Tattoos are works of art that are created using ink and needles that penetrate a deep layer of skin called the dermis to deliver the ink into the skin. If you've ever looked into ways to remove your tattoo, you probably already know what a laser does to tattoos.
Have you recently gotten a tattoo and are wondering how to get rid of the unwanted hair above the tattoo? Or have you had a tattoo since your teenage years and now want to opt for permanent hair removal? Are you looking for studies to verify the safety of laser hair removal for people with tattoos?
We'll tell you all about laser hair removal and tattoos, as well as temporary and permanent tattoo removal methods. We'll help you get your skin smooth and hairless while showing off your tattoos without hurting or damaging them.
Table of contents:- Part 1: How does laser hair removal work?
- Part 2: Is laser hair removal over a tattoo safe?
- Part 3: Can I remove unwanted hair and unwanted tattoos with the laser at the same time?
- Part 4: What does a laser do to tattoos?
- Part 5: Can I do IPL hair removal over a tattoo?
- Part 6: How can I do laser hair removal with a tattoo?
- Part 7: Safe Hair Removal Methods for People with Tattoos
- Part 8: Conclusion
How does laser hair removal work?
Laser hair removal devices use laser light of varying intensity and wavelength. This light is absorbed by melanin, the pigment in hair, and travels through the hair strands to the hair roots.
On the way there, the light energy is gradually converted into heat energy so that it can destroy the hair follicles, i.e. the hair-forming cells, when it hits them. It should be noted that the laser is absorbed in the pigment.
This means that if your hair has no pigment, laser hair removal is useless. If your skin has a high melanin content or is tanned, the laser will burn the skin along with the hair follicles.
So what are the tattoos? Artificially pigmented skin, right? Now let's talk about the safety of laser hair removal for skin with tattoos.
Is laser hair removal over a tattoo safe?
The simple answer to the question of whether laser hair removal is safe to perform on people with tattooed skin is NO. However, when we get into the details, it is important to know which area of skin you are referring to.
So an area with tattoos cannot be safely treated with a laser, but an area without tattoos will not be damaged if you perform laser hair removal there. For example, if you have a tattoo on your forearm, you can safely have the hair on your leg removed with a laser, but not on a forearm with tattoos.
Can I remove unwanted hair and unwanted tattoos with the laser at the same time?
One of the most efficient ways to remove unwanted tattoos is with a laser, and one of the most permanent ways to get rid of unwanted hair is with a laser. But can you get the best of both worlds with a laser for hair removal?
No! Because the laser used for tattoo removal is different. It breaks down the ink in the tattoos, which is then broken down by the body. The laser for hair removal, on the other hand, burns the pigments and pigment-producing cells with its heat and high intensity.
In addition, the laser for tattoos targets deeper layers of the skin and is much more intense than a laser for hair removal. So, a laser designed for tattoo removal will have no effect on hair, while a laser designed for hair removal will destroy the skin with tattoos.
So if you plan to do both, you should first have your tattoos removed, regenerate your skin and then make an appointment for laser hair removal.
What does a laser do to tattoos?
Tattoos are pigmented patches of skin with various patterns and artwork. By now, you should be aware that lasers target pigments, so when laser hair removal is applied to the tattoo area, the laser will be absorbed into the ink of the tattoos and not the pigment of the hair, as the ink has a high pigment content.
And when this laser converts into heat, it damages the skin in the tattoo area, causing pain, burns, long-lasting scarring, severe skin damage, and blistering.
Can I have IPL hair removal over a tattoo?
Just like lasers, IPL hair removal devices use high intensity light at a specific wavelength to be absorbed by the pigmented hair follicles. The results of IPL and laser hair removal are also similar.
Although there is a difference in the power of laser and IPL, IPL treatment is also not safe on tattooed skin. Although the damage is less than laser hair removal, you must avoid the tattooed area during IPL treatment.
How can I do laser hair removal with a tattoo?
The first solution is to get rid of the tattoo and prepare the skin for the laser. And if you want to protect your precious tattoos, have them covered so that the laser does not detect the ink in that area.
Laser hair removal professionals place a thick protective layer over the tattooed skin, creating a 2-3 cm layer between the pigmented skin and the laser, which blocks the laser's path to the tattoos. This prevents the laser from detecting the ink and allows hair removal to be performed safely.
However, the hair in this area will not be removed and you will have to stick to traditional hair removal methods for a few strands of hair on the tattoo.
Safe Hair Removal Methods for People with Tattoos
So, if you decide to have your whole body lasered, excluding the part with the tattoos, or if you forego it altogether, you will be eager to find out the methods to safely remove hair over the tattoos.
Shave
The simplest, almost painless and easiest method to remove hair on tattoos is shaving. Take your razor, pull the skin taut and trim the unwanted hair. You can use an electric razor or a manual razor to remove the hair above the tattoos.
However, shaving is annoying because you have to shave every other day.
waxing
The second method on the list is waxing. Although wax pulls on the skin while removing unwanted hair from the root, the tattoo remains intact. Also, hairless skin after waxing lasts for 2 to 4 weeks, giving you plenty of time to breathe before the next waxing session.
So it is a safe and efficient method of removing hair over the tattoo. But be prepared for the pain associated with waxing.
Pluck
If your tattoo is small and you have had laser hair removal on your entire body except the area with the tattoo, plucking may work well for you. Plucking is a precise method of removing unwanted hair from a small area. However, it is time-consuming.
depilatory creams
The active ingredients and chemicals in hair removal creams may raise concerns about their safety for tattooed skin. But rest assured, hair removal creams do not penetrate deeper than the epidermis of the skin, and tattoos are located on a deeper layer of skin.
electrolysis
Finally, we have electrolysis on the list, which is a safe and long-lasting method of hair removal for people with tattoos. This procedure involves burning the hair follicles with fine needles using an electric shock. No pigment is absorbed.
But it is expensive, so if you have laser hair removal on other parts of your body, electrolysis on tattoos can save you from having to remove a small section of hair every now and then.
Conclusion
While tattoos are associated with adventure, art and lightheartedness for people, they can leave women and even men confused when it comes to hair removal. The process of getting a tattoo is painful in itself and no one wants to trigger the pain by doing something wrong.
That's why you should avoid lasering tattoos. But there are several safe methods for hair removal such as waxing, plucking, depilatory creams or electrolysis.
