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The removal of amateur tattoos by salabrasion
Author(s) -
STRONG ALEXANDRA M.M.,
JACKSON IAN T.
Publication year - 1979
Publication title -
british journal of dermatology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.304
H-Index - 179
eISSN - 1365-2133
pISSN - 0007-0963
DOI - 10.1111/j.1365-2133.1979.tb05648.x
Subject(s) - amateur , abrasion (mechanical) , medicine , dermatology , art , optometry , surgery , history , archaeology , engineering , mechanical engineering
SUMMARY Due to the recent upsurge in self‐inflicted tattoos in teenagers it was decided to employ for their removal the method of salabrasion, i.e. abrasion with table salt. This technique was recently used by Manchester (1973, 1974) for the removal of commercial tattoos. Fourteen patients with twenty‐eight tattoos were treated; ten tattoos showed a good response, i.e. complete removal of the tattoo or only tiny flecks of pigment remaining visible; eleven showed a fair response, i.e. the tattoo, although much lighter in colour, was still legible but the patient was satisfied with the result; three showed a poor response, i.e. the tattoo appeared as if untreated; four (two patients) defaulted. In general, as could be expected, the darker the tattoo the more difficult was its removal and those on fingers were particularly resistant.