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POSTED UNDER Tattoo Removal Reviews

My Tattoo Removal Process - Reno, NV

UPDATED FROM Sairisan
5 months post

Two months post session #3

SairisanSeptember 3, 2014
$1,100
After my third session I mentioned breaking out in full body hives, and I even suffered from facial angioedema (swelling) a few days after the session. Over the last two months my hives have very slowly been getting better. I have had multiple tests ran to narrow down any other cause of the hives and both allergists I have seen and my primary doctor think it is due to the tattoo removal. Their best guess is that my body had an allergic reaction to the pigment breaking down in my body. Because no tattoo inks are FDA monitored, it's really hard to know exactly what I am reacting to. I spent about 3 weeks living on Benadryl, followed by another 4 weeks on Zyrtec. Now I'm down to taking only one Allegra a day to stop the left over itching. I'll be glad when it's finally all gone! I thought I would just update this incase there is anyone else out there suffering from this type of reaction as I've come across a few others like me.
As far as the tattoo removal, I will be stopping any further treatment. Perhaps in another 5-10 years people will know a lot more about avoiding these allergic reactions.

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Sierra Nevada Wellness Center

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Replies (3)

JLN319
September 3, 2014
That is terrible! I have never heard of a reaction like yours. If it makes you feel better, I am convinced that once I've completed 25 treatments and my tattoo is gone, someone will invent a cream that simple wipes the ink away.
Sairisan
September 6, 2014
Yeah I haven't either! I have came across a few people breaking out in mild hives for up to a month or so after treatment but never this long. I asked the woman who was treating me and she said out of all her clients (500+) she saw this type of reaction in only one other person. That's funny about the cream though! I couldn't imagine a cream getting deep enough though after all the pain the lasers cause lol but if someone ever invented it they'd be a millionaire
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Eva G
September 10, 2014
Sorry to hear you had a reaction and have to stop treatment. I guess you just never know what's in the ink. I am glad you shared so that if anyone experiences this they have someone to connect to. Take care. 
ANDREA0613
August 10, 2016
I know this post is a few years old but I too have had a similar experience recently. My first laser tattoo removal session was perfect, only worked on removing black ink. The second and third however, I opted to treat red as well as black ink in the same tattoo. Both times I broke out in hives all over my arms, torso and had swelling of my eyes and face. I was on steroids for more than two weeks each time. Wierd thing is is that the reactions both times happened exactly 1 week after a series treatment. My allergist initially thought it was seasonal allergies but after the second time, in the same way it could only be from the laser treatment, right? The clinic doing the removal told me it must be a reaction while my body was metabolizing the fragmented partials. I am too discontinuing laser treatment. I was ol wondering if you had gotten any other tattoos after this with any or no complications. I would really like to do SOMETHING with this semi faded thing now instead of just leaving it alone but am unsure of the reaction my body may have. I would of course stay away from red ink, which seemed to start the problem.
Sairisan
February 26, 2017
I am so sorry to hear that you had a similar reaction. I have actually not had any more tattoos done, touched up, or removed since this event, as I am afraid of another reaction. However, my severe allergic reaction was to just my black ink not red, so it is possible you just want to avoid the red/pink tattoo colors. My hives from the tattoo removal lasted for about three months before they fully went away.
UPDATED FROM Sairisan
3 months post

Third treatment... hives, swelling etc

SairisanJuly 13, 2014
I am currently three treatments in and I feel like I'm finally starting to see results in fading. The bad news though is that I broke out in hives and got facial and palm swelling about five days after the treatment, and it hasn't gone away yet. Because the reaction was so bad, my primary doctor has advised that I hold off on any more treatments until I see an allergist and try to figure out the cause behind this. Of course I hope that it wasn't caused by the ink removal and that I can keep going, but for now I'll be waiting on any further treatments. I wanted to post this update because I've only come across a few cases of hives or allergic reaction from tattoo removal.

Replies (1)

JfromPA
July 13, 2014
Hey hope you feel better soon. Allergic reactions are far more common with red ink and less so with others. Here is a review that was having similar symptms..realself.com/review/north-county-dermatology-clinic-lakeland-fl-picosure-multi-color-cover-removal. Please make sure to follow your dr's advice. All the best :)
UPDATED FROM Sairisan
3 months post

Blistering on Session #3

SairisanJuly 1, 2014
Only one day after my third session and I've finally noticed some blistering. I am guessing this means each one of my laser treatments is getting more intense (?).

Replies (3)

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Marisska
July 1, 2014
I have to say that my last session was more intense than previous one, but I didn't have any blisters so far. I really do not know if this is good or bad thing as I am not a doctor, but since you have blisters, try to treat them well! Hope they will heal soon and we will see the fading! Good luck and take care!
Sairisan
July 1, 2014
Thanks for the comments! I am not sure about the blistering either. My first two sessions only had swelling for the first 2-3 days followed by peeling/itching. This is the first time I've had any type of blistering, but I'm hoping that means the laser is getting turned up. I was told that each person reacts differently though! Keeping my fingers crossed that I'll start to see fading soon enough.
JLN319
July 1, 2014
That actually looks so cool...like a 3D tat!
Sairisan
July 1, 2014
haha it looks cool now- probably won't feel cool once the blisters pop
JLN319
July 1, 2014
Definitely! Don't pop them and keep it moisturized with aquaphor. Once they scab over, I like Locoid (rx hydrocortisone) for the itching. Good luck!
Sairisan
July 3, 2014
Thanks for the info. I'm letting them pop on their own. I have aquaphor so I'll start applying that soon. Does hydrocortisone cream work best for the itching? I feel like that stage is the worst/most annoying part
JLN319
July 3, 2014
Yes, it works well, but you have to reapply often. The itching is maddening!
Janwa
July 6, 2014
I've only had one session on my black tattoo and haven't noticed any changes and it's been 2 weeks already. I'm going back 2 weeks from now to another doctor who'll treat me in a much higher setting than before and hope to see promising results then from there I'll be spacing each session at least 8 weeks apart. Maybe in your case it'll help to space them further apart as well. I see blistering as a good sign...like you really know that the laser penetrated the ink! Good luck with your sessions and looking forward too seeing progress pics from you.
Sairisan
July 8, 2014
Thanks for commenting! Yes I agree as weird as it sounds I was excited to see the blistering on my third session as I also felt like it meant the sessions were maybe going to start really working. I'm sorry to hear your first session was a bit of a let down. My first two were as well. I was told that many professional tattoos are placed quite deep and can take up to 4 sessions before you even start noticing fading. I'm hoping I'll start seeing results in these next few sessions, but if not I'll probably do the same as you and get a second opinion. I hope your next session goes much better!
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