Can I Go Out In The Sun While Getting Laser Tattoo Removal?

In the summertime, when the weather is hot! You can stretch right up and touch the sky! -- Well, you can't if you have a tattoo that you don't want to show off. The solution: tattoo removal.

But can you go outside and enjoy the lovely sun when you are getting laser tattoo removal, or even other methods of tattoo removal?

Let's find out.

How does the sun affect laser tattoo removal? 
The exposure of the UV rays from the sun will increase the production of vitamin D and melanin in your skin. Vitamin D does many things for the body, such as regulate the immune system, which is important for proper healing during tattoo removal. However, the increased production of melanin in our skin from sun exposure turns the skin either red or tan. This makes the skin more vulnerable and harder to effectively remove the tattoo.

Can I get effective laser tattoo removal after a vacation in the sun? 
Likely not, we're afraid. Sorry, friend. Ideally, your skin should be its normal color and your skin out of the sun for six weeks. If your skin is tan, or burned, it can be hard to remove the tattoo because of a lower pain tolerance due to the skin's increased vulnerability, skin tone is off, and it can take more sessions to remove the tattoo.

Will laser tattoo removal be effective on tanned skin? 
Somewhat, but definitely not as effective. Why? When your skin is tanned, that is a result of more melanin in your skin; when this happens, it is harder for the laser to break the pigment up. Breaking the pigment up means taking more sessions to get the ink to redistribute through your bloodstream.

Can I go in the sun after treatment?
No, we advocate that you wait around four weeks before exposing the skin to the sun. The recovery time after the treatment is crucial to it being effective; also, if the recovery is not completed correctly, it can lead to scarring and other marks. It'd be best to avoid the sun completely for those four weeks but if you need to go outside, then at least cover that spot up.

What will happen if my removal area is exposed to the sun. 
If you expose your skin to the sun after removal, you can get burned, which would be very painful. In addition to that, you can get blisters and broken skin. If you are still going through treatments, it can hinder the effectiveness and the time frame (number of sessions) could be extended.

Are you considering laser tattoo removal and are in Chicagoland? Then call or email Erase Tattoo Removal about getting your tattoo removed in a fast, safe, and effective way! 


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Pregnancy and Laser Tattoo Removal

So, you have a tattoo on your body that you once enjoyed but now you want to get laser tattoo removal; however, you find out before you start your tattoo removal procedure that you are pregnant. What does this mean for your chances of getting your tattoo removal?

Overall, it means that you will have to postpone your tattoo removal sessions until about 3 months after the pregnancy. If you have already started your procedure, then you will have to wait on finishing it until after the birth of your child.

Why does it matter that you should wait to get tattoo removal or finish it until after the birth of your baby? Well, for a pretty good reason.

The main reason you should wait until giving birth to get tattoo removal is because of how the ink is removed from your skin. When you get laser tattoo removal, the laser hits the ink that is in the dermis layer of your skin (this is the 2nd layer of skin under the top layer, or, epidermis) and breaks it up. The ink is then removed from your skin via your immune system. The immune system takes the dead ink and transports it.

So how does this have to do with being pregnant? Well, your child is connected to you via an umbilical cord and it takes in nutrients from the food you eat and the liquids you drink as well as anything that is in your bloodstream. With the ink traveling through your system, it can reach your child and affect them.

In addition to that, being pregnant is sometimes hard enough on its own, dealing with a tattoo removal procedure on top of it can be rough. Wait until after the birth to progress with the removal.

Laser Tattoo Removal Myths and Facts

Our laser tattoo removal studio in Oak Brook knows how often parents remind their teens that tattoos are permanent.  We either need to make sure that we make a wise choice about our tattoo or to not get one at all.  Although tattoos are permanent to your skin, they are not permanent when undergoing laser tattoo removal.  ERASE’s tattooremoval procedure is performed by professional who use the Asclepion TattooStar Effect Laser to break up ink pigment with pulses of high-intensity energy. 

Tattoo removal techniques have changed drastically in the last decade and our R20 laser tattoo removal procedure is considered the most effective way to remove tattoos and tattoo ink.  We have heard many myths and misconceptions about tattoo removal procedures and we would like to share the myths and provide you with the facts.

Laser Tattoo Removal Creates Scars: 

Our procedure does not leave any visible scarring in the way that dermabarasion and skin grafting does. We realize that older models may cause some scarring, however, modern machines are much safer for the skin.  We use the Asclepion TattooStar Effect Laser to prevent causing noticeable scars. 

Removal of Tattoos is Painful:

Most often, the process of removing a tattoo is similar to the feeling of being sunburnt or a burning sensation.  We do admit that there may be some discomfort associated when removing tattoos.  If you are experiencing pain or discomfort, our tattoo removal specialist can apply a topical numbing cream to ease the process for you.

Getting Tattoos Removed is Expensive:

Laser tattoo removal is proven to be the best value in terms of effectiveness and safety of your body.  The price of having a tattoo removed is dependent upon a large number of factors like the amount of color, the size, and the location of the tattoo. 

The Laser Tattoo Removal Process is Lengthy:

Typically, full tattoo removal can often be achieved in 5-12 sessions, spaced out every 6-8 weeks. Most tattoos require a full year for complete removal. Some patients may be eligible for the R20 tattoo removal method, which removes tattoos in a shorter period of time than traditional laser tattoo removal. The R20 tattoo removal procedure stacks up to four treatments into one session to remove and lighten tattoos.

So if you were reconsidering removing a tattoo because of any of the rumors above, rest assured that they are just rumors.  If you have any other questions or concerns about laser tattoo removal please feel free to call our studio or schedule an appointment for a consultation.  There’s no reason to fear the permanence of tattoos anymore with the R20 procedure and use of the Asclepion TattooStar Effect Laser.  

