I Need my Tattoo Removed, I Am Severely Allergic to It - Best Procedure?

Question

I have several tattoos but never knew there was a such thing as an "allergy to a tattoo". A few weeks after my foot tattoo healed I realized something was really off about it. I've had it for like 5 months now and I am certainly allergic to one particular ink used. Its small but on two separate spots of my body, foot and wrist. I've heard laser removal is really painful and your flesh sound like "frying bacon" under the laser. Ew, the pain of getting the tattoo on my foot was bad enough.

Hooman Khorasani, MD · Answer

Thanks for the interesting question.  I am sorry to hear you have an allergy to tattoo ink. This does happen and the most common inks that patients are allergic to are red inks, followed by yellow, green and blue inks.
An allergic reaction to tattoo ink can make laser tattoo removal more problematic.  After laser tattoo treatment, ink is disseminated systemically via the lymphatic system and patients may be at risk for generalized allergic reaction.  Fortunately there are options available to you.
Tattoos may be surgically excised and this eliminates the risk of a generalized allergic reaction.  Sometimes we use different types of lasers such as fractional CO2 lasers. The other option is to pre-treat with prednisolone and anti-histamines.
If you would like to learn more about the procedure I recommend an in person consultation with a board certified dermatologist with cosmetic training.

Tom J. Pousti, MD · Answer

Thank you for the question.

	Laser tattoo treatment will be the best way to go. The area can be numbed up with local anesthesia to make the treatment much less uncomfortable.

	Best wishes.

Richard Ort, MD · Answer

The best way to remove a tattoo with an allergic reaction is to surgically excise it.  There is a risk of getting a widespread allergic reaction if Q-switched laser treatment is done to a tattoo which has an allergic reaction within it.  Small tattoos are easier to excise.  Large tattoos with allergic reactions are a problem to treat.  Some people pre-treat with anti-histamines and prednisone prior to Q-switched laser treatment to try to reduce the risk of generalized allergic reaction.  Other lasers such as fractional CO2 laser might be useful as well.

I Need my Tattoo Removed, I Am Severely Allergic to It - Best Procedure?

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I Need my Tattoo Removed, I Am Severely Allergic to It - Best Procedure?

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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.