Thursday, March 21, 2024

Don't Miss

Does Tattoo Removal Cause Cancer

Can Having A Permanent Tattoo Lead To Skin Cancer

Do tattoos cause Skin Cancer? – Dr. Rashmi Ravindra

Not many know, but tattoos have been a part of peoples life since as early as the 18th century. Its not only today that their popularity has risen tattoos cause skin cancer dramatically. From being used as cultural and religious symbols to being used by people to express themselves, tattoos have a long way.

No one seems to be terrified of the needle anymore. In fact, more and more people are getting every part of their body inked in various designs and patterns. But amid all this tattoo craze, people forget to ask: is a tattoo safe? Can tattoos cause skin cancer?

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.

An Unintended Consequence Of Laser Tattoo Removal In A 29

An unintended consequence of laser tattoo removal in a 29-year-old man was a diagnosis of malignant melanoma, according to a German case report.

The patient had sought laser treatment for a large, multicolored tattoo but refused initial excision of a nevus located within the pigmented area, reported Christian Raulin, MD, PhD, and colleagues from Laserklinik Karlsruhe in Karlsruhe, Germany.

The laser specialists had been unable to fully evaluate potential melanomatous changes in the nevus clinically because of the presence of black ink pigments, they explained online in JAMA Dermatology.

Action Points

  • An unintended consequence of laser tattoo removal in a 29-year old man was a diagnosis of malignant melanoma, researchers found.
  • Note that the authors recommend that for safety reasons, tattoos should never be placed on pigmented lesions and that if they are, excision should occur before starting laser tattoo removal.

No significant abnormalities were seen on dermoscopy, however, so they proceeded with treatment, using a Q-switched Nd:YAG laser at wavelengths of 532 nm for colored ink and 1,064 nm for black pigment, with energy levels of 1.5 J/cm2 and 7.1 J/cm2 and spot sizes of 6 mm and 4 mm, respectively.

Because of the size of the tattoo — extending across the chest and both arms — numerous sessions were required. After 43 treatments, with response waning, a Q-switched alexandrite laser was substituted using 4.8 J/cm2 and a 4-mm spot size.

Disclosures

Recommended Reading: Laser Tattoo Removal Blister Care

Everything You Need To Know About Laser Tattoo Removal

Tattoos have become increasingly popular over the years. More and more people are decorating their skin with inkbut what happens when you want it gone?

There are so many reasons why you might want to remove a tattoo. Maybe its a poor-quality tattoo. Maybe its something that no longer resonates with you. Or maybe it commemorates something embarrassing youd rather not rememberlike dating your ex.

If youve been considering getting laser tattoo removal, heres what youll want to know.

Frequently Asked Tattoo Removal Questions

Which Tattoo Removal Options Are Safe

Do tattoos cause skin cancer?

Laser tattoo removal is the only safe and effective tattoo removal option available today. When performed by a experienced specialist tattoo removal will leave your skin without any visible damage.

Some tattoo removal options on the market pose serious risks to your skin and possibly health. Home remediesincluding home laser removalare ineffective and often dangerous. Some may fade a tattoo slightly, but they wont remove it completely. At the same time, they can cause extensive skin damage. Lets take a look at several types of tattoo removal methods to compare the risks they present.

Tattoo removal techniques like the following can lead to lasting damage to the skin and typically achieve poor results:

As you might imagine, these tattoo removal techniques can prove quite painful. Healing can be a lengthy and cumbersome process. Tattoo removal and health experts have debunked the effectiveness and safety of many tattoo removal methods, and urge all to use caution when considering any tattoo removal message, and avoiding any DIY options or techniques that are not performed by a licensed clinician.

Is laser tattoo removal safe? Absolutely. In fact, laser removal is the only truly safe tattoo removal option. Thus, experts like medical professionals recommend this method far more than any other. Thats why its the tattoo removal option that Removery uses.

Read Also: Surgical Excision Tattoo Removal Cost

Laser Tattoo Removal And Skin Cancer Risks

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.

Common Side Effects Of Laser Tattoo Removal

Common immediate/acute reactions include redness, bruising, pinpoint bleeding, swelling, blisters, pain, stinging sensation, and skin color changes. As a client progresses through laser tattoo removal, he/she will require higher fluence to accomplish the removal. As fluency increases so can the acuteness of these common reactions. These common immediate reactions do not last long 1-10 days is considered normal. Proper tattoo removal aftercare will help clients manage these reactions and facilitate quick recovery.

