Tattoo Removal Creams Guide

What is Wrecking Balm?
Wrecking Balm – called a “Tattoo Fade – Removal System” by its manufacturer, is applied via a 3 step process that takes under 5 minutes a day, the results of which claim to gradually fade or altogether remove a tattoo from your skin. Wrecking Balm states that its ingredients are FDA-approved, and will safely remove the upper layers of the skin, breaking up the tattooed ink pigments, and thus, over repeated treatments, fade and/or remove the tattoo.

The product consists of a gel, cream, concealer, an “erosion head”, and a “DemoMatic.”

And how is it supposed to work?
According to Wrecking Balm, it works by using…

“….an FDA-approved mechanical hand-held medical device that gently, but effectively, removes the upper layers of the epidermis (outer skin layer). The second step uses a chemical serum that penetrates deep into the underlying lower layers, breaking up the cellular matrix in which the ink pigments are imbedded.”

And then:

“It takes 4 to 6 weeks for cells to naturally regenerate and complete one cycle. This skin cell renewal process is the key as the ink injected cells work their way to the surface for removal. WreckingBalm® safely works not only to break up the ink pigments, but to expedite the process of removal.”

The company claims its product is “devastatingly effective” and offers a free trial along with a money back guarantee, and free phone and email support for its users.

Wrecking Balm snippets, according to the manufacturer:

Can remove a tattoo in as little as two months, especially if its an “amateur tattoo”
Usage can sometimes result in minor irritation or a burning sensation to the skin
Is effective on all skin types
Should not be used on any tattoos that are less than 6 months old
Can be used to fade a tattoo and then safely re-tattoo the same area of the skin to cover it up
they also sell a product called “Branding Butter” which allows you to temporarily conceal your tattoo for one-time needs, such as a wedding or job interview, etc.

How much does Wrecking Balm Tattoo Removal Cream cost?

Here’s a sample of prices that are current as of this writing:

2 month supply (24 applications) costs $150.
6 month supply (72 applications) costs $250.

Add on another $10 or $20 for shipping.

What is Tat B Gone Tattoo Removal Cream?

Tat B Gone is a set of lotions applied to the skin repeatedly which are supposed to fade or remove a tattoo from your skin. The product was developed in Norway and it appears the company currently operates out of Europe with worldwide distributors in different countries. Tat B gone has been selling its product online at least since 2003.

How does this product work?

According to Tat B Gone, the product works in 3 steps:

“Step one – Prepares thee tattoo for treatment

Step two – Prepares breakdown of the tattoo ink.

Step three – Infuses the fade away action”

User is then to repeat these steps until the desired results are acheived i.e. the tattoo fades away or otherwise is removed.

What’s in Tat B Gone cream?

Unknown. At this time, the ingredients appear to not be publicly available. It is known that the ingredients are considered to be safe by the FDA, and that this product is hypoallergenic; meaning “allergic reactions have not been a problem.” The company also states its products do not puncture the skin, contain no acid, and is non-abrasive.

How much does it cost?
A trial kit costs a bit under $100 (US dollars) whereas a 10 month supply is around $500.

The 6 month supply kit is their most popular items and it sells for $300.

Tat B Gone Snippets & Tidbits:

• Tat B Gone is shipped in plain, anonymous-looking packages
• Tat B Gone company ships its products worldwide
• Company does NOT offer a money back guarantee, nor does it give out refunds, accept returns, or deal with exchanges of its products
• However, they do claims 95% of users are “satisfied” with results
• Tat B Gone at Claims that the other companies out their with similar products have stolen their graphics, ideas, and website keywords. They also mock their guarantees. Not sure what’s up with that!

What Is Tattoo Off?
Tattoo Off is another do it yourself at home cream for fading or removing a tattoo. Tattoo Off recommends its use to lighten an unwanted tattoo before getting a cover up but also states it can remove a tattoo entirely.

How to Use It
Directions state to simply apply the cream to the skin and over time, the cream will remove the tattoo. According to their website, Tattoo Off contains the following ingredients. However, from this list, it is unclear what causes the ink to be removed from the skin.

A list of partial ingredients:
- Aloe Leaf Juice – aids in healing skin
- Anthemis Nobilis – has claming and soothing effects, also used to
- Treat skin disorders
- Calendula Flower Extract – anti-bacterial, effective in healing
- Cymbopogon Shoenanthus – known for its astringent properties
- Eucalyptus Globulos – used in skin care, has cooling, refreshing, and energizing effect
- Equisetum Arvente Leaf – rejuvenates skin
- Lemon Extract – soothes skin and maintains moisture balance
- Orange Peel – effective skin care ingredient
- Rosemary Leaf – used for skin ailments and stimulates healing
- Sage Leaf – high in anti-oxidants

How much does Tattoo Off cost?
Prices start at $65 for one treatment and go to nearly $500 for 12-24 treatments. Shipping and handling cost $5-7 but is free when you order up in the $200+ price range for multiple bottles.

How many treatments does it take to remove a tattoo?
The company suggests it will take more than $200+ in Tattoo Off to remove a tattoo. As with all tattoo removal creams, the amount of treatments is dependent on tattoo size, quality, and age, and it gets a bit vague on any specifics after this.

