During the laser tattoo removal process, you may notice slight or distinct changes in the skin on or surrounding the area, these are called Hyperpigmentation and hypopigmentation. Do not despair, you really nothing to worry about, as changes in skin pigmentation are common when tattoo removal is involved.

What is Hyperpigmentation and Hypopigmentation?

In hyperpigmentation, there will be patches of darkened skin which is, skin that is shades darker than your original color. In hypopigmentation, the opposite occurs. Patches of lightened skin appear, meaning it’s in a shade lighter than your skin tone.

These pigment-related changes happen due to the various light wavelengths present in laser. Laser doesn’t only dissolve the ink pigments in your skin but also affects your skin’s melanin production. Melanin is a naturally occurring pigment found in both human and animal structures, like the skin and hair. With laser tattoo removal, your skin’s ability to create melanin either increases or decreases. The higher the melanin content, the higher the likelihood of the skin experiencing adverse reactions to the procedure.

What can I do?

Hypopigmentation and hyperpigmentation are not life-threatening, and they do not have an impact on your health. The discoloration can be quite annoying to look at, but other than that, you’ve no cause for worry. If you are affected by the sight of this, you can opt to use cosmetic products to even out your skin tone. The effects are temporary.

Fortunately, these changes in skin color will eventually resolve on their own. This can take months, sometimes even years, for your skin colour to return to normal. There have been instances where the pigment change never resolved. However, most people agree they’d rather deal with hyperpigmentation or hypopigmentation than the actual tattoo they had laser removed.

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