Nuviderm At Home Tattoo Removal:Month 4 (Third Application) *UPDATE* August 10, 2009

This last application was easy to slack on the updates because the healing process was quick and uneventful (just how I like it). Literally after the first week blog-post the scab peeled off (with the help of tubing and jet-skiing) within the following 1-2 weeks (from week 1 application 3 post). There was no swelling, pain, additional scarring, blistering, or discharge of any sort.

I am going to wait to do a fourth application until the weather cools down (I dont want to be sporting shorts and/or capris during the healing process).

I wanted to apologize about the lack of updates for this application. Being that I’ll be back at school for the fourth application I think it should  be easier for me to keep up with updates and not put it off to enjoy the wonderful weather outside!

I hope everyone is having a great summer!

Left: (August 10 2009/ After third application)…….Middle:(April 2009/Before third application)…..Right: Before Nuviderm

I have a hard time getting the lighting the same for each picture. There has definitely been fading since the third application of Nuviderm. I adjusted the colors and contrast in the pictures a little bit to make it easier to tell the extent of fading. I think these pictures look closer like what the area actually looks like versus having to struggle with the varying lighting situation from picture to picture.

My skin does have a wrinkley texture to it currently (treated area only). This may or may not lessen with time and/or with a cover-up tattoo. We’ll just have to see.

Nuviderm At Home Tattoo Removal:Week One (Third Application) April 7, 2009

The area seems to have dried out. Although a typical scab has not formed a rough skin has. It feels similar to what I remember dried Elmers glue feels like. There is no pain or discomfort of any kind. The skin it tight, and a little area has cracked due to ankle movement from walking.

I am putting lotion on the area daily. I want to get to the store and get some vitamin E lotion when I can.

Application One…………………………Application Two

(One Week)

When in comparison to applications one and two’s first week I see more similarities with the first application. The area is not nearly as red as with the second application. Although, this time around the area doesnt seem as dried out and scabby as the first application.

We will just have to see how the healing process goes from here.

Nuviderm At Home Tattoo Removal: Updated Before and After November 4, 2008

April 3 2008 (Before Nuviderm)…….Before using Mederma…………..November 4 2008

I have to apologize, the lighting in all my pictures seem to be different, which show the color differently. But I hope they can still give you an idea of the entire healing and application process.

The black is coming out of the tattoo. Unfortunately the area is really scarred.  The faded parts of the tattoo are scarred and started to turn brown in color. I have been using Mederma the last couple of months, about 2-4 times a day. I have seen much improvement in the overall lighting of the area.  I am really hoping I can eventually turn the whole area a mono-tone sort of color, and hopefully be able to get it covered up by this next summer.  I I probably will apply another application of Nuviderm, but it wont be for a while longer. I really want to make sure my skin is healed more before re-applying. I have a another refill of silverdene left, so I figure why not.

Nuviderm At Home Tattoo Removal: Update! 3 months (second application) September 30, 2008

Let me begin by apologizing for how long it has taken me to post an update. Between packing, moving, unpacking and school; I just haven’t had the time to do much of anything.

The scab that formed over the tattoo completely came off (with the help of tubing on the lake) the second week of August.  The area hasn’t hurt really at all since I’ve gone to the doctor.

The area is scarred, but there is noticeable areas of fading and even areas where the outlining looks like it has completely faded away.  I am going to start putting scar cream on it in hopes to lessen the scarring.  I do plan on applying another layer of Nuviderm, but i am going to wait quite a while before I do so.  Luckily I have one more refill of silver sulfa at the pharmacy which i am going to get before I apply the third application of Nuviderm.

I will keep updating, but they are going to be more spread out, since its going to take a while to see any major differences.

Nuviderm At Home Tattoo Removal: Week Three (Second Application) August 7, 2008

Start of Healing (after Doctor’s Visit)—————————————–>

—————————————————————————>

——————————————————————>9/7/2008

I apologize, I missed about a week in between the second to last photo and the most current photo. It wasn’t a very eventful week though, the area scabbed, and this week it started to peel. There is no pain anymore, and the area is completley scabbed, and there is no oozing of any kind this or last week. The area itches. I cant really tell how faded the tattoo has become, but I’m anxious to see the results. I don’t think the area is going to be a huge scar, its healing up pretty nicely, so we’ll just have see.

