Benefits of Laser Tattoo Removal

Benefits of Laser Tattoo Removal

When people get a bad tattoo, they often want it removed; very few people stick with a bad tattoo these days. However, once they think about getting tattoo removal and see what people have to say about it, sometimes they get scared off. Laser tattoo removal is not something you have to be afraid of; this procedure is very common, almost 50 percent of tattoo recipients have gotten removals, and has made huge strides in recent years. The success rate of this process has become one to brag about in the medical field.

New techniques have gained in popularity because of how effective they have become. The lasers are capable of removing any color or at least enough to make going through with tattoo removal worth it. Certain colors require certain lasers and thus is why a tattoo removal via laser has been able to be almost custom to each individual. With new laser technology, dark colors, such as black and navy blue, are able to be removed completely since they are so receptive to lasers. Other colors can be removed but they may take a different laser wavelength and more treatments.

Even individuals who have tried removing a tattoo with other methods can benefit from this method as long as the previous methods did not leave too much scarring and completely damage the skin.

Another benefit of laser tattoo removal is that it is done a licensed and certified professional. The studios only use dermatologists, aka doctors, to do the procedure; you will not find just anyone doing this. Of course, this means finding the right dermatologist to do the removal. A way to find a good dermatologist to do this by asking your general doctor for a recommendation; chances are that they know of one that they can recommend to you.

This method is completely safe as well. Each session is determined by the healing of the skin and the pain tolerance of the patient. If you can not handle a lot of pain, which this does not cause a lot of pain but there is some, then the session will go until you can not do anymore. This laser tattoo removal procedure does not leave much, if any, scarring; the chances of scarring are drastically reduced if patients follow after-care instructions. Patients will wear protective eyeglasses so there’s no chance of the laser actually reflecting off anything into your eye and causing damage. Ice packs and cool streams of water or air can be applied to the area as well to help reduce pain and swelling.

As you have read, the benefits of laser tattoo removal far outweigh any other method as the way things stand today. It is safe and effective.

http://www.allurevip.com/benefits-laser-tattoo-removal/

Advantages and Disadvantages of Having a Tattoo

By MEDICMAGIC

Having a tattoo could cause various risks. One should consider carefully before deciding to get a tattoo. Nowadays tattoo had become some kind of a trend amongst teenagers.

Tattoo is one form of art  which is  permanent, until today there has been no single technique  which can completely remove tattoos.

Actually there haven’t been any cases of tattoo causing serious illness, the worst effect that could happen is probably an irritation. While the risk of infection can occur when creating a tattoo with a non-sterile needles or ink that contains dangerous substances.

As quoted from Hubpages, Wednesday (3/3/2010), there are some advantages and disadvantages of having a permanent tattoo, namely:

Disadvantages have a permanent tattoo

1. The pain we feel when making a tattoo.
2. The high cost of making a tattoo.
3. Tattoo is permanent and can not be removed easily, if you want to erase it, it does not always work 100 percent and the price is very expensive.
4. After years, the color can fade or appear fault lines of the drawing.
5. Fashion and trends always changes, you could have a trendy tattoo now, and be quite ancient the next few years.
6. Maybe the tattoo will look attractive at the age of 20, but it would be a strange thing after the age of 50.
7. There is risk of infection from each tattoo, such as from non-sterile needles or ink that contain dangerous substances.

Benefits have permanent tattoos

1. Tattoos can express personal, artistic or meaningful messages for the owner of the body.
2. There are certain satisfaction if you have something different to anyone else.
3. Tattoos can be a characteristic of a person.

Dr. Roy Geronemus, director of the Laser & Skin Surgery Center of New York tells us there are several ways you can do to remove the tattoo on the body such as the use of laser light, rubbing cream into the existing body tattoo, excision techniques (tattoos and remove all the skin layers underneath to leave a prominent scar) and dermabrasion (remove the skin layer by means such as sanding, but may damage the skin).

