Home Tattoo Removal

Can a Tattoo be Removed at Home and is it Safe?

Tattoos were once considered permanent but it’s now possible to remove tattoos either fully or partially with various treatments. Some of these treatments are safe and reliable while other methods can be dangerous and ineffective.

This article will provide some of the common ways of removing tattoos, both using lasers and other methods that include home tattoo removal treatments. Each of these treatments come with risks and costs.

Common Reasons why People Decide to Remove a Tattoo

A poll conducted in January 2012 by Harris Interactive reported that 14% or 1 in 7 of the 21% of American adults who had a tattoo regret getting one. Of the respondents 20% stated that they were “too young when I got the tattoo”, 19% stated that “it’s permanent and I’m marked for life”, 18% said that they “no longer liked it”.

The most regrets came from those who got a tattoo when they were young and in their late teens or early twenties with half reporting that they suffered embarrassment. Common reasons why people change their mind can be a change of job, problems with clothes, or a significant life event causing someone to regret having the tattoo.

Also the type of tattoo can be an important factor as to why some people want a tattoo removed.

Gang tattoos can make it harder for an individual to find a job or tattoos signifying a relationship with a spouse, girlfriend or boyfriend can be a problem if the relationship comes to an end.

How Do Typical Laser Tattoo Removal Work?

Older laser removal methods involved continuous-wave lasers that used a high energy beam that ablated the target area, destroying surrounding tissue structures as well as tattoo ink. However this treatment tended to be more painful and likely to cause scarring.
The Gold standard of laser tattoo removal is Q switched Nd-YAG lasers as these lasers are more flexible and can target different colours of tattoo ink depending on the light absorption spectra of the tattoo pigments. The laser breaks down the tattoo pigment so that they can be absorbed by the body. It is one of the least invasive and safest way of removing tattoos, but the procedure can be costly and involve multiple sittings of usually 4-5 for complete clearance of the tattoo. While it is possible to see immediate results, in most cases the fading occurs gradually over the 7–8 week healing period between treatments. Q-switched lasers are reported by the National Institutes of Health to result in scarring only rarely. Areas with thin skin will be more likely to scar than thicker-skinned areas.

The success of even Q switched lasers depend on a number of factors, including the ink color, skin color and the depth at which the ink was applied. Dark colored ink, particularly black tattoo ink can be removed completely using Q-switched lasers while the lighter color such as green and yellow are still very difficult to remove.

Tattoo laser treatment can be expensive so not everyone can afford it which is why some have turned to procedures that can be performed by themselves and there are many websites offering various tattoo removal methods.

However are these safe?

Home Tattoo Removal

When it comes to Home tattoo removal or DIY tattoo removal there aren’t many options available that are safe or effective. You may have read some home tattoo removal methods online but these are rarely effective or can lead to infection or scarring. However, for small tattoos that aren’t too deep you can purchase.

Microdermabrasion
Home tattoo removal or DIY tattoo removal usually involves microdermabrasion rather than dermabrasion. Microdermabrasion is less invasive than and so can be performed without local anaesthesia at home.

Tattoo Removal Using Dermabrasion

A more cost-effective non-laser tattoo removal procedure is dermabrasion. Dermabrasion is an exfoliating technique that uses instruments that remove the outer layers of skin. Dermabrasion is not recommended if you suffer from burn scars, suffer from bleeding disorders or keloidal scars. It should be performed by someone trained and under local anaesthesia and for best results may involve more than one session.
[image here] [Figure showing tattoo on the back of a patient after 3 sessions of dermabrasion]

Dermabrasion stimulate the production and growth of new skin tissue. The healing process after dermabrasion usually takes about two weeks after the procedure, but some redness may persist up to three months You may experience a temporary burning sensation, redness including swelling and itching after the procedure. You can expect some bruising and swelling following the treatment, and some bleeding and weeping from the wounds. You will experience quite a lot of pain and the area is left feeling numb or with a tingling sensation. You should take great care to avoid infection which can occur after the top layers of the skin have been removed.

