Tattoo Erase

This is marketed as a form of tattoo removal which does not involve lasers, intense pulsed light therapy or surgery. It can be used on types of tattoos large or small and may be effective where other removal treatments have failed.

The tattoo erase treatment process

You will be asked to exfoliate (remove a layer of skin) your skin with a body scrub beforehand to help prepare the area to be treated. It is performed in a similar way to having a tattoo in that the practitioner will use a needle to make a series of dots on your skin. But the difference is that this needle contains a substance called Katadermwhich is made from a combination of natural products.

When Kataderm is injected into the skin it triggers the bodys immune system to expel the pigments of your tattoo through your skin. It does this by the formation of small scabs on the tattoo which fall off and take the tattoo with them. This is likely to occur after the treatment. An individual session takes around 15 minutes, for smaller tattoos and up to an hour for larger tattoos. Several sessions may be required and you will be advised to wait for eight weeks between each one to allow the treated area to heal. People usually require six to eight treatments to fully remove a tattoo but this can vary according to the size and design of the tattoo. This treatment is no more painful than having a tattoo done.

Post-treatment

Aftercare is vitally important to ensure that your skin fully heals and is ready for any further sessions. You will find that the treated area of skin will take some time to return to its normal colour and/or to tan properly.

Please follow the advice given to you by your practitioner which will include:

• A light bandage will have been applied to the treated area. Keep this on for the first hour after treatment or until any bleeding has stopped.
• Once this has been removed, leave the treated area open to the air. Do not put a plaster or any other dressing over it.
• Avoid getting this area wet for the first 48 hours after treatment.
• Then avoid immersing the treated area in water for 14 days. This includes swimming pools, baths etc. However, you can wash the area gently during this time and pat it dry with a towel.
• The treated area will be red and swollen the first few days following treatment. Small craters will have formed which will turn to scabs and these will slide off after 3 to 20 days. Do NOT pick or scratch these scabs as this will result in scarring. They will fall off on their own accord.
• Once the scabs have fallen off the treated area will be pink and sensitive so avoid sunbathing, saunas, sunbeds and excessive sweating (exercise).
• Use the aftercare lotion to help soothe the treated area.
• Use a suncream with a high SPF, for example SPF 30+ to protect the treated area from sun exposure.

Everyone is different when it comes to healing but if you are fit and healthy then it usually takes around 7 weeks for the area to heal. If your health is poor or you have problems with your immune system then it will take longer. The next session of treatment will only take place once your skin has completely healed and is no longer pink.

Side effects of tattoo erase

These include the risk of scarring and loss of skin pigmentation although the latter may occur as a result of an unsuccessful treatment, e.g. laser removal.

A patch test can be carried out to see if your skin is likely to lose colour after this treatment.

There are alternatives to tattoo erase which include laser removal or intense pulsed light therapy. Dermabrasion tattoo removal is another option as is surgical removal, removal cream and tattoo erase.