Until now laser technique is more effective than other methods, but the skin color can also be a critical success factor. Because the laser works by distinguishing between skin color and the color of the tattoo, if there is no much difference it is difficult to remove tattoos.

“There is a risk scars or loss of natural skin pigment when using laser techniques, especially for people who have dark skin. The average treatment takes a few times to remove it,” Geronemus said.

http://medicmagic.net/advantages-and-disadvantages-of-having-a-tattoo.html

The costs and benefits of one teen's tattoo

The first thing you notice about 18-year-old Jahsan Lambey is his neck tattoo. It's done in thick black ink and it sits right in the center of his neck. Jahsan spent $60 on the tattoo and he says that's a small price to pay for art.

"My body is my canvas, I like drawing. I drew the neck tattoo out for the tattoo artist to do it, so it's just cool to me to see that I can look at it every day," he says.

The tattoo looks like the Roman numeral II with flames on the side of his neck going up. He chose the Roman numeral II because it's the symbol of the Gemini. On one side of Jahsan's neck is a hellish looking skull and on the other heavenly clouds. He says it really represents his two different sides "as far as the good and the bad."

Jahsan's mom says her son may have only paid $60 for the tattoo, but in many ways it cost him a lot more. Jahsan works in an auto shop now, but his mom worries about his future job prospects, among other things.

"It's like when you're young and dumb and you get your name tattooed on you. Why are you get your name tattooed on you? You're gonna forget your name? It just kind of looks stereotypical. Like some hard, thugged out young guy," she says.

When she heard about his tattoo and saw it on Facebook, she was so devastated -- "to the point of being in tears about it." She also worries it might get him in trouble with the law.

"I mean he's young, he's black, he has such a prominent tattoo on his neck. It's not the end of your life, but that's a negative calling card for him," she says.

Before her kid got a neck tattoo, Jahsan's mom says she'd avoid guys in the neighborhood like her son.     

"If I saw my son not being my son, I wouldn't necessarily want to really stand too close," she says.

And she wonders how many people turn stay away from her kid. I have to admit, when I first met him, I did. Jahson noticed.

"I know that when you met me, you were like what the? I know your mind isn't already thinking I'm a bad kid, but I'm sure you wouldn't think I'm as well spoken as I am." he says.

It's not that I wouldn't think Jahsan was well spoken, I was surprised he was so soft spoken. He has a dreamy sweetness to him. And for a boy growing up in a rough neighborhood, maybe he inhabits a world Jahsan's mom and I don't just understand.

Jahsan says he was picked on as a kid and put down a lot because he was really small. He's 5'7" and says he wants to get to 5'9". For Jahsan, the value of the tattoo is more than just art -- it offers protection. When he runs across someone looking for a fight, the neck tattoo comes in handy. He says there's a difference before and after the tattoo in terms of getting bothered.

"A lot of people will look past me that are looking for trouble. People prey upon the weak and I can give a certain look that makes you feel kind of intimidated. I haven't been bothered in a long, long time," he says.

He even has a job now. But might the tattoo hurt his future chances of getting a job?

"[It's] hard to say, but yes. Maybe it wasn't the best decision, but I believe I can get really far. I'm young and I'm saying that now, and maybe when I'm 30 years old I'll be like, this is silly," he says.

So the final cost/benefit analysis of the $60 neck tattoo? Well, it might hurt Jahsan's chances of getting ahead at work, but it might also keep him a little safer on the bus ride there.

http://www.marketplace.org/topics/life/costs-and-benefits-one-teens-tattoo

Tattoo Piercing – Health Risks, Precautions and Benefits

Tattoo Piercing – Health Risks, Precautions and Benefits

Tattooing and body piercing are hit with youngsters! However, these people are mostly unaware of the health risks associated with various body arts. A little carelessness and these body arts can cause as simple a health problem as itching, irritability and non tolerance to even mild sun exposure to as complex a disease as tuberculosis and leprosy. However, if done carefully and with all precautions body art can be all safe. In fact, there are certain rare benefits of tattooing too.

