How Tattoo Removal Balm Works
Used for many centuries and by countless cultures, tattoos originated as marks of status, rites of passages and even as religious symbols, and have evolved over time to become mostly recreational in nature. Because they are designed to be permanent and impossible to remove, the drastic increase in voluntary tattooing of the body has led to an increase in “tattoo regret,” creating a lucrative market for tattoo removal products.
Surgical procedures for the removal of tattoos, including laser therapy and Intense Pulsed Light treatment, among others, were popular in recent years but have given way to the newest tattoo removal phenomenon, do-it-yourself, at home removal using creams. The tattoo removal balm market is currently dominated by Wrecking Balm, TatBGone and Tattoo Erase, three of many products currently available. While tattoo removal balms contain an array of primary active ingredients, hydroquinone has been the dominant chemical in the at-home tattoo removal market. The chemical works by decreasing melanin production in the skin, and is commonly used cosmetically for skin bleaching, mainly for the reduction of freckles and age spots. Tattoo removal balms with hydroquinone usually contain about a two percent concentration of the controversial chemical. The FDA proposed a possible ban on hydroquinone in the United States in 2006, and it has been banned in several counties worldwide due to the suspicion that it may have a pose a slight cancer risk.
Instructions on how to use the products vary, requiring different frequency and lengths of use, as well as different methods of application. Tattoo removal balm manufacturers promise a gradual reduction in the appearance of unwanted body art with very little or no pain. Product reviews for the most popular removal products generally report that consumers had varied results, but experienced minor stinging at worst when the products were used as directed.
Doc Wilson’s Wrecking Balm No. 3, or simply Wrecking Balm, is the most recent craze in at-home tattoo removal. What makes this product unique is that it uses a three-step process involving a medical dermal device that was recently approved by the FDA. The product works by breaking down ink-injected skin and relies on the skin’s natural healing and regeneration process. Active ingredients in the product include salicylic acid and phyllanthus emblica fruit, also known as Indian Gooseberry.
Consumers can expect to pay anywhere from $50 to over $300 for these products, which are easily found and purchased by phone or online.
Jeff Flincks writes about tattoo removal balm usage and skin care.