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: Day Four (Third Application) April 1, 2009

The area looks pretty nasty. It looks like a big blister, but there isn’t any fluid in it. It does not hurt, but is sensitive to the touch and stings if it rubs up against my pants or bed covers.

This is what day four looked like during my second application (the one that brought trouble):

Right now the outlining area is not nearly as red. Also the whitish lining surrounding the inside of the red line is also not present. What differs this time is the blistery looking skin.

• Currently I am putting neosporin on the area once a day. I will continue doing this until Sunday ( 1 Week) .

Nuviderm At Home Tattoo Removal: Day Two (Third Application) March 30, 2009

The red isn’t as vibrant today. There is no pain at this point. Last application I was worried right when I saw how red the area was after applying Nuviderm, and that is not the case here, yet anyways. I will do a side by side comparison at 4-Days to show the differences between the previous applications and this one.

I was worried to take a hot shower this morning and the pain that was come from it, but it didn’t hurt at all. This differs from the previous treatments too. During the previous applications, if I covered the area with a blanket it would be somewhat uncomfortable, and warm/hot water running over it was painful; so far so good I think. The changes I have seen already at day two look to be positive.

Update

I think I spoke too soon. It’s been about 5 hours since the last photo. The area is becoming redder and there appears to be slight small blistering.  The area is not painful.

I also included a closer shot of the bottom area of the tattoo. You can see the slight blistering, and the funky texture of my skin currently. The color also seems to be getting darker (as it did with both my previous applications).

Nuviderm At Home Tattoo Removal: Day One (Third Application) March 29, 2009

I finally broke down and applied the third layer of Nuviderm today. I did the application quite different this time around.  Instead of sticking with 50 some percent strength like before I increased the strength per layer. Also instead of putting on 12-20 layers of TCA I put on 3. Instead of leaving it one for 3-5 additional minutes like before I washed the TCA off after I finished the third layer.

The First layer I applied was 46% strength.

The Second layer I applied was between 46% and 56%.

The Third layer I applied was 56% strength.

Surprisingly the area didn’t really frost when I was applying the TCA. It also didn’t sting much at all when I was applying the peel which was different then the first two application I did. After rinsing the area with cold water the stinging started.

Once I finished the application the area started to slowly frost. I had a hard time getting the legs frosted, similar problem that I had during the second application.

It has been about a half an hour since I applied the solution. The stinging has completely stopped.

Supplies! (Small Glass, Nuviderm, Measuring spoon (don’t know where the dropper went), Vaseline, alcohol wipe (provided by Nuviderm) and Neosporin. I also used Q-tips -Not Pictured-

-I used the Vaseline around the tattoo to help prevent dripping.

*Before Third Application*

The Process:

–The last three pictures were AFTER the application of TCA.

***HAHA I have to share my thoughts on this one!

So, Nuviderm has an ‘official’ wordpress blog now. Apparently they are trying to get everyone to ask their questions to this site. Now, what I find hilarious is I am curious how many of the Nuviderm reps have actually used the product???

Personally, I would rather talk to Joe Schmo who used the product for advice than some corporate employee whose paid to sell their product.

Hmmm…Just had to throw in my two-cents.

And…I did post the ACTUAL directions Nuviderm sent me…I did not just make those up (Previous Blog Entry).

**Thank you everyone who has followed my Nuviderm journey so far!**

UPDATE:

After about 5 hours the frosty white turned to pink. It looks and feels like a bad sunburn. Not painful. The area is warm to the touch.

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 5 (Second Application) July 26, 2008

***Day 5 With Prescriptions

So far so good.  The picture is kind of foggy, but o well.  The area doesn’t really hurt at all, it does itch, and sting at times.  Not much to share today…Healing is going good…I really hope it doesn’t look too bad once healed completley.

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.