How To Fade A Tattoo: Natural Remedies & Medical Treatments

Tattoos are a beautiful way of expressing one’s beliefs and creativity. However, the end result may not meet your expectations and leave you with disappointment and regret. So, If you are wondering how to fade a tattoo, you have come to the right place. While complete tattoo removal may be painful and challenging, fading a tattoo is far more achievable. From tattoo fading creams to numerous professional treatments and natural remedies, we dive into the different ways to fade a tattoo in the article below. Scroll down to know more.

How Long Does It Take For A Tattoo To Fade?

It can take up to several months or years for a tattoo to fade naturally. But if you are opting for a professional treatment or any other fading technique, the results will depend on the method itself. For instance, laser treatment can provide visible results within 5 to 6 weeks, whereas natural remedies may take up to a few months to show results.

Keeping these points in mind, learn more about how to fade a tattoo in the section below.

How To Fade A Tattoo

There are various tattoo fading methods you can opt for to gradually remove tattoos. If you wish to consult a professional tattoo artist and solely trust proper treatments, you can go for laser surgery or cryosurgery. You can even invest in tattoo removal ointments or try DIY remedies like lemon and hydrogen peroxide.

But before we delve further into how to fade a tattoo, you may be wondering whether color tattoos fade. The answer is yes. Color tattoos eventually fade with time. However, the results may vary depending on the ink’s quality and the individual’s skin type.

Quick Tip

Expose your tattoo to direct sunlight without sunscreen for some time every day to help fade it. However, avoid staying in the sunlight for too long to reduce the risk of sunburns.

Most of us will look for painless, natural, and affordable ways to fade our tattoos before opting for the expensive treatments. So, if you are one of them, scroll down to the next section to find out more.

Homemade Methods Of Fading Tattoos

• Honey, Salt, And Yogurt

Applying a mixture of honey, salt, and yogurt may help fade a tattoo. Anecdotal evidence suggests that honey may have skin brightening properties that may aid in diminishing the tattoo’s appearance, while salt may help break down ink particles. Further, the lactic acid in yogurt may help moisturize and brighten the skin (1), (2).

Mix one teaspoon each of honey and yogurt with a pinch of salt. Gently scrub the mixture in circular motions on the inked area. Do this for a few months to see visible results.

• Hydrogen Peroxide

Using hydrogen peroxide on the tattoo may help break down the tattoo ink into smaller pigments and get safely absorbed by the body. Take a clean towel or cotton swab, dab it in some hydrogen peroxide, and gently apply it to the tattoo. Allow it to rest for 5 to 10 minutes before rinsing it off with lukewarm water. Follow the procedure for a few days for visible results.

However, exercise caution as improper use of hydrogen peroxide may result in skin damage, irritation, burns, and scarring. Hence, always do a patch test before use.

• Lemon And Salt

The high vitamin C content in lemon may help lighten the outer layer of the tattoo. However, it may not be able to penetrate the deeper layers of skin where the ink resides. Mixing it with salt may help gently exfoliate the skin to help diminish the tattoo’s appearance (3), (4).

Combine two teaspoons of lemon juice with one teaspoon of salt. Gently apply this mixture to the entire tattoo and leave it on for 10 minutes before rinsing it off. Do this two times per day.

• Salicylic Acid

Salicylic acid is often used in skin care products for its exfoliating properties. This active ingredient helps in removing dead skin cells and may also be used as a fading cream. Apply a little bit of cream with 2% to 5% of salicylic acid regularly to help peel the skin to fade the tattoo (5).

• Yogurt and Aloe Vera Gel

According to anecdotal evidence, aloe vera may help remove your tattoo naturally. You need to apply the thick paste to the inked region four times a day for thirty minutes each time.

• Salt Scrub

Use a moist gauze sponge with table salt and scrub the tattooed area gently. It may help exfoliate the skin and fade the tattoo. However, there is no proper scientific evidence to prove how effective and safe this method is.

Quick Tip

Applying a little amount of baby oil to a tattoo regularly is claimed to gradually fade away the ink. However, there is no scientific evidence to prove the same. This oil is ideal for dry and sensitive skin types.

While you can try these natural remedies for tattoo lightening, there is no evidence that these methods give effective results. Excessive and improper use of these remedies may even damage the skin. Therefore, it is best to consult a professional before attempting to fade a tattoo. You may also opt for professional tattoo removal services for effective and better results. Scroll down to the next section to know more.

Surgical Methods Of Fading Tattoos

• Laser Surgery

The procedure involves using light beams to effectively break down the tattoo pigments, allowing the body to eliminate them. The number of laser removal sessions depends on the ink quality, tattoo size, ink color, location, and skin type. It may require anywhere between 2 to 6 sessions to help fade the tattoo.

A blogger shared her experience of doing laser surgery for fading her tattoo in her blog. She said, “Weird things that I’ve really come to notice. There are some lines that have stayed dark-ish and then others that the line itself is still dark, but there are little clear spots where it’s broken up. Or there are areas that were so much lighter even before this treatment that I thought would disappear really quickly and haven’t (i).”

• Surgical Excision

The procedure requires surgically cutting out the tattooed skin and stitching the wound. While the procedure is effective for smaller designs, it is not recommended for larger tattoos as it may cause scarring.

• Intense Pulsed Light Method (IPL)

This procedure uses broad-spectrum light to remove the epidermis and break down the color pigments into smaller components, which are then absorbed by the body. Then, the affected area heals via skin regeneration. Multiple sessions may be required to achieve the desired results.

• Cryosurgery

While this procedure is used to treat warts and cancer, it has gained popularity over the years for fading tattoos effectively. It involves using liquid nitrogen to freeze the skin and then dermabrasion to remove the top skin layer and break down the tattoo pigments. However, this method may not be effective for green and yellow pigments.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does shaving over a tattoo make it fade?

No, shaving does not help fade a tattoo. It only removes the hair from the outer skin layer. However, ensure that you do not shave over a healing tattoo as it may increase the risk of bleeding and infection.

Does the sun fade tattoos?

Yes, prolonged exposure to the sun can break down the ink particles, which may help distort and blur the lines and colors of the tattoo and fade it out. It is important to remember that this may take months or even years to substantially fade the tattoo.

Does Vaseline fade tattoos?

No, anecdotal evidence suggests that Vaseline does not help fade the ink. Also, it is best to avoid using Vaseline on tattooed skin as it may block the skin pores and trap the bacteria in them, thus increasing the risk of infection.

Can apple cider vinegar remove a tattoo?

No, there is currently no scientific evidence that suggests apple cider vinegar can help in fading a tattoo.

What tattoo color fades the fastest?

Red, pink, orange, white, and yellow inks tend to fade faster due to their composition and response to sunlight as compared to darker colors such as gray, dark blue, and black.

Will shea butter fade tattoos?

No, shea butter does not help fade tattoos. However, it is used in tattoo aftercare to moisturize the skin and protect it from the sun due to its emollient and sun-protecting properties (6).

Image: Stable Diffusion/StyleCraze Design Team

Investing in professional tattoo fading services may burn a hole in your pocket. Check out this video for a simple and natural method that may help fade a tattoo at home.

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Bianca Lorena SaldesRegistered Cosmetic Nurse

     

Bianca Lorena Saldes is a Registered Cosmetic Nurse and Esthetic Educator with over five years of experience in the field. Her expertise lies in anti-aging treatments, and she aims to help individuals feel confident and look their best. Bianca specializes in dermal fillers and thread procedures and is considered one of the top injectors in the industry. Her work involves...more

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