Tattoo removal creams - do they work? It would be nice if removal of a tattoo were as simple as applying a cream to the skin to break up the pigments like a wrecking ball. But the intent of a tattoo artist is to create permanent artwork using your skin as the canvas. Tattoo ink is injected deep into the skin, into cell layers that turn over very slowly.
The manufacturers of creams and balms may have Web sites, where you can learn more about the medications. Many are nothing more than 1 percent hydroquinone (a bleaching agent to be used twice daily) and an exfoliating spray to be used as a scrub every third day. Doctors prescribe 4 percent hydroquinone products to lighten skin in conditions like vitiligo.
Do not expect a 1 percent hydroquinone product to be particularly effective against tattoo ink. The best bet for tattoo removal is with a laser that can heat, break up and disintegrate the tattoo pigments. But the process could take a year and cost thousands of dollars — and one may still be left with a "ghost" of the tattoo. If you're light skinned, a product containing TCA (Trichloroacetic acid) might be worth a try. It is the same agent used in chemical peels. Ask a dermatologist whether it's right for you.
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