In a study conducted by J Muhammad, male patients with decorative skin tattoos who underwent layered dermabrasion, the success rate was remarkable with high satisfaction rate by all patients with post-operative hypertrophic scarring rate less than 9%.

Unfortunately, sometimes permanent scaring can sometimes occur, and if you have a darker skin color you may experience discolouration of the skin. However, Dermabrasion if done with adequate postoperative scar skin care treatment can result in complete removal of the tattoo with minimal scaring of the skin.

Salabrasian

With the mechanical or salabrasion method of tattoo removal, the incidence of scarring, pigmentary alteration (hyper- and hypopigmentation), and ink retention are extremely high

Conclusion

Best Plantar Callus Removal Treatment

I seem to have a Plantar Callus on the Bottom of my foot. What are the Best Plantar Callus Removal Products?

To learn more about Plantar Calluses click on the links below. To find out what the best products are for treating a plantar callus scroll down.

Emma Wilson

Emma is a nutritional therapist and nurse. mother of two, who loves to blog about anything related to health or parenting

What is a Plantar Callus?

A plantar callus is a hard, rough area of the skin that forms on the bottom of the foot between your heel and your toes. They occur as a result of too much pressure being placed on one area of the foot leading to an abnormal weight distribution. This can make activities such as walking difficult or painful. The skin forming on the callus can be yellowish or grayish in appearance and be hard, dry and flaky.

What Causes a Plantar Callus?

A plantar callus can be caused by a wide range of factors with the most common being ill-fitting shoes and prolonged walking or running. Anything that causes abnormal foot function over a sustained period of time. The skin then acts as a defense mechanism to prevent the skin from breaking down.

A complete list of factors causing a foot callus include:

• Excessive walking or running
• Not wearing shoes
• Poorly fitting shoes
• Socks with seams by the toes
• Athletic activities that result in frictional stress on the feet
• Bone deformities or prominence’s
• Flat feet
• Bunions
• Open heel shoes and footwear such as sandals or flip flops
• High-heeled shoes putting too much pressure on one area of the foot
• Oversupination or overpronation putting too much stress on the bottom of the foot.
• Previous fracture of the foot leading to an abnormal weight distribution

How are Plantar Calluses Diagnosed?

Diagnosis of a plantar callus is made by a health expert or podiatrist who will take a biopsy or in most cases just diagnose on sight. If necessary an x-ray will be taken to determine the cause of the corn or callus. Sometimes the underlying bony structure within the foot is responsible for the corn or callus.

The podiatrist may also examine the way you walk and whether your footwear is responsible for the problem. A lot of foot problems including plantar calluses are caused by unnatural positioning of the feet, due to shoes such as high heels, sandals or flipflops.

A biopsy is necessary if it is not clear whether it is a skin infection caused by a virus, such as a wart as this can have a similar appearance to a foot callus.

What is the difference between Plantar Warts, Corns and a Plantar Callus?

The main difference between plantar warts, plantar calluses and corns are in appearance and number.

Warts infections and calluses

Location
• Corns usually appear on top of the toes although sometimes also on the heel and the ball of the foot.
• Plantar calluses appear on the plantar region of the foot
• Plantar warts usually (but not always) occur on the heel or ball of the foot

Appearance
• Warts have a dry, crusty surface and contain small black dots, they often develop in clusters
• Corns are thick, hardened skin only and do not occur in clusters
• Plantar Calluses are thick, hardened flaky skin and do not occur in clusters

Infectious
• Warts are infectious and are often passed on when walking barefoot on moist surfaces
• Corns are not infectious
• Plantar Calluses are not infectious

When to Seek Medical Advice for a Plantar Callus?

In most cases you can remove a plantar callus yourself using commercially available products. However if they continue to be painful or reoccur you should consult your doctor.

If you also suffer with poor circulation, loss of sensation or diabetes you should not try to get rid of the plantar callus yourself but seek medical attention due to a higher risk of infection.

A dermatologist or podiatrist can trim the callus without the need for any anesthesia. If the plantar callus is caused by foot deformities or prominence, the podiatrist can prescribe orthotics or perform surgeries to alleviate the cause of the problem.

