How to remove a cosmetic tattoo in case of allergic reaction?

Question

A few years ago I got my eyeliner and eyebrow makeup tattooed by a pro licensed cosmetic tattoo artist. Since, I've come across news stories about women who had "delayed" allergic reactions to their tattoos. Sudden, and up to 20 years after! My eye doctor warned that though laser removal makes it invisible, all it really does is shatter the pigment and bury it even deeper into the skin. Is there anything that will safely, thoroughly remove all the pigment? Thank you in advance for your help!!

Misbah Khan MD, FAAD, FACMS · Answer

I completely disagree with Dr Katz. picosure laser works no differently than any other Q-switched lasers in the market. its just that it shatters the particles into a size smaller than Q-switched laser do. the healing is very similar. none of the lasers can "REMOVE" tattoo ink from the skin. they can only "MOVE" the ink from where you can see it to where you cant. its still in your system. complete removal of tattoo ink will require surgical removal. you need to see an ophthalmologist who can perform this surgery for you. good luck

Danny Soares, MD · Answer

Unfortunately, complete clearance of all tattoo pigment from your body is unlikely to be achievable because, due to the nature of a tattoo, the pigment does get retained within regional lymph nodes and skin for an indefinite length of time, even following laser treatment, even if the tattoo clears significantly. Despite this, certainly having the pigment sit in your tissues does not represent any well-known danger, especially since a permanent makeup tattoo is just that, dye pigment particles sitting within skin cells. Although there are reports of allergic reactions to tattoo inks following laser tattoo removal, these are very rare and more likely to occur with very specific tattoo inks, not dyes. Permanent makeup often utilizes dyes, which are water soluble and less likely to contain some of the mineral-based inks that are well known to induce allergic reaction, such as mercury oxide, which is itself no longer widely used even for decorative tattoos. Most cases of allergic reactions to tattoo inks occur following an attempt at removal, in which the pigment byproducts from laser removal, upon extrusion from the cells, may induce a local allergic reaction. Outside of such cases, developing an allergic reaction to an old tattoo is rare without an inciting event. If you are concerned about the possibility of developing an allergic reaction during removal, there are steps that can be taken, such as performing a test spot to see if a reaction does occur. This also helps to determine whether you get tattoo darkening, which can be seen with some permanent makeup tattoos and can make complete removal difficult. Even if local reactions do develop, pre-emptive treatment with oral steroids may minimize such reactions, although your provider should take extra precautions in case of severe reactions. Best of luck to you!

Bruce E. Katz, MD · Answer

I recommend learning more about the Picosure
laser. This revolutionary new laser will permanently remove your tattoo without
harming any of the surrounding tissue. Consult with your doctor to make sure the
Picosure is the best laser for you.

How to remove a cosmetic tattoo in case of allergic reaction?

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How to remove a cosmetic tattoo in case of allergic reaction?

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Everything you need to know about Tattoo Removal

Our mission is to create a world where every investment in modern beauty is Worth It.