Laser Tattoo Removal Side Effects

Tattoos are very common in mainstream culture and I am, myself, a huge connoisseur of tattoos and body art. But the problem is that youngsters of today get very impulsive about getting tattooed and regret later. Even if laser tattoo removal is available today, it's a very expensive procedure. Besides, laser tattoo removal also has certain side effects and risks involved in it. Laser tattoo removal side effects are rare and temporary ones. However, sometimes there can be long-term side effects of the same. Following are the laser tattoo removal side effects that are commonly found.

Side Effects of Laser Tattoo Removal

Did you know that more than half of the patients who go through the treatment of Q-switched laser tattoo removal, show certain transient changes in the pigmentation of normal skin? Such changes in the skin's color does not last forever and gets resolved in 6 to 12 months normally. This is one of the most commonly found laser tattoo removal side effects.

Hyper-pigmentation is one of the many laser tattoo removal side effects. It is usually dependent on the kind of skin the patient has. Skin types IV, V and VI are more likely to suffer from this skin problem as one of the laser tattoo removal side effects, irrespective of the wavelengths used in the laser procedure.
✔ How to Deal: Applying hydroquinone and high sunscreens twice a day will help in resolving the problem of hyper pigmentation, within a period of a couple of months. In some patients, the recovery could take longer.

Transient changes in the skin's texture might also occur as one of the laser tattoo removal side effects. Textural changes are noted very occasionally and are usually resolved within a span of a few months. Permanent changes in the skin's texture will rarely be seen.
✔ How to Deal: If you are going for laser tattoo removal and are highly likely to have pigment or skin texture changes, the treatment intervals should be longer.

Sometimes, a blister is often noticed of as one of the laser tattoo removal side effects. A blister or a crust is formed post laser tattoo removal treatment, on the area that is treated through radiation.
✔ How to Deal: It is strongly recommended NOT to manipulate with this skin change. If the blister is removed early, it may increase the chances of developing a scar. A patient with a medical history of hypertrophic scarring, needs to be warned of his increased chances of scarring.

Other Risk Factors

Q-switched laser tattoo removal treatment can rupture your blood vessels, though a rare occurrence. It may also rupture aerosolize tissue, that requires a plastic shield or a conic device, so as to protect the laser operator from getting in contact with the blood and tissue. Using Q-switched lasers could very rarely, lead to the development of a large bulla (or blister). But if you follow laser tattoo removal aftercare, it might help in minimizing the chances of developing a bulla and other negative side effects. Steps like elevating, resting and applying intermittent icing post laser tattoo removal, will minimize the chances of a bulla. Here's one thing to remember - make sure that your laser tattoo removal surgeon contemplates the use of a cooling device, during the entire tattoo removal procedure.

Many other laser tattoo removal side effects have been reported and most of them are allergic reactions, due to Q-switched laser tattoo removal. Although very rare, when yellow cadmium sulfide is used to brighten up red ink or yellow ink of a tattoo, it may cause a photo allergic reaction. The treatment to these photo allergic side effect includes strict avoidance of direct exposure to sunlight, intralesional steroid injection and in some cases, surgical removal as well! Sometimes, oral antihistamines and anti-inflammatory steroids can be used to treat these allergic reactions of the tattoo ink.

Although, laser tattoo removal has been declared as a gold standard tattoo removal method and is very safe, there are certain complications that may occur during the tattoo removal procedure. It includes, chances of discoloration of the patients skin (hypo pigmentation - white spots or hyper pigmentation - dark spots). There are extremely narrow chances of paradoxical darkening, in which the tattoo gets darker instead of getting lighter. Sometimes, in a tattoo design, few color pigments like yellow #7, are known to break down into toxic and poisonous chemicals in the body when they are attacked by light. The chances of this occurrence is more, if these tattoos are exposed to UV light or laser removal, which might result in degradation of the products and these toxic substances may migrate to the patient's kidneys and liver.

I am not trying to criticize any specific tattoo removal methods here. In fact, the laser tattoo removal method is one of the highest standard, besides being the safest tattoo removal method in the world. But you should be aware of all the side effects that MAY occur in a laser tattoo removal procedure. What you should take care of at the first place is, do not get a permanent tattoo just for the heck of it. Be sure of whatever you want. And if you already have a tattoo, and you are desperate to get rid of it as soon as possible, do not just get it removed without doing a proper research. After all, an ugly tattoo is better than a large layer of pigmented or allergic skin! So, do a thorough research if you are planning to get your tattoo removed. Make sure the laser removal surgeon is highly certified and experienced in tattoo removal and ask him to inspect your skin prior to any action for any laser tattoo removal side effects, so that, if there are any chances, they can be easily prevented and taken care of. Take care!