laser tattoo removal aftercare, so even once youâve finished your laser tattoo removal course, we will still be available to discuss your treatment and answer any questions you may have.

    Can you get a tattoo after laser removal?

    Yes. Once you have recovered from your course of laser tattoo removal, itâs entirely possible to get a new tattoo in the same location.

    Can Tattoo Removal Make You Sick

    Laser Tattoo Removal – The Ugly Truth

    It’s not unusual to feel sick after laser tattoo removal treatment. A lot of people complain of feeling sick after their treatment. For some, it could be a mild headache or just tiredness that fades away after few hours or one-two days. For others, it’s something worse that could last for days or even weeks…. see details

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    What Are The Possible Side Effects Of Laser Tattoo Removal

    There are minimal side effects to laser tattoo removal. However, you should consider these factors in your decision:

    • The tattoo removal site is at risk for infection. You may also risk lack of complete pigment removal, and there is a slight chance that the treatment can leave you with a permanent scar.
    • You may also risk hypopigmentation, where the treated skin is paler than surrounding skin, or hyperpigmentation, where the treated skin is darker than surrounding skin.
    • Cosmetic tattoos like lip liner, eyeliner and eyebrows may darken following treatment with tattoo removal lasers. Further treatment of the darkened tattoos usually results in fading.

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    Answer: Tattoo Ink Is Being Chipped By Our Immune System Recognizes It As Foreign Body And Tries To Get Rid Of It Constantly

    There is no evidence that laser tattoo removal causes cancer. Tattoo ink is being chipped by our immune system recognizes it as foreign body and tries to get rid of it constantly. Thats why tattoos are getting lighter over time. Laser tattoo removal speeds up this process and breaks apart tattoo ink so our immune system can get rid of it faster.

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    Women Who Have Polycystic Ovary Syndrome Can They Have Ipl Hair Removal Or Not

    Quick note: POLYCYSTIC OVARY SYNDROME is when a woman grows little cyst all over her ovaries. The cysts from my understanding arent harmful but if left untreated can cause an imbalance in the womans hormones.

    Yeah, its fine. It wont be a problem. But only if you are ready for it. What do I mean by ready? The right skin and hair tone and they should be sensitive to the intense pulsed light. But there may be a need to go through more treatments than a woman who doesnt suffer from PCOS.

    Only because the process of hair growth is a hormonal one. With PCOS your hormonal balance is thrown into a limbo. It wont be balanced. And your hair might grow back. So thats a problem. But you should still talk with your physician or any licensed person who is performing the treatment.

    Laser Tattoo Removal And Skin Cancer Risks

    With Laser Tattoo Removal Get A Fresh Start At Ingrid E. Trenkle, MD

    Some patients wonder if laser tattoo removal can cause cancer. Your doctor at the Dermatology & Cosmetic Laser Center in Huntington can explain all the potential risks of laser tattoo removal. Tattoo pigments have no known association with cancer, and the Skin Cancer Foundation has presented reliable research that laser tattoo removal does not directly cause skin cancer.

    Laser tattoo removal makes the skin more photosensitive because it removes the skins outer layers to erase the tattoo. This increased photosensitivity can influence mutations in the skin, but you can take steps to reduce this risk considerably.

    Steps you can take if youre anxious about skin cancer after your laser tattoo removal include:

    • Avoid direct sunlight whenever possible.
    • Apply sunscreen regularly.
    • Sit and walk in the shade when outside or use an umbrella.

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