Body art is something that is more popular than it has ever been before, and for a variety of reasons. Perhaps it is because of the many shows that center around this topic. Or, perhaps it is because it is an exceptionally creative way for a person to express him or herself. Whatever the reason, just as there are many people who are very happy with their body art, there are also many people who are dissatisfied with their body art.
This latter group then has two main options, tattoo removal, or covering up their current tattoo with a new tattoo. Some people prefer to do the latter, simply because they still want a tattoo in that area, just not the one that they currently have. However, the people who want to have clear skin again have several things to keep in mind before they choose a tattoo removal method.
In order to understand how a tattoo is gotten rid of, it is first important for a person to understand how a tattoo is structured to become permanent. Basically, when a tattoo is applied, there are small holes that are simultaneously made with the actual injections of the tattoo ink. This ink then bonds with the skin molecules to create what is supposed to be a permanent tattoo.
Medical technology has definitely advanced in recent years, because before, people who got a tattoo only had the option of tattooing over it or covering it if they did not like it. Now, there are two main methods of tattoo removal, the first using a chemical solution known as TCA, and the second involving lasers.
TCA is a solution that is clear, and it actually resembles water. The solution itself is gently, with a q tip, applied to the tattooed area by the person wishing to get rid of their tattoo. What this solution does is permeate the upper layers of the skin, and slowly break apart the skin molecules that have bonded to the ink. This process needs to be done once every six weeks or so in order to prevent scarring.
Another option is to choose a form of tattoo removal that involves lasers. This is, perhaps, the more prevalent removal method, generally because it is considered to be the safest method of removal. In such a procedure, which is done in an outpatient setting by a dermatologist, the heat of the laser destroys the molecules that have bonded to the ink. At the same time, the laser light stimulates more blood flow in the area, which in turn helps to build more new, clear skin tissue.
It is important to note that the laser method will also need to be spaced out over a period of several weeks to several months in order to prevent scarring. Perhaps the more commonly asked question by those people who are looking to get rid of their body art is in reference to how long it will actually take. This answer varies in accordance with the kind of tattoo that was gotten, as well as the age of the tattoo.