Risks of Various Body Arts

These days, most of the school and college going girls and boys love to decorate their bodies with various arts that include designs in the form of tattooing or permanent make-up or piercing of different body parts. Before taking decisions to go for such an art, one must be fully aware of risks involved in them.

Body piercing

Piercing of any body part except ear lobules can create problems. Ear lobules do not have any kind of fats, nerves or blood supply. As such, they don't run the risk of infections. However, other body parts that are highly vascular and have mucus surface, like tongue, genitals, lips and nipples, are all at health risks. Body piercing can cause cartilage infection, keloid, hepatitis B and C. It can also cause HIV infection if the tools used are infected. Sometimes, drugs like lidocaine and epinephrine (used during anesthesia) are also used while piercing body. Wrong dosage of these drugs can result in seizures, heart palpitations and cardiac problems. Navel piercing has been found to be at a lower risk and may not cause any complications but the children born to such females have been found to weigh less at the time of birth.

Tattooing

As the tattoos are made on the outer layer of skin, tattooing done by skilled hands and in a sterile environment do not creates any health complications. However, if not done with sterile precautions, it can lead to many serious diseases. If the needles used in tattooing are infected, it may even cause HIV infection. The dyes that are used in tattoos contain chemicals like carbon (black); cobalt aluminum (blue); hydrates of iron oxides (brown); chromium oxide (green); and mercury sulphide (red). If the needle somehow penetrates the skin, these chemicals get mixed with the blood leading to various allergic conditions and other diseases. Permanent tattoos can cause TB of skin, leprosy, warts and sexually transmitted diseases. Also their removal (mostly done by various laser treatments) is difficult and painful. Temporary tattoos can also cause allergic reactions, burns and boils on skin due to the presence of paraphenyldiamine. It is the same chemical which is used in a hair dye. In permanent make-up, which uses tattoo for making eyeliner can affect the eyes. The red color used for coloring the lips is also very difficult to remove.

Precautions

Whenever getting a tattoo made on any body part, it should be ensured that the tattoo parlour uses disposable needles. The dyes should also be tested for allergic reactions and must contain labels for being absolutely safe. Body piercing at areas like tongue, genitals, lips and nipples should be avoided.

Benefits

In certain medical conditions like spot baldism (alopecia), leukoderma and pigment disorder (piebaldism), tattooing offers certain benefits. In these conditions, the unpigmented area of skin is filled with matching color through tattooing. However, this rare benefit can be obtained under the guidance of expert doctors only.

http://healthvigil.blogspot.com/2009/10/tattoo-piercing-health-risks.html

Tattoos: Aftercare

Finally, your design has become a reality and your skin is sporting a new tattoo. But what do you do to ensure it heals well and ends up looking just as you dreamed it? Read on to find out how…
• Aftercare advice will vary from studio to studio, and sometimes even artists in the same studio will have different ideas of what heals best. Listen to the instructions your artist gives you – most will have a leaflet with their advice printed out for you to take away.
• The majority of advice will tell you to leave the covering on the tattoo for the first 2-5 hours, then to carefully remove it and gently wash the tattoo with lukewarm water and mild liquid soap, like Carex. You should then apply a thin layer of an unscented moisturising cream like Bepanthen (nappy rash cream) – your artist will tell you which they recommend. You can either then recover with clingfilm/gauze, or leave it open to the air, depending on your artists advice. Generally, studios will advise you to repeat the cleaning process 3-5 times a day.
• Keep the tattoo clean and dry, and avoid soaking it in water for at least a month (showers are ok, baths are not). If your clothes are likely to rub on it, keep it covered with gauze/clingfilm and medical tape.
• Avoid exposing it to direct sunlight unless necessary. Healed tattoos, especially coloured ones, can fade in the sun – so when it’s completely healed, make sure it’s covered in a high SPF if you’re going to be catching some rays.
• Healing times depend on how well you heal and the size of the design. This can range anywhere from around a week for simple, small line designs, to several months for complex, larger designs. Keep following your aftercare instructions for as long as the artist told you to, and make sure the tattoo is kept well-moisturised and clean for a good few months after that, avoiding abrasive skin products.
• As the tattoo heals, it may scab or flake slightly. Avoid picking at it, as this may remove the ink in that area and lead to patches fading or being removed altogether. If it itches, don’t scratch – slap it lightly instead. This should only last for the first few weeks or so – if it stays raised, itches uncontrollably, is red around the design, keeps bleeding for more than a day or so after having it done, or is continuously hot to the touch, go back to your artist or seek medical advice. Infected tattoos are very rare but can happen, and it’s always worth getting it checked out if you’re worried about it.
• If you do lose ink, your studio should retouch it for free – bad tattoos and service lead to bad reputations, so it’s in their interests to make sure you’re happy with the final product. After about 6 weeks, go back if you need touch-ups on any area of the tattoo.

