Skip to main content

Could You Erase a Tattoo with a Cream Someday?

Request A Consultation

January 15, 2018 | Cosmetic Surgery, Laser Treatments
2 minute read


man with tattoo on arm

man with tattoo on armBeing able to remove an unwanted tattoo by simply rubbing a special cream on your skin certainly would be convenient. While there have been theories tossed around about how this might work, the fact of the matter is that there are just too many complications for topical tattoo removal creams to really work, now and possibly ever.

If you’re looking to get rid of a tattoo, take a look at why a cream isn’t likely to be your best tattoo removal option and what might work much better.

The Theory

Your body contains specialized cells called macrophages, which perform a wide variety of functions. One important job is to gobble up damaged or infectious cells and essentially destroy them. The idea is that a topical cream would need to stimulate new macrophages to move to the tattoo site and target the old macrophage cells that are already full of pigment.

The Problem with Topical Creams for Tattoo Removal

The biggest problem with trying to achieve this goal using only a topical cream is that it would be very difficult, if not impossible, to formulate a topical product that would be strong enough to penetrate the skin and enact this theory,while still remaining gentle and harmless on the surface.

[pullquote]Most doctors don’t believe that there will ever be an effective topical tattoo removal cream.[/pullquote]

More Effective Tattoo Removal Options

Luckily, you don’t have to wait around to see if a cream could someday be developed to get rid of an unwanted tattoo. There are already other tattoo removal options, such as laser tattoo removal, that can be very effective.*

Laser tattoo removal can now treat both color and black and grey tattoos.*During treatment, follow a few laser tattoo removal tips like staying out of the sun and not smoking.

*This information is for education only, and is not meant as a guarantee of results. Your results may vary.

Schedule a Consultation

(541) 687-8900

244 Country Club Rd
Eugene, OR 97401

Get Directions

Contact Us

We Would Love To Hear From You

This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.