Also Check: How To Remove Tattoo With Laser

How Laser Tattoo Removal Works And The Risks

To remove a tattoo using this technique, a laser of intense light is pointed at the skin, which aims to break up the ink particles beneath. Your bodys immune system will also kick into gear after the process and aid the removal process too. But due to the nature of laser tattoo removal, some risks include:

  • Blistering

Is It Safe To Use Salt To Remove A Tattoo At Home

Tattoos Can Cause Cancer!!! But…

Youll find plenty of videos that show you how to use salabrasion at home.

Salabrasion involves removing the top layers of your skin and then rubbing salt into the raw skin to scrub away the tattoo ink. This is extremely painful. You may get a serious infection. When your skin heals, you may have a scar.

Recommended Reading: Tattoo Removal Orange County Ca

Ink In The Lymphatic Glands

There has been microscopic study on tattoo tints, but doctors have found that tattooed people have colored lymph nodes. The lymph nodes are an essential filter for the operation of the bodys balanced immune system. Circumstantial evidence also indicates that organic and inorganic pigments from tattoo inks migrate across the body, which can cause damage.

Mice studies have shown that lymph node deposits are not of interest to human health, although this could differ. Life longer than mice may simply lead to health problems if the tin deposits build up in the body and create a long-term problem. However, there is no hard evidence to show that tattoo inks are specifically associated with an increased risk of cancer. Its important to remember.

Schedule A Tattoo Removal Consultation With Removery

Is tattoo removal safe? Yes, laser tattoo removal is the safest method you could choose for your removal needs. Now, can laser tattoo removal cause cancer? Its very unlikely that you will receive cancer from laser removal as described in this article.

If youre thinking about starting the removal process, check out these tattoo removal before and afters and book a free consultation today with a Removery technician. We prioritize your safety by using the most efficient and safest laser technology available. Learn more about the technology in our PicoWay Review article.

Connect with us to start your removal journey

Recommended Reading: Can Dental Assistants Have Tattoos

Safety Measure For Tattoo

  • Must try to get your tattoo from a licensed and reputable tattoo parlor, who follow the latest health safety laws.
  • Make sure that tattoo needles are not reused. You can make a deal with parlor authority without tattoo needles and can take a list of necessary tattoo needle names so that you can buy them from your own choice.
  • Also, make sure that your tattoo artists wash hands properly before starting tattooing and also use hand gloves.
  • After finishing your tattoo make sure that tattoo artist perfectly bandages your tattooed area.
  • Try to follow all the instructions of your artist
  • Also, follow a proper guideline of tattoo aftercare instructions.

How Does Laser Removal Work

How Does Tattoo Removal Work

You might be thinking, why would someone want laser tattoo removal? Well truthfully, there are many reasons why someone might opt for removal. From tattoo regret to wanting a new tattoo, the possibilities are endless. Now, there are many removal methods out there from tattoo removal cream to saline removal. Were going to be covering the safest and most effective removal option, laser tattoo removal.

Laser tattoo removal works by breaking down ink particles into tiny pieces for your bodys white blood cells to carry through the lymphatic system. With time and continued sessions, the laser will break the tattoo down layer by layer until its completely removed. On average it takes around 10-12 sessions to see complete removal results spaced every 6-8 weeks apart.

Now that you know the process of what happens under the skin, lets talk about the process of what to expect from your first removal session.

Before you get started with Removery, you will receive a free consultation where our technician will give you clinical expectations for your removal. From there, you will enter the treatment room, get an icepack on the tattoo to numb it, and put on protective goggles for your eyes safety.

Once that is finished, the technician will provide tattoo removal aftercare protocols and materials for at-home use. Set up your next removal session on the way out and repeat the process in 6-8 weeks.

Recommended Reading: Is Aspercreme Good For Tattoos

Factors Contributing To Tattoo Clearance

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.

Ask The Expert: Can A Tattoo Increase Skin Cancer Risk

Dermatologists have been evaluating patients with tattoos for decades, and they have never found an increased prevalence of skin cancer in those individuals. The same is true for patients who have already had melanoma or another form of skin cancer the inks used in tattoos have not been shown to increase their risk of recurrence. People who have had skin cancer are always at higher risk of developing future skin cancers, but tattoos do not increase that risk.

