My tattoo is gone but now there is a scar. Why? (Photo)

Question

I had tattoo removal about a week ago. I only needed one session now my tattoo ink is completely gone but I have a worse problem. The tattoo is now white! The scabbing is almost gone& the underneath surface looks almost scarred. No I did not pick nor scratch. And yes it has been covered & yes I’ve been applying aquafor and changing the bandage. What can I do to get rid of this white ? Is it permanent?

Glenn Messina, MD · Answer

I see you have a naturally darker skin tone and that makes you very sensitive to laser therapy. It appears as the laser removed melanin pigment from you skin. The laser beam is wider than the ink line so just about all cases have unlinked skin getting hit by the laser. In your case the darker tone attracted the laser . I could be that its just a healing wound but to me this isn't a scar but skin that lost its pigment. When layering a person such as yourself using a low power is imperative. Its possible that in time the melanocytes still alive will fill in the center.

Emil Shakov, MD · Answer

Many factors are in play here. Unsure which type of tattoo removal you had performed but from the post procedure care you describe it sounds like a laser procedure. It is possible this is the immediate post-healing process like when you peel off a scab.  At worst it may be hypopigmentation which is permanent. When getting a laser tattoo removal procedure you must have the correct laser that is not only for the tattoo color you are trying to remove but also safe for the skin color.

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