Can I Use a Home HPL Hair Removal System to Fade a Tattoo?

Question

I have a very small homemade tattoo that I gave myself using India ink when I was a teenager. I am aware that the IPL hair and tattoo removal strategies are similar, but am not sure how much the wavelengths and other characteristics of the light differ. I am hoping I can zap this little tattoo with my home hair removal LED and cause it too fade.

Kenneth Hughes, MD · Answer

I don’t suggest this, home laser devices are very low in energy that wont see a significant result from and may risk burning your skin or pigmenting. Seek a medical provider and have a professional treatment done.

Robert M. Lowen, MD · Answer

Unfortunately no. The wavelengths are not too dissimilar, since an IPL for hair for lighter skin will be attracted to dark pigment. If your skin is Type IV or darker, that kind of IPL might be overabsorbed in the tattoo and possibly cause a burn. If the IPL is tuned for darker skin, then a dark tattoo will be less affected. In any case, tattoo lasers are powerful devices that operate in the nanosecond (billionths of a second) pulse duraton with high peak powers to break up the pigment. If this did not happen, your body macrophage cells could not take the pigment away and fade the tattoo. Q switched lasers like the ruby and medlite YAG which I use were specifically designed for tattoo removal, and even these can take 10 or more treatments. Only Q-switched tattoo lasers are commercially sold for tattoo removal, and the companies that sell both IPL and Q-switched lasers never recommend the IPL for tattoo removal.

Alberto de la Fuente Garcia, MD · Answer

Absolutely not, it is not going to fade away the tattoo and you may risk your skin to get burned. Let a dermatologist to treat your tattoo with a Q-switched laser. This is the only type of laser approved for tattoo removal, no peels, IPL, miracle products or dermabrasion

F. Victor Rueckl, MD (in memoriam) · Answer

No, you should not do this. Most likely you will get a very serious burn due to overtreatment because it won't work and so you will try harder and longer and then cause a burn. At least, this is what I've seen from patients who have tried this. Home devices are very low energy (usually 100-1000x less energy than in-office devices) so people use them to extremes thinking they are safer, and then cause burns and severe long-term damage. If you want to remove you tattoo correctly and safely, see a trained professional.

	"This answer has been solicited without seeing this patient and cannot be held as true medical advice, but only opinion. Seek in-person treatment with a trained medical professional for appropriate care."

Can I Use a Home HPL Hair Removal System to Fade a Tattoo?

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