26/08/2022
That tattoo on your arm of a former flame—the one that seemed like a great idea years ago—is kind of embarrassing today. And your spouse is not too crazy about it either. But removing a tattoo isn’t as easy as it might seem. It can be painful, and risks include possible scarring and infection. But when done by a trained dermatologist, laser surgery can be safe and effective. Want to remove a tattoo? Talk to your dermatologist.
While state and local authorities oversee the practice of tattooing, inks and pigments used in tattoos are subject to U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) oversight as cosmetics. FDA takes action to protect consumers when safety issues arise related to the inks.
At the other end of the tattoo process, FDA also regulates laser devices used to remove tattoos. In recent years, FDA has cleared for marketing several types of lasers for tattoo lightening or removal.