When you sat in the artist chair and endured the pain of getting that tattoo you had every intention of having it forever. There was a meaning and purpose for that tattoo. Now, you are older... wiser... or possibly, just at a different place in life that your tattoo no longer fits in and you just want to get rid of it. You have done your research and gone over your options. Hmmm... surgery, just not your cup of tea. But, the good news is that there are home tattoo removal techniques that are just as effective as surgery and a lot less painful.
The first technique we will look at is TCA. First, let's start off by saying that TCA tattoo removal is not a quick fix, this is more of a gradual fading process. TCA is a peeling agent that has been used by doctors and dermatologists for years to get rid of warts, calluses, and stretch marks. Basically, what it does is forces the skin to exfoliate, in other words, the top layers of skin peel off.
TCA is considered one of the most effective home tattoo removal techniques as well as one of the most popular. You simply apply the TCA to the tattoo with a cotton ball or Q-tip. How does it work? Simple, the TCA causes and inflammatory response to take place on the skin. This inflammation causes the pigment that was used for the tattoo to move up through the layers of skin and flake off.
The next home remedy tattoo removal technique to talk about is Glycolic Acid, more commonly known as alpha hydroxy acid. When this tattoo removal technique is used correctly it is very effective.
Like TCA, Glycolic Acid is a peeling agent and it doesn't get rid of the tattoo over night either. Glycolic Acid works the same as TCA, it causes an inflammatory response in the skin, the ink is then slowly moved up and out of the skin as the skin flakes off. The main difference between the two home tattoo removal techniques is that TCA works quicker then Glycolic Acid. So, what would make you chose one over the other?
Remember that both of these home tattoo removal techniques are acid, how your body is going to react to the application of one acid over the other will be your deciding factor. While you may want to use TCA because it's faster then Glycolic Acid, your skin may not be able to tolerate TCA. I will dispel the rumor out there that Glycolic Acid doesn't work, it does, it just may not work as well for you.
The next home tattoo removal technique that should be mentioned is chemical tattoo removal. One of the oldest removal techniques, it is also known as tattoo extraction and tattoo over. Obviously, this technique involves the application of certain chemicals to the tattoo to help get rid of it.
So what does chemical extraction actually involve? With this method, Glycolic Acid is actually injected into the tattoo. In the previous two methods we were talking about applying the acids/chemicals topically to the skin.
Chemical extraction is slightly more invasive. The same process that you went through to get your tattoo is what is used to remove it. While it is recommended that you have a trained professional do this removal technique for you, it can be done at home as long as you are qualified to use a tattoo gun and have all the written step by step procedures to follow.
Finally, the last home remedy for tattoo removal are tattoo removal creams. Suffice it to say, there are a number of tattoo removal creams on the market and there is just about as much "controversy" surrounding them.
Do they work? Is it a scam? Yes they work, and no, its not a scam. Yes, some creams work better than others. Just as there are some moisturizing creams that work better than others, some shampoos that work better than others... doesn't change the fact that some tattoo removal creams work better than others. When using tattoo removal creams, all instructions have to be followed exactly and must be used for the the length of time required by the manufacturer, if not, they will not work.
In general, the majority of the tattoo removal creams have a two to three step process, but there are a couple that have a four step process. Basically, each one comes with a cleanser, a scrub, and the fade cream. Just as with TCA, Glycolic acid, and the chemical tattoo removal techniques, these creams do take time to work.
Regardless of what option you would like to try, it is important that you find the removal technique that works best for you, not the guy down the street. We are all individuals, and therefore, we react differently to different products.
If you would like to get more information to help you make a more informed decision, as well as see what other options you have, visit http://www.tattoos-away.com/index.html