However, its never a good idea to have a tattoo placed too close to a mole. Changes occurring in a mole to its symmetry, border, color, size, shape or texture are potentially key warning signs that the lesion may be evolving into a melanoma or another type of skin cancer. Its important that all moles are left completely visible, or you could risk delaying detection. It is also not advisable to tattoo over a melanoma scar. Its important to be able to look at the scar in case of recurrence. Tattooing will cover the area and potentially allow a recurrence to be missed.

About the Expert:

Ariel Ostad, MD, is a dermatologist and Mohs surgeon in private practice in New York City, and assistant clinical professor of dermatology at New York University School of Medicine.

Recommended Reading: How To Treat A Tattoo

Does Laser Tattoo Removal Cause A Scar

The older style lasers essentially caused a burn that would disrupt the ink and cause an injury which resulted in a skin trauma. This would scab over and the ink essentially was ejected from the body with the scab. This method was effective but also produced severe scarring.

Syneron Candela PicoWay employs the latest state of the art tattoo removal technology the fractures the ink into tiny particles that your bodys immune system eliminates. Our professionally trained certified clinicians carefully input the correct settings matching the skin type meaning you will get the results you expect with minimal chances of scarring. Unless the laser system is a picosecond or q-switched the laser is not designed for tattoo removal which means more chance of scarring.

What you will see during treatment is the tattoo developing a white frosted crust. Redness and some swelling will occur. Some blistering may occur as this is the bodys natural healing process but it is rare. At Detail Tattoo Removal a gel wound dressing is applicated post treatment and Bepanthen is applied to ensure rapid healing.

What Are The Possible Side Effects Of Laser Tattoo Removal

Are laser treatments safe? – Dr. Swetha S Paul

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.

Also Check: Tattoo Supply City Of Industry

Rethink Your Sugar Intake

The body relies on the lymphatic organs for proper detoxification. Unfortunately, todays diet is filled with high amounts of sugar. Over time, the overconsumption of sugary beverages and foods can cause impaired liver and kidney function.

Keep your bodys detoxification system healthy by regulating your sugar intake. Weed out any foods with an unnecessarily high amount of sugar such as junk food and desserts. Instead, incorporate healthier sources of sugar into your diet.

Complications Of Tattoo Removal

Q-switched lasers have now become the standard for removal of tattoos. However complications can occur, with an incidence of about 5%. On delivery of the laser in the skin, the energy that is absorbed by the pigment is converted to heat, which is the photothermal effect. There is breakage of chemical bonds inside the pigment, which is the photochemical effects. There is a mechanical destruction of the pigments due to photoacoustic effects. Small pigment particles, unknown decomposition products and newly generated chemical compounds are then removed from the skin via blood vessels or the lymphatic system. Pigments remaining in the skin may exhibit different chemical characteristics as compared to nonirradiated pigments again stimulating a reaction of the immune system. Some tattoo pigments containing metals could theoretically break down into toxic chemicals in the body when exposed to light. This has not yet been reported in vivo but has been shown in laboratory tests. It has also been shown that carcinogenic amines are generated by a laser-induced cleavage of azo dyes. The complications of laser tattoo removal can be divided into immediate and delayed .

You May Like: Can You Donate Plasma After Tattoo

How Much Does Laser Tattoo Removal Cost In Nyc

The cost of a laser depends on the size, location, and color of the tattoo. Generally, the price for a small tattoo can start at $500 and increase in price as the size of the tattoo gets larger. Tattoo removal costs more when a board certified dermatologist, like Dr. Michele Green, performs the laser tattoo removal herself. If a patient chooses the R20 method of laser tattoo removal, multiple sessions are completed in a single day and the tattoo removal cost is increased to remove this unwanted ink. Ask about our free consultations which get applied to your first test spot for your laser tattoo removal.

What Is The Minimum Treatment Interval With The Syneron Candela Picoway

Ask Us #1 : Tattoo Removal Side Effects

The Syneron Candela Picoway uses true picosecond technology that delivers photoacoustic peak power and shatters the ink pigment with very little photothermal effect. This method ensures that the surrounding tissue doesnt receive any heat. The process of complete healing is quicker. As well the ink pigments are shattered into miniscule particles which allows the body to remove the particles much quicker than with nanosecond systems. Therefore, the treatment intervals are 3 to 4 weeks

Read Also: Tattoo Parlors Near My Location

Latest Posts

Popular Articles

Stay in touch

To be updated with all the latest news, offers and special announcements.