Thursday, November 29, 2007

New type of tattoo ink

Laser tattoo removal is when the pigmented ink in the skin absorbs energy from the laser, breaks down, and is resorbed by the body's immune system. This requires a certain wavelength to target a certain color at a certain depth in the skin. Also, the energy should not be so much as to damage the surrounding skin. Some colors are easier to remove than others, and tattoos that are more skillfully applied at an even depth across the skin are easier to remove as well.

Freedom-2 is an interesting, relatively new product that allows for easier tattoo removal. Instead of the multiple laser treatments and incomplete removal, Freedom-2 advertises tattoo removal after just one laser treatment. They do this by using a biodegradable ink that is microencapsulated. These microcapsules are what make up the tattoo. When a laser's energy is applied to the capsules, they burst, releasing the biodegradable ink. This is assuming it is easier to burst open the capsule than it is to heat and destroy normal ink. Also, it should be easier for the body to dispose of the biodegradable ink than the normal ink.

It is featured as one of Time magazine's best new inventions, and is really a clever idea. However, keep in mind that this product is not FDA-regulated and has not been thoroughly studied in the literature. The material used for encapsulating is not listed on their web page, but it is always a risk that you may have an allergy to the product.

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