Read more: http://www.cosmopolitan.co.uk/beauty-hair/news/styles/tattoos-aftercare-95207#ixzz2wTvFUFzz

 

Tattoo Aftercare With Megan Massacre

By Megan Massacre,

here are a lot of different ideas and theories as to what is the best method of aftercare for your tattoo.

I honestly believe that not one particular method will work best for everyone, seeing as everyone's biology is different. I believe it takes time and experience to figure out what particular method works for you.
Here is a set of instructions that I believe works well for many people, and have used this method on myself successfully:

• No more than a few hours after the finish of your tattoo, you should remove the bandage and wash the tattoo. I personally recommend you wash the tattoo with an anti-bacterial hand soap, such as Dial antibacterial hand soap, to reduce your risk of infection. Also, use lukewarm water as opposed to hot water, which would burn the tattoo. It is important to wash the tattoo lightly, but be sure to remove all ointment, blood, and any other residue.
   
• After washing the tattoo, apply an ointment. Some commonly recommended ointments would be Bacitracin, A+D Ointment and Aquaphor; I would recommend staying away from Vaseline and petroleum jelly. It is VERY IMPORTANT to only use a very tiny amount of ointment and that you lightly rub in on in a thin, shiny, “barely there” layer over the tattoo. The tattoo should just have a slight sheen after rubbing in the ointment. Using too much ointment can oversaturate the tattoo and cause excess scabbing, or cause scabs to come off prematurely. It is NOT “the more, the better.”
   
• I would recommend use of the ointment for around 3–5 days. During these days, wash your tattoo every morning right when you wake, and right before bed. It is also important to wash the tattoo several times throughout the day. The more you wash your tattoo, the easier and faster your tattoo will heal. If your tattoo is in a hard-to-reach area, have a friend assist you — just make sure they wash their hands thoroughly before they do so. If you do not keep your tattoo clean, you run the risk of both infection and excess scabbing which could result in poor healing. During these first few days, depending on where your tattoo is located, the tattoo may be prone to swelling. Using a bag of ice, elevating the tattooed area, and taking ibuprofen can help reduce the swelling.
   

• Around the third to fifth day, you should notice your tattoo has formed a thin, hard layer, which will begin to peel. The peeling is similar to that of a sunburn peeling — only the skin will come off in the colors of the tattoo. This is normal. At this stage in the healing process, you can switch from using the ointment to a non-scented hand lotion. Aveeno, Curel, and Lubriderm non-scented are some common recommendations. For the next two weeks, keep washing the tattoo and use the lotion as needed. Keep the skin moisturized to prevent cracking and bleeding. There may be a couple scabs on your tattoo that take longer to come off then others — some taking up to a few weeks to come off. If this is the case, just let the scabs fall off on their own and be mindful not to pull them off prematurely, as this could result in loss of ink. The majority of your tattoo's healing should be over in 2 weeks, but it does take up to 4 weeks for a tattoo to be fully healed.

