Ways to remove tattoos (part 1)

There are several ways to approach tattoo removal:

• laser removal
• surgical excision
• dermabrasion
• glory remover

Tattoo removal generally works, but some tattoos are much harder to remove than others. Older tattoos as well as stick-and-poke tattoos are easier to remove than newer ones, for example.

Some colors are easier to remove than others as well. These include:

• black
• brown
• dark blue
• green

Larger, more colorful tattoos are typically more time-consuming and expensive to remove than smaller, lighter, and less colorful ones.

Due to the risk of side effects, it may also be more difficult to remove tattoos if you have:

darker skin
a preexisting skin condition, like eczema
a health condition that affects the skin, such as herpes
However, this doesn’t mean you can’t remove your tattoo if any of this applies to you. It just means you may need to take a bit more time to find the best removal option for you.

Types of tattoo removal
When thinking about tattoo removal options, you’ll want to consider several factors, including:

• cost
• scarring risk
• effectiveness
• time commitment

Again, these factors will depend largely on the size, complexity, and condition of your tattoo, as well as your skin.

Here’s a quick look at how different types of tattoo removal compare to each other, followed by a more in-depth look at each.