Used for many centuries and by countless cultures, tattoos originated as marks of status, rites of passages and even as religious symbols, and have evolved over time to become mostly recreational in nature. Because they are designed to be permanent and impossible to remove, the drastic increase in voluntary tattooing of the body has led to an increase in “tattoo regret,” creating a lucrative market for tattoo removal products.

While there are many costly surgical procedures available for the removal of unwanted body art, such as laser and Intense Pulsed Light treatment, the latest phenomenon in ink removal is the do-it-yourself at home cream tattoo removal. Currently, several tattoo removal balm products dominate the market, including the popular products Wrecking Balm, Tattoo Erase and TatBGone. Tattoo removal balms often differ in active ingredients, but the dominant chemical in the skin ink removal industry is hydroquinone, which disrupts the formation of melanin in the skin and is often used for cosmetic skin bleaching and to reduce the appearance of freckles and age spots. Tattoo removal creams usually contain a two percent concentration of the chemical. A ban on hydroquinone was proposed by the FDA in 2006 under suspicion that the chemical may cause cancer, and it has already been banned in many counties worldwide.

Instructions for method of application and frequency and length of use are also among minor differences in tattoo removal products. The general concept is that applying tattoo removal balm regularly over time will gradually fade the unwanted artwork while you experience little to no pain. Reviews of these popular products generally report that users experienced minimal stinging at worst when using the products as directed.

The current king of creams, Doc Wilson’s Wrecking Balm No. 3, incorporates a medical dermal device into the process, taking at-home tattoo removal one step further. The device was recently approved by the FDA as safe to use in the home without medical supervision. Wrecking Balm’s three-step-process works by breaking down the skin injected with ink and taking advantage of the natural skin regeneration and healing process. Phyllanthus emblica fruit, sometimes referred to as Indian Gooseberry, and salicylic acid are the active ingredients in the tattoo removal balm.

Consumers should be prepared to do their homework when shopping for tattoo removal balm, as products vary wildly in price from under $100 to in excess of $300. Most products can be purchased online or by phone.

Jeff Flincks writes about tattoo removal balm procedure and tattoo.