Things to avoid during the tattoo healing process:

• Try not to sleep on your tattoo. For example, if the tattoo is on your back, sleep on your stomach. Not only will the tattoo become stuck to your clothing and linens, it will leave a lovely imprint on your sheets. Should you wake up and your clothes are stuck to your tattoo, do not rip them off, for this could result in the ripping off of scabs. Instead, wet the area of clothing that is stuck to the tattoo with water, and it will become unstuck.
   
• Avoid submerging the tattoo. Soaking in water could cause scabs to come off prematurely. Also, avoid swimming due to possible bacteria and irritants in the water. So no ocean, lake, pool, jacuzzi, or bath tub for two weeks! Showers are okay … and encouraged.
   
• Avoid the sun! Getting a sunburn on your tattoo can cause some serious problems. Think of your tattoo as like a bad sunburn; you wouldn’t want to get more sun on it. If you're going to be in the sun for an extended period of time, wear loose cotton clothing over the tattoo.
   
• Avoid wearing tight clothing that will rub on the tattoo, as excessive rubbing can lead to scabbing and loss of ink. Some key areas where this is common is around the pants line and the bra line. Try to wear loose fitting cotton clothing over the tattooed area so that it's breathable, or if you're not in public, go without! If you had your foot tattooed, try to stick to a more open-type of shoe such as a flip-flop. Also, for the first couple days of healing, the tattoo will tend to “ooze” colors that tend to stain fabric, so don't wear your Sunday best!
   
• Avoid over-working the tattooed area. For example, if you are an avid gym-goer, lay off the arm exercises for two weeks if you just had your arm tattooed. Or, if you just got your foot tattooed, don’t plan a hiking or a five-hour mall trip. Over-working the tattooed area can result in scabbing and poor healing. Working out will also cause you to sweat, which is also not good for the tattoo's healing process.

Infection
Infection is not super common, but let's face it: With so many invisible bacteria floating around out there, it's bound to happen at some point. Here are some tips on dealing with your tattoo should it become infected:

• First and foremost, find out if your tattoo is indeed infected. Some key signs of tattoo infection are a red haze surrounding the tattoo after it's already past a week (or more) of the healing process, which could also be accompanied by: a white haze over sections of the tattoo; indentation of the tattoo; extreme scabbing which may turn green or yellowish; a bad smell; and puss. Contacting your tattoo artist so they may confirm whether or not your tattoo is infected (and suggest ways to combat the infection) is a good idea, although the best way to deal with an infection is by calling your physician. He or she will know the absolute best way to combat your infection and may prescribe antibiotics.
   
• The best ways to avoid infections are by keeping your tattoo clean and by making your artist aware of any sensitivities or allergies you may have before getting tattooed. For example, many tattoo artists use latex gloves during the tattooing process, so if you have an allergy to latex, let your tattoo artist know so they can switch to nitrile gloves. Also, many people have a sensitivity to certain tattoo inks; red ink is a common color that people have a sensitivity to because of the nickel content in that particular color. An easy way to tell if you have a nickel allergy is by wearing a piece of cheap costume jewelry, which is commonly nickel-coated. It will discolor your skin if you're allergic to it.

After your tattoo is healed

• In order to keep your tattoo looking good for as long as possible, it is important to keep your skin moisturized. And when you're going to be exposed to sun for a prolonged period, use sunblock to help avoid fading.

 http://magazine.foxnews.com/style-beauty/tattoo-aftercare-megan-massacre

How to Care for a New Tattoo

 

Choosing a reputable tattoo artist is only the first step towards having a tattoo you can be truly proud of. How you care for your tattoo afterwards is equally, if not more, important. Even the best tattoo work can be ruined by poor aftercare. Guidelines vary from artist to artist, but here's an overview of what you need to do to keep your tattoo clean, bold and clear.

 

http://www.wikihow.com/Care-for-a-New-Tattoo