Tattoo Removal Creams Versus TCA Peels

Two of the cheapest methods for getting rid of a tattoo are using tattoo removal creams and the use of TCA chemical peels. TCA chemical peels have been used for awhile for removing tattoos but were displaced by techniques such as laser removal. Now with the internet being so widespread, TCA peels are making a comeback, being sold directly to consumers. What this means is if you are research low cost tattoo removal methods online, you are probably looking at two classes of methods when your research is all said and done: TCA chemical peels and tattoo removal creams.

So which one should you use?

This is a good question. To come up with our answer, let's take a look at some of the positives and negatives associated with each method.

TCA chemical peels work by creating what's referred to as a "controlled inflammation" on the skin. This is traditionally used to treat skin issues such as warts, wrinkles, and scars, and long ago, people also discovered it could remove tattoo ink from the skin.

Many people have successfully done just that using a TCA peel for tattoo removal. However, there are some big drawbacks to this method. It's easy to damage the skin using these treatments, especially since you can control the relative strength of the solution yourself. Without any medical supervision or guidance, this leads to people scarring themselves on accident.

There is also a level of pain associated with TCA chemical peels. Some describe it as a mild sting, others as a fierce burning sensation.

The potential for scars and pain with this method are two huge drawbacks in contrast to the fact that it does seem to work in so far as removing ink from the epidermis.

Tattoo removal creams work by -- well, this a point of controversy. How do they work? The companies claim their products break down the ink in the skin and over repeated treatments, the tattoo then fades away and / or is entirely removed.

In contrast with TCA, there are two big positives we can focus on: pain and scarring. Or rather, no pain and scarring. Applying these topical creams and lotions to the skin causes no pain and certainly no risk of scarring. The closest thing to scarring would be a bad skin reaction to the cream, which would come down to a personal allergy to a chemical in the product, and in and of itself would be a rare but not entirely uncommon situation.

Tattoo removal creams work best with older, low quality tattoos, and not brand new or newish work.

Despite the fact that TCA chemical peels might work better in general in the sense of actually removing ink, I think it's clear that anyone who cares about their skin would fare better using a tattoo removal cream over a TCA chemical peel. It's simply not worth the risk of scarring to use a TCA chemical peel on your skin, especially when there's so little guidance on what the ideal proportion of strength is in the solutions sold over the counter to people removing their own tattoos.

Tattoo removal creams, with no pain and no scarring concerns, are going to be a better choice. The trade off is it's going to take longer, which means more treatments, which means more money. However, in the long, the use of a cream over a peel is going to be a safer decision!