If you have a tattoo you no longer want, you may be considering laser tattoo removal as an option. While the demand for tattoo removal is still rising, many people may still be unsure about what the procedure involves, and how to manage the process.
1. Exposure to laser even for a billionth of a second will cause the pigments in the skin to fragment and disperse.
2. As microscopic bubbles of steam are released in the skin, the appearance of the tattoo changes and it can whiten or turn grey. The surface of the skin changes too and can look abraded. This change typically lasts for a few minutes.
3. Pinpoint bleeding can, but does not always, occur. Hygiene is of course very important, but the area can be protected by a paraffin jelly dry dressing.
4. Once the whitening fades, the treated area can swell and capillaries in the skin can dilate causing redness. This is normal and can last for several hours. Using an ice pack or aloe vera gel can help reduce the redness and swelling, which should not cause much discomfort.
5. Once the swelling and redness have reduced, it remains important to protect the skin, particularly from the sun’s rays, with sunblock of factor 40+.
