Want to get rid of a tattoo? Not a problem, you may think, there is always the option to have it removed by laser treatment. But be very careful, experts warn. Tattooists, hair- and nail salons are bombarded with offers by manufacturers of cheap laser removal equipment, with a brief training. The new practitioners normally act in good faith. However, laser tattoo removal is a specialist job and can go very wrong in inexperienced hands. Bad scarring and white pigment blotches could be the result, also blisters or even third degree burns for which urgent medical attention is needed.

To inform the public and warn against the danger, campaigners in The Netherlands have recently opened the action line ‘Laser Ellende’ (Laser Misery). Anyone who has had problems with laser tattoo removal is invited to upload their photos and stories, also to warn others. The victims are offered advice on how to limit the damage, with information on (medical) treatment and where to find this help.

Reactions flooded in within hours of the launch of the action line, with shocking examples of malpractice. Organiser Andy Han, in 2018 one of the founders of ‘Spijt van Tattoo’ (Tattoo Regret), says when things go wrong after laser treatment the first advice to clients should be to see the family doctor. But this type of after care is often lacking and without medical help wounds may deteriorate, leading from bad to worse.

Burns unit Han is a long standing tattoo remove specialist working with burns unit experts. Based in the harbour city of Rotterdam he has witnessed the explosive growth of tattoo shops: from only a handful 20 years ago to 120 registered shops now. ‘And they are all targeted by manufacturers of laser tattoo removal machines.’ He points out professional laser removal equipment costs around 350-thousand Euro. ‘But there are offers for a fraction of the price’. Hair-, hair removal- and nail salons are targeted too. They see tattoo removal as an added service, bringing in money. ‘Thinking laser tattoo removal must be similar to removing unwanted hair. The reality is very different.’

Often overlooked is the fact there are many different types of tattoo ink. Combined with certain skin types and laser, an aggressive reaction can ensue. The location of the tattoo on the body plays an important role too. ‘You really have to know how to adjust the laser accordingly. This is often where things go wrong, which causes the skin damage.’

Quality mark Andy Han is in favour of a quality mark for good practice, to protect the client and help making the right choice with tattoo removal. He also aims to reach the younger public, at school age: often a time for uninformed tattoo choices.

Part of the work of Han and his team is removal of hand-, neck- and facial tattoos, free of charge for unemployed people to increase their chances to gain employment. He warns: ‘Think before you go for a tattoo on an impulse, there can be long term consequences. If you regret your choice later, the correct laser removal treatment is time-consuming and expensive.’ As a general pointer: a 100 Euro tattoo can cost up to a 1000 Euro to remove by laser. If your hands and face are covered with tattoos, the process may take years.

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