Choosing a Tattoo Removal Studio

Laser tattoo removal is a medical procedure just like any other.  The procedure requires a team of removal experts to help ensure that a patient sees great results following each treatment.  As an Oak Brook laser tattoo removal studio ourselves, we know how difficult choosing a tattoo removal studio can be.  Because it is such a difficult decision we always try to give potential patients all the information they need to make a decision.  If you or a loved one are considering laser tattoo removal but aren't sure which removal studio to choose, here are a few tips to help make the choice a little easier:

1-    Always do background research first: Take your time when it comes to choosing a studio to go with for the tattoo removal procedure.  Arm yourself with plenty of information on all the different tattoo removal studios in your area. Do not by any means simply choose the first tattoo removal studio you see listed.  Do your homework.  Create a list of the all the studios in the area and begin to narrow down your choices.  Say you’ve found 10 options, try to narrow down your choices to the top 5. The goal is to weed out studios that you don’t think are the right fit for you. Seek information on the studio, patient reviews, and samples of the studio’s work.  Once you feel confident in your narrowed down choices, schedule a consultation. Meeting the team of experts you’d be working with will most likely help you make a decision.

2-  Review your tattoo removal team's qualifications: It's probably a no-brainer, but typically people who are about to undergo any type of medical procedure want to know what their doctor, surgeon or staff's qualifications are to perform the procedure.  Plaques hanging around the studio's walls are probably a good indication of the types of certifications that your chosen tattoo removal studio staff holds, so take a look around the studio upon first entering.  Scheduling a consultation is a great way to get know the team a bit and review those qualifications.  We suggest making sure that a medical doctor is on staff.  In some states, laser technicians and removal staff do not need a medical background to perform the tattoo removal procedure, which can be concerning.  Next you may want to ask your chosen team about their history of removal.  How many procedures have they done?  How comfortable does the team seem?  Do they have any pictures to show of patients who have undergone the procedure and their results?  All these questions are a part of the "getting to know your team" process, so don't be afraid to ask questions.  

3- The procedure: Upon meeting with a tattoo removal studio team they should be able to give you the details regarding the tattoo removal procedure.  The tattoo removal studio team should be able to clue you into all things tattoo removal which includes skin care following the procedure, medications they advise taking for pain, how many sessions you will need, etc.  Whichever tattoo removal studio team you end up choosing should be able to educate you a bit on the ins-and-outs of the procedure.

4- Laser: You may want to consider doing a little research on lasers before undergoing laser tattoo removal.  Most studios will talk about the laser they use with patients before the laser tattoo removal process begins.  There are many different types of lasers out there so you may want to do a little research on the laser your chosen studio tells you they will be using to remove your tattoo.  Make sure the laser being used is a medical-grade device.  It should be FDA-approved for all skin types.

As an Oak Brook tattoo removal studio we know firsthand how difficult it can be finding the right tattoo removal studio to work with.  Knowing the right questions to ask can help make it easier to choose the right studio for you.  If you have comments or questions regarding choosing a tattoo removal studio, feel free to leave us a comment below or contact us.  

Tattoo Removal FAQs

When it comes to laser tattoo removal most people have lots of questions and luckily we are a tattoo removal studio full of tattoo removal experts more than equipped to answer questions.  We thought we'd answer a few of the most frequently asked questions.  If you have a question that you don't see answered here, feel free to leave us a comment below. Here are some frequently asked tattoo removal FAQs:

Q- "How exactly does laser tattoo removal work?"
A- Here's the shortened and condensed version of how it works: Energy, produced from the laser being used, is directed at the tattooed area for a few seconds.  That energy passes through the outer layer of the skin (harmlessly) and targets the ink directly.  The laser fragments or breaks up the ink in the skin, which then allows the body to absorb it and break it down.  If you're considering laser tattoo removal, schedule a consultation with a laser tattoo removal studio and the experts will show you how its done.


Q- "The tattoo I'm looking to have removed is very colorful, will this make it harder to remove?"  
A- The answer to this question is both yes and no.  Why?  Well some colors are simply easier to remove then others.  The laser being used, which in our case is the Asclepion Tattoostar Effect laser, is able to detect and remove certain colors more easily than other colors, but really, most colors can be completely removed.  The colors that are more difficult will simply require more treatments, but that doesn't mean the tougher colors will never come out.  Even the most difficult of colors will usually fade well.

Q- "Can a tattoo be removed with one treatment?"
A- The answer to this question is no.  Most tattoos require multiple treatments in order to be removed.  Many factors determine how many treatments it will take.  The best bet is to schedule a consultation with laser tattoo removal experts and have them assess your tattoo to better determine how long you can expect to receive treatments.

Q- "Should I see a change after each tattoo removal procedure?"
A- Seeing progress in the form of a visual change to your tattoo really depends on the amount of ink present in the tattoo.  Everyone reacts differently to laser tattoo removal. Some people will see a difference with each treatment and some will not see a change until a few treatments in.

Q- "Does it hurt?"
A- We thought we'd save the most frequently asked question for last.  Pain really is up to everyone's personal tolerance level for pain. Might not be the answer you're looking for, but it's the truth.  Here at Erase Tattoo Removal we specialize in a tattoo removal process called the R20 procedure which fades tattoos in record time, which means that our patients will experience less removal procedures and less pain.  For the most part though, there is minimal pain with the tattoo removal procedure and here at Erase Tattoo Removal we do our best to keep all of our patients as comfortable as possible throughout the process.

There are plenty more questions that we didn't address here, so we will return with more FAQs, but if we didn't cover a question you have about the tattoo removal process, feel free to leave us a comment below or contact us.