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.

Nuviderm At Home Tattoo Removal: Week Two (Second Application) *Problems* July 18, 2008

Second Application @18 Days

This is so gross! I am having a really hard time to get the treated area to heal. The outside, the arm and a little bit of the head of the fairy has scabbed, but everything else is basically an open wound. This hurts REALLY bad. I have been ever increasingly concerned about infection, so last night I rinsed it with saline, and put Betadine on it (the brownish tint to my skin). Its really hard to keep it covered because the bandage will stick to the wound, even when I ‘tent’ the bandage, this really hurts too because than I have to rip off the bandage.

Now, this may be a good thing. This is pretty gross too! When I remove my bandages I have been noticing that the color has been draining out of the area.

This is a typical bandage. As you can see there is black and orange in it. Sorry, I know this is so gross. But, if anyone else is going through this, I think it is beneficial to post EVERYTHING that is going on during my use of Nuviderm. There is less color to my tattoo at this point, I just really need the area to start healing up, or I may have to go to the doctor. I think I’ll give it another week or two (I don’t have health insurance, so doctor visits are very last on my agenda).

Nuviderm At Home Tattoo Removal: Week One (Second Application) July 8, 2008

Second Application………………First Application

I am surprised. There has been no blistering during the second application. Instead of blistering it dried up and should start peeling soon. The red line outlining the tattoo will probably result in scarring, but we will see. The second application is much redder when compared to the first application, as of right now I cant say if thats a good or bad thing. There is sporadic sharp stinging in the treated area, but it only lasts for a matter of seconds and are few and far in between. The skin is dry and tight, and can be uncomfortable. The insides of the tattoo isn’t as dry as the edges, and will probably take a little longer to start peeling. Compared to week one during the first application the healing process up until now has been a lot less painful. I think the blistering has a lot to do with that. I can’t say I know exactly why I have not blistered this time around, but I did use 43% solution instead of around 50%, I was more careful when applying the TCA (not letting it dry in between layers, and less layers overall). This time around, instead of putting a cool cloth on the treated area after the application, I put it under a freezing cold tap (bathtub) Which might have deterred the development of blisters, who knows. I better knock on wood though, I’ll probably wake up tomorrow with blisters. ha.