Why People Remove Tattoos
This isn’t a Top 10 list, but the number one reason why people remove their tattoos is disassociation with the past. Whether it’s someone’s name, initials, or a reminding symbol, tattoo removal is on the rise. Now there are many ways to remove a tattoo, but there's even more reasons why removal is necessary.
Methods for removing tattoos include laser treatments, abrasion, chemical peels, creams, and surgery, and reasons for removal range from personal, social, cultural, physical and medical conditions.
Social and Cultural Reasons
Many people simply grow out of their tattoos that seemed so cool when they were eighteen. For others, job opportunities and employers require tattoo-free skin. Ex-gang members trying to escape a certain lifestyle have the opportunity to receive discounted prices, if not free removal treatments from non-profit organizations, churches, etc. Military personal have also been required to remove their gang related neck and hand tattoos before they could be accepted into the military. Several local military recruiters refer applicants to local resources to help with costs.
Medical Reasons
For some reason many people who had gotten tattoos earlier in life have developed allergies to the tattoo ink. In fact, allergic reactions have become more common among adults with tattoos over 10 years old. Immediate removal is necessary to help a person cope with the allergy.
Another reason for removal is infection. Infection can happen shortly after the tattoo has been placed on, and unfortunately there aren’t many ways to remove a fresh tattoo. Laser removal is the best method of removing newer tattoos. Specific Q-Switched lasers are used because of their optional wavelengths.
Studies have shown that college aged, white females are also more susceptible to lower self-esteem levels, and removal of specific tattoos has helped raise these low levels. As ones identity shifts, cutting ties with the past isn’t a bad idea for healing purposes.
Personal Reasons
Women pre-planning for pregnancy also have concerns about tattoos around their abdominal area that have to do with the stretching of the skin. Most women are concerned about how their tattoo will look once the pregnancy is over, and whether or not the skin will “go back” to its original state. The truth is, yes you're skin will stretch, however each woman is different. Some women return to their previous size, while others don’t. Removal beforehand is up to the woman planning on being pregnant. It’s a chance that woman will have to take if she wants to keep her tattoo. Another important factor to figure in if you're planning on removing your tattoo before getting pregnant is healing time from the removal process. Different methods have different healing times, so it’s important to know exactly when you plan on getting pregnant.
More Tattoo Removal Basics
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