Much like lemon juice, hydrogen peroxide is a bleaching agent. It is designed to work as a disinfectant but is moderately effective at fading superficial layers of ink.
One method of fading a tattoo naturally is to expose it to natural light. The sun's ultraviolet rays can break down the ink in the tattoo, causing it to fade over time. This method may take longer to fade the tattoo than other methods, but it is safe and effective.
You can't remove your own tattoo. The ink is in the dermis, under the top layer of skin, and digging down or dissolving the epidermis (top layer) would cause substantial scarring, risk of infection and you would end up with a mangled tattoo that looks even worse.
However, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has not approved any type of home tattoo removal, because they are ineffective and risky. However, tattoo removal has been quickly growing more popular, the FDA says.
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. Is It Possible to Lighten a Dark Tattoo?
Salabrasion is the method of removing a tattoo by rubbing salt and water on a tattoo. This method removes the top layers of skin to rub out the ink in a tattoo. This treatment is done multiple times until the ink in a tattoo is gone or can no longer be reached.
Lastly, the American Academy of Dermatology states that petroleum-based products can cause the ink to fade. After all the pain and hard work you had to endure to get that beautiful new piece, surely you're not too keen on it just fading from something as simple as petroleum jelly, would you?
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.
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.
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, 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.
In short, no. Many tattoo removal creams contain harsh acids or bleaching chemicals that claim to remove tattoos. However, tattoo ink is inserted deeper than the epidermis, it lays deeper within the dermis. Tattoo removal balms can not effectively penetrate the dermis which leaves the removal cream ineffective.
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.
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.
Will Nair™ affect my tattoo? Nope. Nair™ hair removal creams will not affect tattoos.
Laser tattoo removal sessions are the safest, most efficient, and quickest option for complete removal of your unwanted tattoos.
Peeling usually occurs a few days after getting the tattoo, as the skin begins to heal and regenerate itself . The regeneration process involves the skin removing dead and damaged cells. As the skin exfoliates itself, a layer of dead skin cells and ink pigment peels off, allowing new cells to grow.
Common household items like rubbing alcohol, alcohol-based hand sanitizer or hair spray, baking soda, white vinegar, or even lemon juice can often be used to treat an ink stain.
Exposure to the Sun
Ultraviolet (UV) rays from the sun will penetrate the skin and essentially break down the pigments in the tattoo. Once those pigments are damaged, the tattoo will ultimately appear much lighter and less vibrant than it once did.
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.
No, Tattoo Goo will not cause your ink to fade. Even if you over-apply Tattoo Goo, it won't damage your tattoo because it does not contain lanolin or petroleum.