How To Remove A Tattoo At Home: Does The DIY Method Work? 

Has your initial excitement of getting a tattoo now taken a 360-degree turn and become a decision you deeply regret? From showing off your tattoo to every other person you meet, are you now trying to find ways to hide it from plain gaze? If things have taken such a turn, you might have considered tattoo removal at some point. But the cost and the pain involved would have surely given you cold feet and also a run for your money. So, what do you do? The internet these days seems to have an answer for everything. And if you Google how to remove a tattoo at home, it will give you an answer for that too. But the question is, how effective these DIY methods are. Do they actually work, or will they end up becoming a hack that you regret trying? Join us while we go deep and decipher the effectiveness of the self-acclaimed how-to-remove a tattoo at-home methods. 

How To Remove A Tattoo At Home?

Before we find the answer to how to remove a tattoo at home, let us first explore some factors which determine the effectiveness of any tattoo removal work. If you thought all tattoos pose the same difficulty level when it comes to the removal procedure, you were wrong.

How To Remove A Tattoo At Home: 4 Factors To Consider

There are several factors that complicate or simplify tattoo removal. Let’s look at these factors and see where your tattoo falls on the difficulty radar. 

Age: How Old Is Your Tattoo? 

How to remove a tattoo at home according to how long the tattoo has been inked on you.

We all know how tattoos tend to fade a bit with time. So, the older the tattoo, the lighter/lesser the ink would be and, therefore, the easier to remove. On the other hand, a new tattoo would be well-saturated and densely packed into your skin, making the removal a lengthy and painful procedure. 

Placement: Where Is Your Tattoo Located? 

We all know the most painful places to get tattoos according to our tolerance. if you wonder how to remove a tattoo at home on certain areas of your body keep reading.

The intensity of the pain varies depending on the spot where you decide to get inked; the location of the tattoo impacts the removal procedure too. Why? Areas with higher lymph nodes and blood counts tend to react to laser treatment faster; this includes your lower back, face, or neck. Whereas areas with a lower lymph node count like legs or arms, are slow to react to tattoo removal procedures and require multiple sessions. 

Color: Is Your Tattoo Black Or Colored? 

If we were to rank different types of tattoos based on the difficulty level when it comes to removal, the colored ones would top the list, and the black ones would occupy the last position. Strange, right? now the real question is how to remove a tattoo at home based on the ink. Like us, did you also think that the darker the ink, the more difficult it would be to remove? But no, if you skipped the basic choice and chose a color like red, blue, or green for your tattoo, the more complex your tattoo removal procedure is going to be. 

Immunity: How Strong Is Your Immunity?

Did you know that your immunity level can impact the tattoo removal procedure? Yes, you heard it right and especially so when it comes to laser removal. How? So, the laser techniques break down your ink into small particles. These particles are perceived to be enemies by your immune system. So, like a good friend, your immune system will attack and consume those ink particles. How successful they are will depend entirely on how strong your immune system is. All of you with weak immunity, take note. 

How To Remove A Tattoo At Home? DIY Tattoo Removal: Is It A Risky Affair? 

You might be opting out of laser tattoo removal and signing up for DIY methods to save money because of how painful a laser treatment is supposedly going to be. But if these DIY methods were actually a better option, why would anyone ever opt for laser treatment? So, before you go and try the methods that popped up when you searched for how to remove a tattoo at home, let’s go through some potential risks associated with DIY tattoo removal. As they say, It’s always better to be safe than sorry. 

Scarring 

When it comes to trying DIY tricks the first question is “How to remove a tattoo at home without scarring yourself”.

Any DIY removal methods include rubbing products onto your skin, and such practices are sure to have some adverse effects. Especially when it comes to DIY tattoo removal creams, they are not approved by the FDA and can potentially scar your skin beyond repair as they contain a significant amount of bleach. 

Hyperpigmentation 

Hyperpigmentation can leave a very bad touch on your body or skin make sure you go for the research about “how to remove a tattoo at home without causing hyperpigmentation”

When you search for ways to remove a tattoo permanently, you don’t intend to replace it with another issue. That’s why we recommend you stay clear of DIY tattoo removal methods. Consistently applying substances like salt or store-bought tattoo removal creams to one part of your skin can cause hyperpigmentation.

Infection

Are you allergic to certain compounds if yes wonder how to remove a tattoo at home without getting infected and what precautions to be taken?

You might develop an infection if you are allergic to any of the compounds used for removing tattoos at home. For instance, rubbing sand on your skin is said to imitate the effects of Dermabrasion(1), a professional tattoo removal technique. But using sand can lead to cuts and, if left unattended, can lead to infection. 

Rashes/Irritation/Burning Sensation

Constant rubbing causes rashes and irritation, being highly acidic, excessive use of lemon juice on your skin can cause a burning sensation, and some people are allergic to aloe vera. These substances/actions come at the core of DIY tattoo removal methods. So, when you decide to follow any how-to-remove-a-tattoo at-home guide you found online, you send an open invitation to all these possibilities. 

Home Remedies For Tattoo Removal: How To Remove Tattoo At Home? 

If you wish to try your luck at DIY tattoo removal methods before you resort to professional tattoo removal, nothing is stopping you. But let us be clear that most of these methods are a shot in the dark. It might work for some, depending on the age and location of their tattoo, and for some, it might not. But let’s look at them nevertheless and find the answer to the question – how to remove a tattoo at home. 

Salt + Lemon 

When it comes to DIY tattoo removal, the most common searches are” how to remove a tattoo at home with salt or lemon.” So, let’s start from this angle. Lemon has skin-lightening properties, and salt works as an exfoliator; together, they are believed to be an effective way for tattoo removal. 