Nuviderm At Home Tattoo Removal: Week Three/Day 4 (Second Application) July 25, 2008

***Day 4 with prescriptions

Its looking pretty good today. I can tell that it looks a lot healthier than before I went to the doctor. It doesn’t hurt too bad at all, the treated area as well as the area around it itches really bad though.

Free Laser Tattoo Removal?

I just got a comment, which I thought was worth sharing…Especially anyone in the Southern California area.

Ian Says: Hello,
I just found your blog as well. I work for a laser removal company in Southern California called Dr. TATTOFF. If you or any of your readers happen to be in Southern California on Wednesday, July 30, we’re doing free laser tattoo removal all day long for anyone who comes into our Irvine, CA clinic. This is a community service we call Dr. TATTOFF’s Operation INK-OFF which we perform once a year at each of our three clinics, so potentially a person could have their tattoo completely removed for free if they came to each INK-OFF over the course of a couple years, or they could go to the events and supplement them with paid treatments to have their tattoo removed much faster.

Here are the details:

WHO: Any new patients who want free tattoo removal.
WHAT: Up to 6″ sq. laser tattoo removal. Patients treated on a first come, first served basis.
WHEN: Wednesday, July 30, 8am-8pm.
WHERE: Dr. TATTOFF, 15751 Rockfield Blvd, Ste 120, Irvine, CA 92618
WHY: Because everyone deserves something for free!

Feel free to spread the word – it’s our pleasure to help as many people out as possible by providing them with free laser tattoo removal on that day.

For more information, you can call 888-TATT-OFF (828-8633) or visit us online at http://www.DrTATTOFF.com.

If you’d like to be added to our mailing list to be informed of upcoming INK-OFF events and other promotions and news (including where new Dr. TATTOFF clinics are opening later this year and next year) please send a request to info@drtattoff.com

Best of luck with your removal,
Ian

I would just have to say, to keep in mind that one laser treatment will not completley remove a tattoo, be prepared for many treatments.  Second laser tattoo removal also does have a risk of scarring and skin discoloration.  If anyone is able to attend this, and receive free laser removal; you should really share your experience with me, I would love to hear how it went.

Nuviderm At Home Tattoo Removal: Week Three/Day 3 (Second Application) July 24, 2008

*** Day Three on prescriptions

The area is feeling much better, which I am very happy about. It does also itch really bad. All and all there really isn’t much to blog about today. The bandage this morning looked just like the one yesterday, so I’m not going to post that either. I am going to the doctor again here in an hour, hopefully everything will go fine. I also stopped using the pain killers, they made me extremely nauseous, and gave me headaches.

Update:

I just got back from the Doctor’s office.  I ended up getting a tetanus shot.  I have another scheduled appointment for August 4th.  I have been told to keep up with the silver sulfa for the next week.  I have 3 days left for the oral antibiotics, the nurse gave me 3 more 75mg Levaquin pills to take once I used up my prior prescription.  I was told that next week, if If the burn is looking better I can stop the use of the silver sulfa, uncover the area and let it dry out to scab.  We’ll see how things are looking next week.

A little bothersome though, the doctor recommended a skin graft.  Its more for cosmetic reasons, she’s really worried that my ankle is just going to look terrible after all this.  We are going to see how it looks at the next doctor office, and then we are going to look into skin grafting options.

Nuviderm At Home Tattoo Removal: Week Three/Day 2 (Second Application) July 23, 2008

***Day Two using antibiotics

I can already see that the area is stating to heal up, and look better. The medications make me completley nauseous, but I think it’s worth it. The pain has drastically decreased , even without the pain killers .

***Bandage: Day two

My wound is still weeping, but it is more brown today than orange like it was yesterday. There is also specks of black mixed in there too.

jdeter Says: July 23, 2008

“The instructions say start at the lowest strength. I started with 17% and I’m on my third treatment. It seems to be working well. I may move to the next level (25%) my next treatment. Beyond itching I have had no problems. I think when you use excessive strength is when you get into trouble – 2 beers is fine but 6 is to much. Like you said, it’s better to do more treatments at lower strength and not be in such a hurry. Eight layers your last treatment was to much.
For my money Nuviderm has been worth it.”

