However, professional laser removal is the most effective and fastest solution. Factors such as sun exposure, skin elasticity, and the body's natural immune response contribute to this process. UV rays, in particular, can degrade the ink pigments, causing them to fade more quickly.
Use common household items to lighten your tattooed skin naturally. Lemon and lime juice, glycolic acid, and hydrogen peroxide can all produce mild bleaching action when applied directly to the skin. Chances are, you have one or more of these items sitting around in your pantry or medicine cabinet right now.
How to lighten a tattoo effectively? Laser removal is by far the best way to fade a tattoo. This is the quickest, safest, and most efficient removal process, says Cooper Ferreira, a Removery technician and experienced RN. “This is a process that utilizes your immune system to remove ink in a safe way,” he emphasizes.
To remove fresh tattoo ink from the skin, you can use a variety of methods. Some people use a mixture of water and salt, while others use a commercial tattoo removal product. You can also try using a Q-tip or cotton ball soaked in rubbing alcohol.
A salt/saline solution is a common, effective approach to lightening tattoos. Although it is a slower process than other treatments, this method is popular because it is safer than other tattoo lightening procedures.
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.
Overall, the best way to lighten a tattoo is by using a white base layer and applying a lighter color layer. However, you may also do it by applying darker colors and a white layer.
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.
Diluting your tattoo ink with distilled water is a great way to add dimension in your pieces that require shading. It's also great for clients who like the more washed out, gray look in their fine line tattoos!
Laser tattoo removal uses bursts of light energy to break down tattoo pigments under your skin. Once the ink is shattered into tiny fragments, your body's immune system processes and flushes it out. Sessions are typically spaced several weeks apart to allow your skin to heal and give your body time to clear the ink.
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.
Adding a tattoo brightening cream to your skincare routine can bring amazing results. The best tattoo brightening creams work with your healed ink to bring it back to life. Look for a cream that has amino acids to exfoliate and refresh skin, as well as natural oils to nourish and hydrate.
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.
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.
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.
Use common household items to lighten your tattooed skin naturally. Lemon and lime juice, glycolic acid, and hydrogen peroxide can all produce mild bleaching action when applied directly to the skin.
Hydrogen Peroxide and Exfoliation - Exfoliation paired with hydrogen peroxide can do wonders to gradually fade tattoo ink naturally. This is because exfoliation removes dead skin while hydrogen peroxide is a skin lightening agent that has bleaching properties.
A special type of laser — called a Q-switched Nd:YAG — might be used on darker skin to avoid changing the skin's pigment permanently. Before laser treatment, the skin is numbed with an injection of a local anesthetic. Then a powerful pulse of energy is applied to the tattoo to heat and shatter the tattoo ink.
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.
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.
The Final Takeaway. Because of its moisturizing properties and vitamins that are good for your skin, coconut oil is ultimately more than safe to apply to your tattoo. It's a natural, inexpensive way to heal your tattoo and keep it looking healthy and vibrant for years to come.