Rarely do calluses lead to medical complications and medical attention. However you should visit the hospital or doctor if the following symptoms are present:

• There is redness that spreads to other areas of the foot
• Drainage or puss from the sore indicating infection or ulceration
• Significant pain and swelling around the callus
• Finger and toes change colour
• In the process of cutting or shaving the callus you cause it to bleed resulting in a possible infection
• Decaying tissue which could result in gangrene
• High Fever

How to Prevent a Plantar Callus?

You can prevent most plantar calluses by simply wearing properly fitted shoes that are not too tight and do not produce too much pressure on the plantar region of the foot.

Shoes that are most likely to cause a plantar callus include high heels, sandals and flip flops. If your occupation requires that you wear high heeled shoes you can always walk to work in well fitted shoes and change them later.

Having both feet measured professionally and wearing properly fitted shoes will prevent most plantar calluses. You should not wear shoes that are too tight and should leave about half an inch between the front of the shoe and your longest toe.

Consider wearing shoes that contain a soft inner lining to reduce friction to the soul of the foot and try to avoid sharp movements that result in pressure being applied unevenly.

How to choose an Electric Callus Remover

Electric Callus Removers work better than pumice stones, scrubs or grater-like foot files as they’re less painful to apply and require less effort. The downside is that they’re more expensive.

Here’s some things to look out for before purchasing an electric callus remover, based on feedback, reviews and my own experience with clients. I provide my own recommendation at the end that fulfills all of these criteria.

Rechargeable – If you’re camping and doing a lot of walking it isn’t uncommon to develop a callus. Electric callus removers can run out of charge quickly. If you’re on holiday and don’t have access to a plug socket you should consider a rechargeable electric callus remover with a good battery life. Don’t run out of battery after developing a painful callus!

Quartz crystals – For best results you should use the electric callus remover over multiple days spending a few seconds on the same area. With rollers made of quartz micro crystals less time is needed on the affected area which means less pain! Plus they’re designed for long term use and durability.

Money back Guarantee – Some companies offer a no questions asked money back guarantee. This way you wont be wasting your money! Be sure to find out what there returns policy is.

Refill Rollers – Buying from a better known brand means its easier to find rollers that fit your product.

Water resistant – While it isn’t recommended to submerge the product fully under water it should be resistant to water splashing. You don’t want the device to fail soon after purchasing it.

Positive Reviews – Be sure to check out the reviews. Amazon is a great place to start as they provide reviews, ratings and feedback on the product

Best Electric Callus Remover

Here’s a list of the top 3 callus removers we’ve tried and tested which fulfill the needs of those who have a plantar callus. The main criteria is to prevent infection that can result if a plantar callus is not removed correctly.

Electric callus removers need to be powerful enough to remove stubborn and hard to remove plantar calluses, but gentle enough not to cause pain or infection.

A plantar callus can often result when travelling on foot so it’s wise to consider whether a battery powered or electric powered callus remover is preferably depending on whether you have access to a power-source.

Electric Callus Remover and Shaver by Naturalico. Click “Read Review” to Expand.

Electric Callus Remover and Shaver by Naturalico

Our Rating: 9.2 out of 10

tick Battery Powered
tick Gentler than a manual file
tick Spins 40 times/sec
tick 360 Degree Roller
tick Rechargeable Battery
tick Quartz crystals
tick Water resistant

Check Price

Read Review

Naturalico callus remover

Recommended Plantar Callus Remover

What I really like the Electric Callus Remover by Naturalico as it has a two speed option whereby you can choose a higher or slower speed depending on the severity of the callus and the sensitivity of your skin.

It spins at 360 Degrees and at speeds of 40 turns per second, making it faster than other electric callus removers and at a very affordable price. You can pay for a one off pedicure which will cost more in many cases than the one-off cost of this electric callus remover so it’s great value for money!

Learn More

TECH SPECS
Spins per sec	40
Speed Modes	2
Roller heads	2
Water Resistant	Yes
Quartz crystals	Yes
Power type	Battery
Rechargeable	Yes
Battery Life	40 minutes
Warranty	one year warranty

The battery is rechargeable so you’ll save money over the long run and it won’t cost the environment when it comes to disposing of toxic batteries. The battery can be charged over a 1,000 times during its lifetime before you’ll need to buy another 1200 Mah battery.

