Tattoo regret is quite common. The reasons for your regret can vary, from changes in personal taste to new job opportunities. But tattoo removal can be an expensive and time-consuming process, so you may be wondering: is there a way that I can safely remove my tattoo at home?
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Can Tattoos Be Removed Naturally at Home?
Tattoo removal involves breaking down the ink particles in the skin so that they can be absorbed and eliminated by the body. But can it be done at home?
The short answer is no.
Tattoo ink particles are embedded deep within the skin’s layers. There are many at-home remedies on the internet, such as lemon juice, salt, sandpaper, or aloe vera, that are said to help fade tattoos, but they are ineffective and could potentially harm the skin or make the tattoo more difficult to professionally remove. In addiction, these at-home processes only address the upper layer of skin called the epidermis, but tattoos are embedded in the dermis.
Tattoos are designed to be permanent, which means they’re resistant to at-home attempts to remove them. These widely circulated practices can actually cause scarring, infection, or other complications.
While expensive, laser technology is the most advanced way to remove your tattoo safely. It’s reliable, safe, and successful. It targets the ink specifically and doesn’t damage your skin or tissue in the process. To learn more about safe tattoo removal, check out our articles.
Natural Tattoo Removal Methods
While there are some popular natural tattoo removal methods floating around on the internet, we don’t recommend you try to remove tattoos naturally. Not only will it not address the deeper layers of your skin where your tattoo ink particles rest, but it could also, in fact, cause damage to your skin which prevents more professional tattoo removal processes from working successfully.
- Lemon Juice: Lemon juice is said to have natural bleaching properties. Some people believe that lemon juice can lighten your skin pigments and therefore lighten your tattoo over time. While lemon juice can help exfoliate the skin, it’s not likely to remove any of your tattoo.
In fact, lemon juice can make the skin more sensitive to sunlight, which can increase your risk of sunburn. - Salt Scrub: This abrasive material is great for exfoliating your tattoo and for removing dead skin cells but will not remove your permanent tattoo. If you scrub too hard in an attempt to remove your tattoo ink, you could cause irritation, scarring, or infection. Learn more about removing tattoos with salt.
- Aloe Vera: Aloe vera is actually a very soothing solution that makes your tattoo last longer rather than a natural removal method. Aloe vera hydrates the skin and, in turn, lengthens the life of your tattoo.
- Sand Powder or Paper: Attempting to remove your tattoo with abrasive materials such as sandpaper or sand powder paste can cause severe damage to your skin, increasing your risk of scarring and infection. The tattoo ink is embedded deep within the layers of skin and is designed to be resistant to surface-level removal processes. Using this method could make it far more difficult for successful professional removal.
- Topical Removal Creams: There are many tattoo removal creams advertised online, but not only are they expensive and often inefficient, but they also many not FDA-approved and could cause allergic reactions. If you want to consider tattoo removal cream, have a look at our guide to the best on the market.
Mythbusting Natural Tattoo Removal
There are many misconceptions surrounding natural tattoo removal methods, and we are here to clear the air about them all.
Myth #1: Natural Tattoo Removal Methods are Completely Safe
This is false because many natural tattoo removal methods can actually be quite harmful to your skin. Natural doesn’t always mean right for you. These processes could cause damage to the surface of your skin, leading to scarring, infection, or other complications. Additionally, many natural remedies may make your skin more sensitive to sunlight, putting you at risk for sunburns.
Myth #2: Natural Tattoo Removal Methods are Just as Effective As Laser Tattoo Removal
Natural removal methods cannot penetrate deep enough into the skin to break down tattoo ink, which is designed to be resistant to the body’s natural process of eliminating foreign substances. Laser tattoo, on the other hand, uses high-powered machinery to specifically target the pigment deep within the dermis, breaking the ink down into small enough fragments so that the body can naturally process and eliminate them.
Myth #3: Natural Tattoo Removal Methods Work for Everyone
More often than not, they don’t work for anyone! In fact, many of the natural methods advertised online could cause severe allergic reactions for many people.
Myth #4: Natural Tattoo Removal Methods are Affordable
While natural tattoo removal methods may seem more affordable at first, these methods require multiple treatments over an extended period of time to have even a small chance of being effective. This means that the cost eventually adds up - and so does your disappointment when you fail to see results. With the damage that these natural methods could potentially cause to your skin, you may also need to invest in medical care; another unexpected expense that you put yourself at risk for when using natural tattoo removal options.
Our Final Thoughts
It is not recommended to remove a tattoo at home as it can be dangerous and potentially cause harm to your skin. Attempting to remove a tattoo at home can lead to scarring, infection, and other complications, as home remedies like using lemon juice, salt, or sandpaper can damage the skin and make the tattoo even harder to remove.
It is recommended that you seek the assistance of a professional tattoo removal clinic or dermatologist who can evaluate your tattoo and provide safe and effective options for removal. These options may include laser treatment, dermabrasion, or surgical removal, depending on the size, color, and location of the tattoo.
For more information about laser tattoo removal, check out our article, How to Remove Tattoos: How It Works, Process, Healing & Scarring.
