Is this normal after tattoo removal? My skin is pinkish and whitish, kind of shiny (Photo)

Question

So i went to my second laser treatment and my this time it started bleeding it's been almost 2 months and my skin has not heal .. is this a scar ? Or will it go away in time ? And should I wait for my next treatment ?

J. Jason Wendel, MD, FACS · Answer

Thank you for your question in regards to laser tattoo removal. Redness can appear after laser treatments, although lingering redness 8 weeks post treatment would suggest treatment was to aggressive. Additional treatments are not recommended until you are fully healed. Pink and red areas usually will heal back over time. To be sure what is best for you, see two or more board-certified providers in your area for a complete evaluation to make sure you are a good candidate and that it is safe for you to have treatment. I hope this helps.

Harold J. Kaplan, MD · Answer

Hello ,Residual redness is not uncommon; however, it is our opinion that this much redness 8 weeks later is uncommon.  It would appear that your treatment was too aggressive in that you reported bleeding and prolonged healing.  For black ink such as yours, the energy used and required should not provoke such a strong reaction.  In addition, based upon the pattern of the redness, it appears that you were not given a very thorough treatment that covered the entire design.  The prolonged circular redness also would indicate that your practitioner stayed on the area too long/too hard.  Please report your concerns to your practitioner so that they  may offer feedback.  Diligent sunscreen is a must.  Also, if the redness does not improve over the next few months, using a pulsed dye laser will help fade out the red.  Good luck.

Jason Emer, MD · Answer

There can be redness after laser tattoo removal treatment. I recommend following up with your practitioner for after care. Lasting redness can be improved with a combination of lasers (ProYellow, Excel V, Pulsed Dye). See an expert. Best, Dr. Emer

Sanusi Umar, MD · Answer

It is normal to have redness after laser tattoo treatment. There could also be some loss of pifment in the aftermath. You should definitely discuss with your treating doctor about when your next treatment should be done. Typical, if you have not had skin breakdown and blisters, the treated area should heal sufficiently to allow for another treatment within 4 weeks. But your treating doctor would likely go over your symptoms and examine you before making that decision.

Amy J. Holland, MD · Answer

Hi,
It does seem very red though some "Reddening" after treatment is common, but for this length of time, I would be concerned. Recommend go see your provider and let them examine you and advise next steps. Need to assure completely healed before have next treatment. It is not likely to scar, but there maybe some hypopigmentation,but often the pigment returns after a period of time.
These are all great questions and I am sure your provider would want to know about your concerns.
Hope this helps,
Dr. Amy

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Is this normal after tattoo removal? My skin is pinkish and whitish, kind of shiny (Photo)

Answers (5)

Answer: Iflammation AFter Laser tattoo Treatment

Answer: Iflammation AFter Laser tattoo Treatment

Answer: Tattoo Laser Removal

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