When is a good time to remove a tattoo?  There is the unmistakable reason, say, of teenage phases like Satanism or too much gel.  Unlike the gel, the inverted cross proudly displayed on your right calf isn’t going to wash out.  Then there is, of course, the very real reason of wanting to remove a past lover’s name from a region that doesn’t see the sun too often, especially if you are now attracted to the same sex.  Whatever the reason you have to remove a tattoo, there is a way tailor made to fit your wallet or your pain threshold.

If you have oodles of spare cash lying around, then a trip to a dermatological surgeon should be your best bet.  Not related to The Donald?  Then you could opt for a once off procedure where, if your tattoo is not too big, they actually cut out the tattooed area and stitch the skin back together.  With bigger tattoos a skin graft will be necessary.  Another way to remove a tattoo is to purchase a tattoo removal cream which is much cheaper but the jury is still out as to whether it works properly or not, although some say it does.  There is also dermabrasion, which is basically sanding it off (done by a professional) under a local anesthetic but this is still painful and can cause infection.

If you want to remove a tattoo and prove you are a seriously crazy at the same time there is a kit you can buy online that provides you with a tool similar to an iron where you in fact burn off your tattoo.  This is also not advisable as it obviously leaves ugly scarring and can also cause infection.  Some people who have forgotten to take their meds that morning also opted for sanding it off themselves with sanding paper or an electric sander.

All I can say is good luck.