The light indicators are useful for both when you’re charging the device or when you are using it. There is a red light indicator that will change color to green when the battery is fully charged. When you’re using the device you can see what you’re doing due to an LED light that illuminates the skin making it easier to see the callus and the rough patches of the skin.

The device is also easy to clean, water resistant and provides a cleaning brush and 2 grinding roller heads. Although the device is water resistant I would not recommend dropping the device in water.

You could pay for a manual file, razor or pumice stone which can leave your foot raw, sore and red. The Naturalico callus remover on the other hand will leave your feet smooth and provide a more gentle and effective way of removing dead skin and exfoliating calluses.

Check for Special Offers

own harmony callus remover

Pedicure Tools & Electric Callus Remover by Own Harmony. Click “Read Review” to Expand.

Pedicure Tools & Electric Callus Remover by Own Harmony

Our Rating: 9.4 out of 10

tick Battery Powered
tick More powerful than other Callus Removers
tick Spins 50 times/sec
tick 360 Degree Roller
tick Rechargeable Battery
tick Quarts crystals
tick Water resistant

Check Price

Read Review

Electric Callus Remover by Own Harmony

Recommended Plantar Callus Remover

If you have a stubborn callus that’s difficult to remove I recommend the more powerful Pedicure Electric Callus remover by Own Harmony.

It spins at 50 times per second making it more powerful than the Shaver by Naturalico and the roller is lined with Quartz cyrstals, making even the hardest calluses possible to remove.

Learn More

TECH SPECS
Spins per sec	50
Speed Modes	2
Roller heads	3
Water Resistant	Yes
Quartz crystals	Yes
Power type	Battery
Rechargable	Yes
Battery Life	45 minutes
Warrenty	6-months

The rechargeable battery means you don’t need to keep spending on batteries. After charge you get 45 minutes of use. This gives it an extra 5 minutes more time than the Shaver by Naturalico.

You also get a charger, clearning brush and protective cover with the device, plus an extra roller.

They provide a money back guarantee and can return the time within 90 days and receive your money back.

It boasts at being 3 times more powerful than other rechargeable brands and should not be used in the same area for more than 3-4 seconds. If you have a large callus I recommend using over multiple days to gradually remove the plantar callus.

Check for Special Offers

own harmony callus remover

PureNails 7-piece Professional Manicure & Pedicure System for Hands & Feet. Click “Read Review” to Expand.

PureNails 7-piece Professional Manicure & Pedicure System for Salon-quality Grooming of Hands & Feet At Home.

Our Rating: 9.3 out of 10

tick Electric Powered
tick Greater precision than other Callus Removers
tick Can also be used to smooth and polish nails and remove ingrown nails
tick Comes with 7 Attachments
tick 2 year Warranty

Check Price

Read Review

PureNails 7-piece Professional Manicure & Pedicure System

Recommended Plantar Callus Remover

This tool although more expensive does more than just remove plantar calluses. It can be used on other areas of your body such as to buff and smooth your nails on your feet and your hands.

This is an electric powered callus remover and foot/hand groomer. An advantage of electric powered callus removers is that they offer more power and consistency. A disadvantage is that they can’t easily be used when travelling and when you don’t have access to a power source.

Learn More

TECH SPECS
Speed Modes	2
Roller heads	7
Power type	Electric
Rechargeable	Not necessary
Battery Life	None (electric powered)
Attachmentse	7

It is built to salon standards and includes 7 different attachments for everything you need for grooming your hands or feet.

The 7 Interchangeable attachments include:
• Sapphire Filing Disk, Coarse (shortens thick nails easily)
• Sapphire Filing Disk, Fine (files nails with precision and safety)
• Sapphire Cone (removes dry skin and calluses)
• Felt Cone (smooths and polishes nails)
• Sapphire Callus Rasp (rapidly removes dry skin on heels and soles)
• Cylindrical Milling Cutter (grinds thick, lignified nails)
• Flame Milling Cutter (removes ingrown nails)

Check for Special Offers

PureNails 7-piece Professional Manicure & Pedicure System

Herbalife vs Advocare – Which is best and is there an Alternative?