First, let me begin by saying that I’m glad to hear that you are having success with Nuviderm, and past the second application. Do you have any before or after pictures to show your success with the product?

I did post the directions under my first application post. No where in the directions does it say to start at the lowest strength. It says to do a patch test, which I did. My first application I did a little stronger than 50% which healed fine. The directions did say that one should maybe start with only one layer their first application, but than goes on to saying that if the area does not frost, to bump up the strength of the solution. Than I think what is really misleading, is that the directions say numerous times to not let the solution dry, and the keep the treated area wet. By keeping the area wet, wouldn’t that mean adding more layers? The lowest mixing instruction was for 23% also, and then it states that most people use 25%-70%. I know it’s rather simple to mix lesser strength than mentioned on the directions by adding more water, but why not state the lower strengths on the directions? I understand I put on many layers, but I figured I had couldn’t let the solution dry.

I could’ve taken the directions wrong, I am only human… But honestly, I feel the directions are too vague, contradicting, and somewhat confusing.

Nuviderm At Home Tattoo Removal: Week Three (Second Application) July 22, 2008

I broke down yesterday, and made an appointment to see the doctor. I cant even describe how much pain I was in, it was immense none the less. I would elevate my leg, which would make it feel much better, but once I lowered my foot the pain came shooting back, so bad, that I couldn’t even walk on that foot.

I Googled how to take care of wounds and burns, and I couldn’t find a single straight answer, I read that I should cover it, use Neosporin, use rubbing alcohol, hydrogen peroxide, saline washes, soap; and then of course I read in other places,that I shouldn’t do any of those. I tried all of them over the past 4 days, and none of them seemed to help, the pain just got worse, and my ankle and foot had gotten really swollen.

I sucked up my pride, and got into the doctor the same day. Of course, being in a small town, the nurse looked at me like I was nuts after I explained what I was doing, and looked even more shocked when I showed her my sorry excuse for an ankle. After a very long two hours of sitting in the doctors office waiting for second opinions on what to do, I was given a few prescriptions…and get to go back for another visit this Thursday.

$130.00 worth of prescription drugs later…

• Silver Sulfadiazine 1% (Topical Antibiotic for burns)
• Levaquin 500mg (Oral Antibiotic)
• Darvocet (Pain reliever)

The doctor covered by tattoo with silver sulfa and bandaged it, so I wasn’t able to get a picture of what my tattoo looked like right before using the prescription ointment, but I will keep on blogging the healing process. Just now, keep in mind for the next 7 days I’m on prescriptions. I will try to take pictures everyday, to see what kind of impact the prescriptions may have.

***One Day After Doctors Visit

(Silver Sulfa/Once a Day, Levaquin/Once a Day, Pain Relievers-As Needed)

The Nurse made it very clear that this is going to probably scar terribly. I am going to stay optimistic about it. Funny thing was she asked my if I knew how to post information on the Internet, she said that I really should warn people about the dangers of using Nuviderm…Ha. I am one step ahead of that!

I got to thinking, everyone I have talked to had a lot of trouble during their second application. I honestly haven’t talked to anyone that was on their third or so application, since they all stopped after their second application. I have a feeling that treating the same area twice or more times, is just too much trauma for the skin to handle. I don’t know if maybe waiting twice as long in between applications would help that or not.

On my previous post ‘L’ commented on using colloidal silver bandages; No one in town carries those here, but I think that is a great recommendation for anyone whose in the healing process. I would have to also agree, that 50% is way to strong. I used 46% this last time, and I’m really regretting that. I would definitely recommend using a lower strength…I would personally rather have to do many weak applications, than go through this mess again.

And to think the thought of *hmmm a facial peel might be nice* crossed my mind when I was researching TCA before I purchased nuviderm. I am SO glad that was just merely a thought…Can you imagine putting 12-30% strength on your face…It makes me cringe just thinking about it!

I almost forgot.  What would this post be without a nasty bandage picture?  My tattoo is still oozing.

***Bandage after day one of using Silver Sulfa. The discharge color is orange/brown.