Laser Tattoo Removal Post Care
Tattoo frosting is normal for laser removal
Post Care Instructions
Immediately after your treatment:
Red / pinpoint bleeding / sensitive / ink still present / mild pain / dressing on / keep clean
Your skin might still feel hot and sensitive, this is normal. Please do not touch the skin, and do not apply hot water (i.e.: Shower, spa or sauna) to the treated area for the next 24 hours. Leave the dressing on, if one has been applied, 3 hours after your treatment this dressing can be removed to expose your skin to the air. The air will help heal and dry the area that was exposed to the laser, which will prepare you for the next treatment.
You can shower two hours after your laser tattoo removal treatment. However, we strongly advise you not to allow high pulsating water hit the treated skin. Because of a risk of infection; if it is vital you must resume swimming activity, this should be in fresh or salt water, not chlorinated water. Basically you need to treat the LTR area as though it was a band aid on. Pinpoint bleeding sometimes occurs if skin is sensitive, or if a larger tattoo is being treated.
Please do not apply Dettol or other raw disinfectant products directly to the skin, a safer alternative would be tea-tree oil (5 drops in a small bowl of water), dab onto area and pat dry gently. You can expect some swelling (skin might look raised) for 24-72 hours.
In the days to weeks that follow treatment:
Darkening of ink / Lightening of ink / Crusting / Gradual change
If blisters form, keep them covered and protected, if small just allow them to heal naturally, do not pop them. If larger watery blisters form and pressure builds up underneath the skin, a small incision with a clean sterile needle / surgical blade can be made on the top of the blister itself to allow the fluid to be gently released, then cover with clean sterile dressing and allow to heal. It is vital to have clean hands and apply clean dressings to avoid infection.
Don’t pick scabs, blisters, or crusts that form. Picking at the skin can result in scarring and, even worse, infection! Allow your skin to heal naturally and protect it from the sun while it does this. If skin gets itchy (Which is normal) – apply anti- itch cream such as: Hydrocortisone, or Anti-histamine cream.
After each session, protect the skin that received treatment with sunscreen for at least three months. For the following week following treatment, do not apply makeup or any harsh toiletries products that might irritate the area as it heals, i.e.: fragranced products, active skin care etc.
It is normal for ink to stay under the skin as it now has to start breaking up and be eliminated from your body via normal processes (Lymphatic / waste disposal) – while this occurs the ink might look smudged, lighter or even the same for a while. Drinking lots of water and staying healthy during this time may aid in faster removal of ink components.
Clients experiencing worse discomfort, presence of early infection - Red, sore, swollen, oozing, persistent swelling, weeping or prolonged or spreading redness away from the treated area should contact a doctor.
Other Advice:
Be gentle with skin and consider covering it with a dressing if clothing causes irritation.
Sunscreen (SPF 30+) should be applied to the treated area if it will be exposed to the sun.
A darkened crust may form on the skin. It is important that you do not pick or rub this, as it is protecting the skin underneath.
Once healed, the skin may appear lighter or darker in colour. This may be a temporary issue. In some rare cases, it can be permanent. Keep this area out of the sun and moist to allow for as much natural healing as possible. In some cases deeper scarring can also occur due to the tattoo process itself and the laser tattoo removal laser cannot help this, the best thing to do to prevent scarring occurring as a result of the LTR process is to not pick scabs that form or disrupt the skin while it heals.
If no complications occur, and the laser is able to treat all colours, clearance will be the end result in most cases, however teal blue and greens may remain.
Laser tattoo removal is not an exact science as there are many technical factors to be considered including: the ink colours, the depth and age of the ink, the ink components themselves, and health of the person (i.e.: Non-smoker versus smoker), skin colour and the laser being used.