I’m trying to lose weight and gain muscle. Which is best, Herbalife or Advocare?

If you’re looking for an unbiased review of Herbalife or Advocare you’ve come to the right place as I’m not a distributor for their products or trying to sell them myself.

Both Herbalife and Advocare rely on a Distributor or multi-level marketing scheme to drive profits. Therefore their perceived value can be inflated by marketing. Just because these products are popular does not necessarily mean they provide the best nutrition and weight loss supplements.

Herbalife Vs Advocare

First a comparison of the two comparing affordability, calories, taste, sugar content, protein content and other ingredients that may be an issue.

Value for money

One benefit of Herbalife is the fact that it’s pretty good value for money, costing at around $1.50 per shake or about $1.40 per ounce. Compare this to Advocare which is over $3.00 per shake or about $1.70 per ounce

Calorie Content

The calorie content of Herbalife is pretty good at 90 calories per serving and 170 calories with 8 oz of non-fat milk. Advocare on the other hand is 210-220 calories per serving

Taste

I think Herbalife shakes are tastier than Advocare’s with others noting their great taste. Although this is subjective and some claim Advocare tastes better. To make the shakes more nutritious and tastier I recommend mixing pro-biotic yogurt and/or a banana into the mix.

Negatives of Herbalife

Heavily Promoted by Distributors

Herbalife is a multi-level marketing product promoted by distributors, who usually know little to nothing about nutrition. This is why the value of the product tends to get exaggerated.

High in Sugar

On the label it states there are 9g of sugar listed under the carbohydrates per serving. This is high when you consider many meal replacement shakes contain zero sugar.

High in Sodium

Contains higher levels of sodium than Advocare at around 95mg. However this is still lower than many other meal replacement shakes I’ve tried.

Low levels of Protein

The amount of protein in Hermalife is a pathetic 9 grams per serving. Ideally a protein drink should contain at least 15 grams per serving. Protein is important in a meal replacement shake because Protein provides energy throughout the day, muscle-building amino acids, and aids in weight loss

Advocare Pros and Cons

High in Fiber

Advocare is fairly high in fiber compared to most meal replacement shakes and contains 6 grams of fiber. This is twice as high as Herbalife which contains only 3 grams of fiber.

Fiber aids in weight loss by helping you achieve a more healthy metabolism. Studies also have shown that high-fiber foods may have other heart-health benefits, such as reducing blood pressure and inflammation and helping control blood sugar level.

Protein content

While Herbalife only contains 9 grams of protein per serving, Advocare contains 24 grams of protein.

Negatives of AdvoCare

Heavily Promoted by Distributors

Advocare just like Herbalife is a multi-level marketing product promoted by distributors, who usually know little to nothing about nutrition. This is why the value of the product tends to get exaggerated.

High in Sugar

Contains even higher levels of sugar than Herbalife at 12 grams per serving. This is pretty poor form a meal replacement shake that’s supposed to be healthy.

High in Calories

It seems odd that a meal replacement shake would contain a high colaory content of 220 calories per serving, particularly when the main objective is to lose weight.

Costs too much

AdvoCare is very expensive for what you get with a number of customers complaining about the price. I wouldn’t mind if AdvoCare was delivering a great protein drink but at about $3.50 per serving this is way too much.

Most of the ingredients in Isagenix products are harmless and their products are on the whole good for you. However, if you’re looking for a safer, healthier and more effective alternative I recommend Labrada nutrition High Protein Meal replacement shake. I take Labrada myself and have found it to be the most successful weight loss and nutritional supplement yet. I shed over 16 lbs within two months.

Labrada Nutrition High Protein Meal Replacement Shake

Labrada Nutrition is highly rated, and scientifically tested protein meal replacement shake.

LEAN BODY contains 35g of fast-release and slow-release proteins, to give you a sustained flow of vital amino acids for faster muscle growth and increases in strength.

