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The Safest Ways to Remove a Tattoo for Teens

As tattoos have become more mainstream, many parents have allowed their teens to get them. However, some teens, particularly those wishing to leave gang life, would like to get rid of their ink. As a parent or guardian, or as a teen with a tattoo you'd like to remove, it's important to know the safest ways of removing your body art.

  1. Consult with a Doctor

    • Consult with a dermatologist. A dermatologist is a doctor who specializes in the care of the skin. Many dermatologists further specialize in tattoo removal and can evaluate the tattoo you want removed. Professionally applied tattoos are usually easier to remove and can be more completely removed than amateur tattoos. Tell your dermatologist about how you got the tattoo you want removed.

    Laser Removal

    • Most dermatologists will recommend laser tattoo removal as the safest and most successful method of tattoo removal for both teens and adults. Laser tattoo removal uses concentrated beams of light to break up the tattoo ink under your skin, which is then flushed away by your body. Laser tattoo removal can be done at the dermatologist's office, at some tattoo parlors and at specialty tattoo-removal clinics such as Dr. Tatoff. Most tattoos require six to eight treatments with the laser to be fully removed.

    Grafts

    • If the tattoo is particularly large or is in an area where there is scar tissue or other skin damage, the dermatologist might recommend a skin graft. This is also a safe method of tattoo removal for teens, but is considerably more complicated and costly. In a skin graft, the skin that has been tattooed is removed from the body and healthy skin from elsewhere on the body---often the legs or back---is grafted onto the wound. This procedure is usually done in a hospital and may require an overnight stay.

    Avoid So-Called "Tattoo Removal" Ointments

    • Never use creams, gels or other ointment-type "tattoo removers," such as those sold on the internet. Many of these contain chemicals that can burn and disfigure skin.

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