Tattoo Removal for Teens

Tattoos have become more common in recent decades and the desire to have tattoos removed has grown as well. Most areas require you to be 18 or over in order to get a tattoo. However, often younger teens find places to get tattoos. Teens or their guardians sometimes want tattoos removed. The same tattoo removal options used for adults are used for teens. Common belief is that having a tattoo removed when you are younger increases the odds of a successful removal even though there is no evidence to support the notion.

Statistics for Tattoo Removal

Historically, tattoos were a masculine trait. Today 45 percent of all tattoos are worn by females. Of the total tattoo-wearing population only about 83 percent are happy with their tattoo, yet only 6 percent seek removal. The percent seeking tattoo removal is small but the overall number is quite significant.

Motivation for Teen Tattoos

Myrna L. Armstrong, a doctor of nursing who studies tattoo trends, reports that a sampling of tattooed teens ages 12 to 17 years said they got the tattoo as a way "to fit in" or said they were "not sure" why they got the tattoo. The number of teens who expressed a desire to have tattoos removed did not differ significantly from the adult population.

Reasons for Tattoo Removal

Body modification such as piercings, cuttings and tattoos are popular with the teen population but they typically outgrow these practices. Some teens seek removal of the tattoo when a parent or guardian discovers the artwork. Plastic surgeons K. Burris and K. Kim report 50 percent of teens opt to have tattoos removed because they have matured since their initial decision.

Tattoo Removal Cream

Tattoo removal cream is a substance that exfoliates the skin, targeting specific pigmentations. A number of products on the market claim to remove tattoos. Imiquimod has had some success removing tattoos from lab animals. Using tattoo removal cream generally takes longer than laser tattoo removal.

Laser Tattoo Removal

Laser tattoo removal is not a new process but has improved significantly recently. There may be some scarring, but recent improvements have minimized this. Many clinics which provide laser tattoo removal claim little or no scarring at all. This process is usually quicker but more expensive than using tattoo removal cream.