Hydrogen peroxide It is designed to work as a disinfectant but is moderately effective at fading superficial layers of ink. On its own, hydrogen peroxide is not potent enough to penetrate the second layer of skin. As a result, fresh tattoos or deeply embedded tattoos won't be phased by it.
Hydrogen peroxide can potentially fade tattoos, but it's not a recommended or effective method for tattoo removal. The solution can lighten the skin and may affect the ink, but it can also cause skin irritation or damage.
Instructions: Soak a cotton ball in rubbing alcohol or hand sanitizer and gently rub it over the ink tattoo. The alcohol should help dissolve the ink. Rinse with water afterward.
Laser tattoo removal is likely the most commonly heard of tattoo removal method. Laser tattoo removal works by firing concentrated light at ink in a tattoo, which then breaks the tattoo into smaller pieces so your body can process the tattoo out over time.
The American Academy of Dermatology says petroleum-based products can cause ink to fade. They recommend using water-based moisturizers on new tattoos instead. But why? Products like Vaseline and super thick ointments may trap moisture and bacteria on top of a new tattoo, increasing your risk of developing an infection.
People often try to remove their old tattoos with products like lemon juice, vinegar, rubbing alcohol, or hydrogen peroxide. These household products are not very effective and can cause scarring because tattoo ink is in the dermis, below the top layer of our skin.
Sun damage
You can't avoid the sun forever and you probably want to show off your artwork, but you can protect your skin and tattoo by using an SPF with a high UVA and keeping it covered in intense, direct sunlight. Anything that affects or damages your skin will make your tattoo fade quicker.
The answer, in short, is NO! While you may see stories online about tattoo removal with a mixture of salt and water, this practice not only does not remove the tattoo, but also increases your risk of skin damage, infection and permanent scarring.
Other Tattoo Removal / Fading Options:
Hydrogen Peroxide and Exfoliation - Exfoliation paired with hydrogen peroxide can do wonders to gradually fade tattoo ink naturally.
Luckily, laser tattoo removal can fade existing ink particles safely and effectively. Laser tattoo removal is not only for complete removal, although we're great at that too. Laser tattoo removal also aids many tattoo artists and enthusiasts who are looking to get a better result out of their tattoo cover-up.
Natural methods like exfoliation, lemon juice, and hydrogen peroxide can offer gradual fading but carry risks of skin irritation and inconsistent results. For safer and more effective tattoo removal, professional treatments such as the advanced Phantom™ Laser technology are highly recommended.
One of the most common home tattoo removal methods we see talked about is salabrasion or rubbing the skin away with salt. It's an old method, and it does technically work, provided you rub enough skin off to reach the layer where the ink is held. You could also achieve the same effect with coarse sand or sandpaper.
Lemon juice
It will lighten the skin and, after continued use, may fade your tattoo. Luckily lemons are cheap because you will need to invest in bushels of them. Unfortunately, lemon juice isn't strong enough to penetrate the top layer of the skin without an exfoliant or heat.
Laser tattoo removal is the most common method health care professionals use to remove or lighten tattoos. The laser light energy shatters the tattoo ink into small particles, which the body's immune system clears over time. The type of laser used to remove a tattoo depends on the tattoo's colors.
Saline Fading & Removal
Because the solution is hypertonic, it pulls the pigment to the skin's surface. As the body forms a scab post procedure, it expels the ink during the healing process. Just like laser treatments, fading and removal will be accomplished over several treatments.
Lemon, lavender, frankincense, helichrysum, and tea tree essential oils are the best options for fading tattoos. To use essential oils for fading tattoos, dilute the oil, use a carrier oil, and apply the mixture to the tattoo regularly.
Laser tattoo removal is the best and most effective way to remove unwanted ink. High-speed pulses of light break apart ink molecules in the skin so that they can be naturally flushed through your immune system.
Aloe helps to support the healing process. It won't do anything to damage your tattoo, and it's completely safe for the pigments in your tattoo.
Does Aquaphor Cause Fading in Tattoos? There are rumors that Aquaphor makes tattoos fade, but from our experiences and many others, this just isn't true. If a tattoo is done correctly and the ink is where it needs to be, ointment should only help your tattoo heal correctly.
Don't use petroleum-based lotions like Vaseline or Neosporin as these can trap moisture and bacteria, which can lead to infections and scarring. Resist the itch: As your tattoo heals, you may experience itching.