There is nothing worse than getting a tattoo that you regret later. That lower back tattoo, or the tribal bicep one you got thinking they’d look cool; yeah, they don’t, and since you’re reading this, you’re probably aware of that.

So, what do people do when they want to get rid of a tattoo? They search for the best, most efficient, least expensive tattoo removal options. And here we are; tattoo creams seem to be the no.1 option for the majority of people. And why wouldn’t they be; imagine just rubbing cream onto the tattoo and it just magically disappears. That’s some stuff from the Harry Potter saga.

Now, let’s get serious. Tattoo removal creams are a thing, there’s no doubt. But, we couldn’t help but wonder whether these creams work. They just seem too good to be true, so we had to check this out. So, if you’re wondering the same, then hop on board, and let’s get right into this!

Your Guide To Tattoo Removal Creams

What Are Tattoo Removal Creams?

As the name is pretty straightforward and self-explanatory, a tattoo removal cream is a topical product claimed to fade or diminish the appearance of a tattoo. The majority of tattoo removal cream products claim to somehow bleach the epidermis or the top layer of the skin, or peel this layer away, and release the tattoo ink or pigment. Now, this sounds pretty invasive; almost like surgery. So, why would anyone go for a cream that works by ‘bleaching’ or ‘peeling your skin away’?

How Do Tattoo Removal Creams ‘Work’?

Well, tattoo removal creams contain peeling agents (like trichloroacetic acid, or TCA), or glycolic acid to ‘bleach’ or ‘peel away’ the surface skin layer. However, these creams claim to be able to penetrate the skin as well, and potentially remove the pigment from where the ink is placed, which is the dermis layer of the skin. The dermis is the inner skin layer where the ink is placed permanently.