To try this home remedy, mix salt and lemon in a bowl and apply it to your tattoo. Rub it for an hour and repeat this method until you see the results. How long will it take? No one seems to have an answer for this, which makes us question this home remedy’s effectiveness. 

Aloe Vera + Salt + Honey + Yogurt

Next comes how to remove a tattoo at home with aloe vera. Let us first be clear that aloe vera in itself cannot help with tattoo removal, but when combined with salt, honey, and yogurt, it might. At least, that’s what the popular belief is. 

Take aloe vera pulp, salt, honey, and yogurt in a bowl and mix it well to form a smooth paste. Clean the tattoo area, apply the paste, and leave it for at least an hour. Being a natural concoction, it will take more than a few applications to see any visible results. So, the trick is to not lose hope and keep trying. Also, amongst the DIY methods, this one seems to be relatively safe as most ingredients are suitable for your skin. So there is no harm in trying it out. 

How To Remove A Tattoo At Home Using Table Salt

If we have to name one DIY tattoo removal technique that actually sounded scary, this would be it. So, how table salt works is that when rubbed onto your skin using a sponge or a cloth, it will cause the upper layer of your skin to peel. Mind you, you have to rub it for more than 30 minutes. So, if you keep doing this, it will continue to shed layers of your skin, and ultimately, your tattoo will disappear. YIKES! Considering how far down the tattoo’s ink settles, it sounds both unbelievable and scary. So, we recommend you keep how to remove a tattoo with salt from your search list. 

How To Remove A Tattoo At Home With Apricot Scrub + Salt

The twin action of apricot and salt can promote the visible lightning of your tattoo ink; at least, that’s what certain online sources claim. But just because apricot scrubs are proven to act as a skin-lightening agent and are also said to be effective against skin blemishes, it doesn’t mean they will have a similar effect on tattoo ink. And we already mentioned how the application of salt works on your skin. 

Even then, if you wish to try, take some apricot scrub, add salt, and mix well. Apply it to your bare skin and leave it for at least an hour. If you feel any irritation or burning sensation, wash it off immediately. 

How To Remove A Tattoo At Home? How Effective Are These Home Remedies? 

• Laser tattoo removal treatments are both expensive and painful. If DIY methods worked, would anyone have spent that much money on professional treatments? No, right? So, it’s already quite evident that these treatments don’t work, and even if they do, it might take several applications before they show any visible results. 

• No matter how effective these DIY remedies are, they will only go as deep as the epidermis layer of your skin. At the same time, tattoos go as deep as the dermis layer. So, the most these homemade remedies can do is lighten your tattoo. 

• Also, most of these remedies work by peeling off layers of your skin. It might remove the tattoo, but what will protect you against the resultant scarring? Nothing can. And that’s precisely why the question of how to remove a tattoo at home is met with so much disdain. 

We understand that if you are considering removing your tattoo, how desperate you must be, but that is no reason why you should give in to inexpert remedies that might damage your skin and lead to infections. 

Also, we came across several searches like how to remove tattoos with milk; let us tell you that the only thing you would be doing is wasting milk. 

Tattoo Removal Creams: Our Warning Against Harmful Tattoo Removal Treatments 

When you searched for how to remove a tattoo at home, you might have come across a list of store-bought tattoo removal creams. This includes: 

• Wrecking Balm
• Tattoo Destroyer
• Tat B Gone
• Inked Up Tattoo Removal Cream

You need to remember that none of these creams are FDA-approved, so applying them to your skin regularly could be welcoming unwanted trouble into your life. There have been instances where they led to skin irritation, allergic reaction, and chemical burns in the worst-case scenario. So, the more you stay away from them, the better it is, no matter how desperate you are to get rid of your tattoo. If you are tempted to do so, make sure to inspect the ingredient list and make an informed choice. 

Why Do We Put Our Dibs On Professional Tattoo Removal? 

In short, your how-to-remove-a-tattoo-at-home searches won’t possibly yield any proven results. All of them are mere suggestions that might or might not work. While you can try them out at your convenience, it’s better to go for professional methods if you want quick and effective results. 

How To Remove A Tattoo At Home Vs At Professionals

Laser Removal

Laser removal is indeed the most preferred tattoo removal technique. This technique sends lasers down your skin and heats and breaks the ink. Even if this technique fails to remove the tattoo without a trace, it will significantly lighten it and make it almost invincible to the naked eye. But note that if not undertaken by experienced hands, it can lead to scarring, so only rely on trusted professionals for the treatment. 

Surgical Removal

Yes, some people go as far as going under the knife to get rid of their tattoos. Sometimes it could be simply because they have grown to hate their tattoo or a professional endeavor demands it. Surgical removal is an invasive technique in which the tattooed skin is cut off from your body. A cosmetic surgeon usually performs this treatment and requires a healing time of several weeks. 

Once you perform this surgery, no trace of the tattoo will be left behind, but you will be left with a scar as a lifelong reminder unless you undergo another plastic surgery to rid yourself of the scar. You need to ask yourself, is it worth the effort? 

FAQ On How To Remove A Tattoo At Home

Conclusion: Should You Try DIY Tattoo Removal Methods? 

The initial question – how to remove a tattoo at home allowed us to cover several grounds. These homemade remedies are only partially effective; the most they can do is fade the tattoo. And these remedies will take a lot of time to show visible results. The conclusion we reached is that if you are serious about removing your tattoo and that too quickly, you should go for professional tattoo removal procedures.

Also, if you are merely testing the waters before you get your first tattoo, let us suggest you give it much thought and not make an impulsive choice. They are permanent additions to your body and become a part of your personality. So, if things go wrong, you will have to consider professional tattoo removal, and none of us would want to go through such an ordeal. So, if you love tattoos and wish to get one, make sure it is one you can proudly show off until the end of time.