Starting your laser tattoo removal in Winter is perfect. It’s always best to start laser tattoo removal treatments sooner rather than later. Winter is the easiest time of the year to recover from laser sessions. Here’s why:

You’ll Be Out of the Sun

We will always advise you to stay out of the sun before and after your laser tattoo removal treatment.  Being sunburnt or tanned will make your skin more sensitive than usual.  You will likely experience extreme irritation during your laser session. Peeling and blistering during the healing process are also more likely to occur on tanned or burned skin and can ultimately lead to scarring.

You also risk hyperpigmentation, which is the removal of skin pigment. It is most noticeable on those who have a tan or dark skin.

It’s also important to avoid the sun for several weeks after each treatment to give the skin time to heal. This is understandably much easier during the colder months because you aren’t spending as much time outdoors, and your skin is covered.

Your Progress Will Be Less Obvious

The laser tattoo removal process is not a once only procedure. Treatments must be performed at 6-12 week intervals and the number of sessions required varies from person to person, depending on the quality and colours of ink used in the unwanted tattoo.

Throughout the process, your tattoo will fade gradually. Consequently, many people prefer to undergo laser tattoo removal during the winter, so they can cover up their tattoo. This is particularly true for people who have ink on obvious areas of the body, such as their arms. Winter enables you to simply throw on a sweatshirt, a scarf, or pants to avoid constant questions from friends and family about what’s going on with your tattoo.

You’re Less Likely to Go for a Dip

Warm months mean water activities, surfing, and swimming in the pool. All of these activities should be avoided after undergoing laser tattoo removal treatments. Even a covered treated tattoo can be susceptible to bacteria and irritants that can lead to infection and scars if the tattoo hasn’t finished healing.

You Won’t Mind Being Hairy

While the treated area of your skin is healing, it cannot be shaved, waxed, or even plucked because these hair removal methods can open up scabs and blisters. This might pose a problem if the tattoo is located in an area that you shave regularly, such as your legs or bikini line. In the winter, however, letting hair grow in a bit won’t be a big deal. You can keep your legs covered without people wondering why you’re wearing pants or tights. In winter, won’t likely be strutting around in a swimsuit for a while.

How Laser Tattoo Removal Works

People look into laser tattoo removal for numerous reasons, including faded ink. Over time, the body’s immune system attacks the ink because it sees it as a foreign object. The ink is then removed from the body through sweat glands and waste. This results  in a faded and sometimes distorted tattoo. This leaves people the option of having their tattoo touched up, covered up, or removed.

Laser tattoo removal is often a top choice because over the years people get tired of their ink and want a clean canvas. When you got the tattoo, the ink was injected into the dermal layer of the skin, which is the layer below the epidermis. During the tattoo removal treatments, lasers target the pigment of the ink without damaging the epidermis layer.  This accelerates the natural healing process the immune system has been performing. For this reason, your tattoo ink will continue to fade even after your treatments and can fade faster by exercising and not smoking.

Occasionally, those who look into laser tattoo removal treatments are concerned that the laser will be too painful, and they won’t be able to handle it. This is rarely the case. Many people say the pain is similar to getting the tattoo in the first place. However, if you’re still concerned about the pain, don’t fret. At Rethink, we use a cryogenic device to deliver cool air to the skin. This numbs the outer layer. Delivering cool air to the skin throughout your laser tattoo removal treatment will reduce much of the pain or discomfort you might otherwise feel.