……….Second Application……………………First Application…….
The red outline around the tattoo is much darker than the first application. The same red outline during the first application is what scarred. We’ll see if the red outline is going to result in a full outline scar of the tattoo. Also there is white in-between the tattoo and the red outline, when looking at it, it looks like a blister, but to touch, there is no blistering. The tattoo is numb to the touch at this point, and there is no pain.
the red line for me resulted in a permanent scar.
I have stopped using nuviderm. Upon the healing of my second treatment, my skin swelled and turned into a hypertrophic scar, which now causes me extreme pain when I move, sleep, touch it, and sometimes just sharp pains for no reason at all. I know the TCA caused it – the scar tissue is raised in the exact shape/places that I used the TCA and which scabbed.
I’m planning to see a dermatologist soon to see if anything can be done.
I’d be extremely wary if I were you, as I was using 50%.
I have been watching this process and checking in frequently. I am about to start a tca treatment on an old ugly tattoo. it only has one color and is very small. Maybe two inches in length at the most. I was concerned about the last comment on scarring. I searched the interenet and actually a plastic surgeon may use a tca peel as a treatment on a hypertrophic scar. Maybe we shouldnt be messing with this stuff. I am a little nervous now.
Jcrom-
It does concern me as well, hearing about pastperfect’s results from using Nuviderm. They did say that they applied the second application before the the skin healed completely from the first application, which may be why it scarred really bad. I would have to say as well that nuviderm will scar, and that you probably should expect scarring. I would recommend using around 23% though, it’s going to take a lot more applications, but 23% is the max they use on facial peels, so you would probably have the least likely chance of scarring, and perhaps no scarring at all. Personally, I am going to tattoo over my tattoo, faded, scarred, what have you, It really depends what you have in mind for the final results. If you want the tattoo gone with the least amount of risk I would shoot for professional laser treatment, but even then you risk scarring, on top of thousands of dollars. You should let me know what you decide.
In regards to the comment – Yes, I used it a little early, but it was only about a week earlier than I should have waited. It said 4-6 weeks, I did it on the 4th week, and had consulted others who gave me the go ahead and assumed also that I was ready. It was a mistake anyone could have made.
ANY application of TCA, whether nuviderm or another brand can cause a scar, because after the scab falls off your skin is trying to regenerate, and should it try too much and generate too much collegen, that’s what causes the scar tissue, and thats basically, we’re assuming, what happened – my skin went into overdrive. The scab fell off, it was healing completely fine I thought, the color was starting to go back and then suddenly one day I woke up and it was swollen. It fits every bit of criteria for a hypotrophic. We thought it was a keloid at first, but the size didn’t grow. I will find out for sure once I go to a dermatologist.
I agree if you use it, don’t go over the 23%, however by doing so, I’m not honestly sure if it will reach the tattoo ink. You might want to email a plastic surgeon on that. At this point I’m hoping that a dermatologist can zap away this excess scar tissue along with the remnants left of the tattoo. I’m okay with a discolored scar but having it like this is painful and humiliating. I can’t even wear a bathing suit, it looks like a darn disease.
I have another tattoo on my back but I will absolutely be looking into other options now, and if they tell me there is nothing I can do via plastic surgery, I am going to look into cover ups. I won’t ever use TCA again.