A simple and cost effective solution to get rid of art that you don’t want to adorn your body anymore.
Body art has found resonance as a form of expression with many people. People belonging to different cultures, residing in different continents, have taken to using their bodies as a canvas for art to come alive, for emotions to flow. It is a tradition that has been flowing down centuries in many cultures across the globe.
It has become a form of expression – for love, for affiliations, for beliefs. We are wearing our beliefs on our body and we love it!
Our tattoos have become synonymous with who we are. They are celebrations, and they are also our mourning. Wedding dates, the death of a loved one, the birth of a child are all commemorated with ink on our bodies.
But we grow, we change.
Beliefs change. People leave.
The beliefs that were so dear to us, the people that we held so close to our hearts, no longer pull at our heart strings like they used to.
That’s when the tattoo that we so lovingly had grace our bodies starts to sting our eyes. They become a reminder of what we want to forget.
Of course, for many of us, they are reminders of the drunken night that we now have absolutely no memory of. Many of us end up like Ted Mosby with no recollection and absolute regret.
Yes, the idea of a human skeleton on your forearm was very cool when you were twenty-three. But you’re twenty-nine now and people’s subtle change in expression when they spot the skeleton hasn’t escaped you. Each time a job interview doesn’t materialize into a job, you’re wondering if it’s the skeleton that did you the kindness.
Your girlfriend can’t get over the fact that your ex’s name is tattooed on your chest in bold letters, and there is a fight each time your shirt comes off.
This is it! The tattoo has to go. Ex-lover or a quirky skeleton, the tattoo has to go!
The decision is made, but now what?
You’re holding your head in frustration just thinking of the time it’s going to take, the pain that it will cause. This tattoo is going to eat into your time, and you can feel the frustration mounting inside. You cannot fathom how you’re going to find the time for regular visits to the dermatologist every few weeks.
The appointment keeps getting postponed, and it has been a month, but you still haven’t seen the insides of the clinic.
Another two weeks pass and you still find yourself procrastinating. You just don’t think you that will be able to follow through those appointments without messing up your schedule entirely. Sigh!
Now, what? The looks don’t stop. The fights get louder. The tattoo doesn’t feel like you any longer.
Lightning strikes! Google is your go-to for everything, and here you are again.
Is there anything you can do at home? You fire up the search engine, and you have options! Voila! Google always works. Yay!
Wait. There are home solutions, but complicated home solutions with no guarantee of effectiveness and results. Instead, warnings of scarring and permanent skin damage feature in too many articles for you to ignore. Sigh!
Thinking of picking up the phone and booking that appointment after all? Maybe you should, but…there is another way, you know? And it’s pretty simple. And guess what? You can do it at home.
So here goes…
What Should You Do?
All you have to do is open the browser on your laptop or the application to that online store that is on your phone and order for a TCA home skin peel kit.
Step 1 is already done.
What is TCA?
TCA (trichloroacetic acid) is a solution that works wonders on your skin. It is available online in various strengths and can be used for various purposes when properly diluted. It is one of the most effective and simplest methods of tattoo removal. It does other wonderful things for your skin too.
What Are The Other Benefits of TCA?
So many! Stretch marks, acne scars, other skin scars, wrinkles, freckles, moles and more! TCA helps you to deal with all of this and lets you do it from the comfort of your home.
Besides being effective for the removal of tattoos, diluted solutions of TCA help your skin in many other ways. One peel of TCA at 10-15% helps you deal with blackheads. For wrinkles, you should dilute the solution to 25-50%.
For tattoos, it is recommended to use the solution at 100%. However, it is best to start using the solution at a lower level of concentration to check how it reacts with your skin.
Another added benefit of TCA as a peel, if used correctly, is that it produces improvement in elastin and collagen levels of the skin. It makes you look younger and gives you the glow that you’ve been making trips to the parlor for.
It is also used to treat skin conditions on recommendations of doctors.
How Should You Use It?
The first thing to do before you start using the TCA solution is to consult your doctor. Speak to your doctor and inform them of any skin conditions that you suffer from, so that they can tell you if you need to refrain from using TCA.
Once you’ve gotten the go-ahead from your doctor, you can start using the solution for the removal of your tattoo. It is recommended to use a diluted solution, maybe even to 10%, the first time you use it so you can check how your skin reacts to it.
When you make the purchase online, the kit comes with vinyl gloves, q-tips, and an instruction manual. Make sure to follow all the steps in the manual to the T. Under any circumstances, do not leave the solution on for a longer period than instructed in the manual.
It would not be a bad idea to purchase a neutralizer along with the TCA solution. The neutralizer can be applied after you have washed off the acid to help restore the pH balance.
Will It Suit Your Skin Type?
TCA works on all skin types. There is no need to worry about its effectiveness on different skin types and it can be used without any concern about it not working on your particular skin type.
What to Expect?
There will be some burning. It can get a little uncomfortable, and the skin will turn red. It will look and feel like sunburn. Within time, however, the burning will reduce and so will the redness. As long as the burning is tolerable, it is a good sign because it means that the solution worked. In case it feels intolerable, you should see a doctor.
The spot will feel sore and remain tender for a few days, and you have to make sure to not expose the spot to direct sunlight.
Are There Any Side Effects?
As long as you follow the instructions that come with the kit, you have nothing to worry about. Never leave it on your skin for longer than the instructed time, because that could mean trouble. If used incorrectly, it can lead to scarring on your skin, and you don’t want that.
How Do You Make Sure To Not Suffer The Side Effects?
Follow the instructions on the instruction manual to the T and you will not have any side effects to suffer. The first time that you use the solution, it is best to dilute it, even to 10%, to check how it reacts with your skin.
Being a water-based solution, it is easy to do so. If nothing unexpected follows, you can increase the strength of the solution the next time. However, do not leave it for longer than instructed.
One of the precautions to take is to make sure you do not expose the spot to direct sunlight and protect it as much as possible.
How Much Time Will It Take To Recover?
Depending on the amount of time you leave the chemical on and the strength of the solution, recovery can take anything between a few days to a few weeks.
In most cases where deep peel (50% or more) is performed, the skin looks like you’ve got sunburn and heals completely within a few days.
How Much Will It Cost Me?
The 100% TCA Home Skin Peel Kit costs $14.98, while the 25% TCA Home Skin Peel Kit costs $14.00 on amazon.com
If you go ahead and purchase the neutralizer as well, your cost will increase by $6.99. In case you do not wish to spend money on a neutralizer, you can also make a solution at home instead.
All in all, home skin peel kits are cost effective. Not only are the solutions inexpensive, but they also save repeated visits to the dermatologist.
Skin peels are a safe, cost-effective and time-saving solution to tattoo removals. They are simple to administer and are quick with results. The most important thing to do, however, is to consult a doctor before you decide to use it for your skin.