Note: The official website for Tattoo Off has a number of errors as far as links not working and pages not loading correctly.
Others have noted that some of the before and after photographs look suspiciously doctored. Buyer beware.

Rejuvi cream for tattoo removal is done in the following method:

Cream is injected into the skin, using a device quite similar to a tattoo gun
The cream bonds with the ink inside the skin
The body sees this as something foreign to the body to remove from its system
The body rejects the cream, which now also contains the tattoo ink, pushing it to the surface of the skin
The cream and ink form a scab at the outer layer of the skin
Scab falls off, taking the tattoo with it

Note that this is not a procedure done in home by simply rubbing a cream on yourself!

It is fairly involved, expensive (but not as much as other treatments), and it is ironically a lot like getting a tattoo – there’s a tattoo-like gun device for injecting the ink into your skin, along with a bit of pain as it cuts into you. Rejuvi treatment centers claim this method has a high sucess rate than using laser treatments for ink removal. It’s not as painful either. However, there is a risk of scarring, but it’s supposed to be only a “minor” risk.

Snippets and tidbits about Rejuvi for tattoo removal:
- Users cannot drink alcohol before treatment. It will interfere with the process due to how alcohol effects the blood.
- User should go in on a full stomach.
- Treatment can be applied mid-way through a tattoo if the skin has not healed. However, if skin has healed then user must wait 8 to 12 weeks before removing said tattoo with Rejuvi treatments.
- To fully remove a tattoo will take several treatments over a series of months, usually 3 or 4 treatments spread out between 8 to 12 weeks intervals. After this it will take a few months before skin is fully healed and back to normal. This means it can take about a year for a tattoo to be completely gone and the skin fully healed.
- Rejuvi cream was invented in 1988 in the USA by a biochemist in San Francisco, California.

How much does it cost?
Prices vary with treatment center, country, and so on, but expect to pay around $125 per square inch, per treatment.

Where Can I Get This Treatment?
Rejuvi treatment for tattoo removal is now available in various clinics in the United States and Europe.

What is Dermasal?
New Tech, the parent company of Dermasal from Baton Route, Loiusiana, sells a 3 piece tattoo removal kit consisting of a spray-on agent, a topical solution, and a spray on gel. It takes less than 5 minutes to apply all three. According to the Dermasal website, the kit is used like so:

(1) A spray-on bottle of Soothing Agent which “prepares the skin for the topical solution.”
(2) A jar of Topical Solution which “erases the tattooed area by lightly dissolving the ink embedded in the skin.”
(3) A spray-on bottle of Protectant Gel which “sooths and protects the treated area.”

How much does Dermasal cost?

Here’s a sample of prices current as of this writing:

1 month supply costs about $80.
2 month supply costs about $120.
4 month supply costs about $200.
6 month supply costs about $300.

(Prices quoted in US dollars.)

Dermasal claims that:

• This method of tattoo removal is painless and does not harm the skin
• Tattoo will begin fading within 1 to 3 weeks of use
• It will remove a tattoo in as little as 3 months but also as long as 18 months (!)
• The ingredients in Dermsal are considered safe by the FDA
• Over 100,000 people have used product to remove a tattoo
• Dermasol product will not cause scarring on the skin where the tattoo was removed
• 3 double blind studies have shown the effectiveness of Dermasal in removing a tattoo

Additionally, the company offers free email and phone support, and a 100% money back guarantee on its product. Dermasal is shipped via USPS Priority Mail within the USA and Global Priority everywhere else. Buyers can pay for Dermasal via Paypal or Credit Card.

Using TCA for Getting Rid of an Unwanted Tattoo

What is TCA?
Trichloroacetic Acid, also called TCA, is traditionally used as a skin peeling agent for the treatment of sun damanage, wrinkles, lines, and acne scars to the face. This is its most common usage and is sold over the counter for such treatment.

However, it is also effective as an aid to fade or altogether remove tattoos. In fact, researchers claim this has been proven in the lab under two medical tests.

It can be purchased over the internet without a prescription, and applied privately at home without going to any office or seeing a doctor.

How does TCA work to remove a tattoo?
TCA removes a tattoo by applying a method of controlled inflammation on the surface of the skin above the tattoo, using a q-tip to the apply the water-like gel. This inflammation causes a reaction in the skin in which the ink from the tattoo is broken up and surfaces to the top of the skin. Repeatedly applying this technique will cause the tattoo to fade or completely disappear over time.

TCA should at be applied once every 6 weeks. Two weeks its initial application, the treated skin should start peeling, and then from this point it will take aboout a week for the dead skin to peel off completely. At this point, it is recommended to wait another 3 weeks and then start all over again, repeating the process, which is known as a “skin peel”. After repeated skin peels, the tattoo should be either significantly faded or removed altogether.

Does it hurt?
Users reports a mild sting associated with this method. However, this is very mild compared to other tattoo removal methods such as laser treatment.

How much does TCA treatment cost?
Cost varies between different companies making TCA for tattoo removal.

Nuviderm is such company, whose treatments start around $40 per bottle.

Please note that TCA manufacturers claim that this product is not a tattoo removal cream, noting that the substance itself has more of a water like consistency, and works with a different methodology than creams.

However, anyone wanting to get rid of their tattoo and is considering using a tattoo removal cream would likely be very interested in TCA as well, no matter if you call it a gel, lotion, or a tattoo removal cream!