AWARD WINNING TASTE – Lean Body is a 5-time winner of the American Culinary Institute’s Gold Medal Taste Award.

ALL-IN-ONE MRP – Forget other supplement pills and powders — you get it all in Lean Body : concentrated muscle-building, fat burning nutrition in one delicious, easy-to-make shake.

SCIENTIFICALLY TESTED – In an eight-week, doctor-supervised study, participants using LEAN BODY in conjunction with their exercise regimen gained, on average, 6.5 lbs. of lean muscle mass, and lost 14.4 lbs. of body fat.

Provides concentrated muscle-building, fat burning nutrition fortified with 21 vitamins and minerals, all in one delicious, easy-to-make shake.

Contains both fast-release and slow-release proteins, to give you a sustained flow of vital amino acids for faster muscle growth and increases in strength.

And finally it’s free of maltodextrin, artificial colors, aspartame, preservatives and trans fats

LABRADA NUTRITION – Lean Body High Protein Meal Replacement Shake, Whey Protein Powder for Weight Loss and Muscle Growth, Chocolate, 2.47LB Tub

Simon Hough

Simon is the ower of askboard.com. He is a web developer, online marketer and techie who enjoys testing and reviewing online software and services

Top Rated Chemical Callus Remover

What is a Chemical Callus Remover and which one should I Buy?

Chemical Callus removers are commonly referred to as chemical peels. They contain chemicals such as salicylic and glycolic acid, which are used for treating calluses but also in weaker doses for acne, hyperpigmentation and treatment involving peeling of the skin.

Advantages of Chemical Callus Removers

Cheaper than electric callus removers
Can be used in combination with other methods such as scrapers
Best when treating large or hard calluses
Acid removers will help reduce dry dead skin
Quick and Easy to use

Disadvantages of Chemical Callus Removers

Can burn a hole in your skin if used incorrectly
Can cause blisters and welts if not used on callus
Must be kept away from children

Recommended Chemical Callus Remover

I would recommend ProLinc Callus Eliminator as it has worked well for me and has great reviews. It contains water, potassium hydroxide, propylene glycol, glycerin, acrylates, sodium hydroxymethylglycinate

ProLinc Callus Eliminator

	Lost cost Effective Long lasting	Click Here for More Info

Emma Wilson

Emma is a nutritional therapist and nurse. mother of two, who loves to blog about anything related to health or parenting

What are the Best Callus Removal Products in each Category?

How do the different callus removal products compare and what’s the best?

There are 4 main types of callus removal products. These are Electronic Callus removers that use Rollers, Callus Removal Gels/ liquids, Manual File Scrapers, and Electric Grooming Drills

Electric Callus Rollers
Electronic callus rollers use replaceable roller heads that rotates at very high speed to exfoliate dead skin and remove calluses from any corner on the feet.

Callus Removal Gels
The main ingredient in callus removal gels is salicyclic acid which work by breaking down the callus. This then makes the excess skin easier to remove by the use of a file or a pumice stone.

Manual File Scrapers
These usually consist of a microplane or abrasive surface such as a pumice stone, that sand away calluses

Electric Grooming Drills
Electric grooming drills usually have more than one use such as filing nails, removing excess cuticles or smoothing corns or calluses. They include an abrasive filing disk or cone that rotates at high speed.

Here are the top rated callus removal products in each of these categories. They have been chosen based on feedback, ratings and value for money.

Callus removal products

Category	Description	Rating
Best Electric Callus Roller	Pain-free Replaceable roller head Micro Mineral Pumice Stone Rollers	5/5 (US Rating)	Click Here for More Info
Best Callus Removal Gel	Contains natural oils Deeply penetrates Fast Results	4/5 (UK Rating)	Click Here for More Info
Best Manual File Scraper	Gives you more control Cheaper alternative	5/5 (US Rating)	Click Here for More Info
Electric Grooming Drill	Powerful & Precise Less painful Has multiple uses	4.5/5 (US Rating)	Click Here for More Info

Emma Wilson

Emma is a nutritional therapist and nurse. mother of two, who loves to blog about anything related to health or parenting