Used for many centuries and by countless cultures, tattoos originated as marks of status, rites of passages and even as religious symbols, and have evolved over time to become mostly recreational in nature. Because they are designed to be permanent and impossible to remove, the drastic increase in voluntary tattooing of the body has led to an increase in “tattoo regret,” creating a lucrative market for tattoo removal products.

Laser therapy, Intense Pulsed Light treatment and other surgical procedures used to be the main method of removing unwanted body art, but in recent years, do-it-yourself, at home tattoo removal using creams has become the newest popular method. Currently dominated by such names as Wrecking Balm, Tattoo Erase and TatBGone, just three of many products available, tattoo removal balms contain a range of different ingredients. The most common active ingredient used in these products has been the controversial chemical hydroquinone, which causes disturbances in the skin’s melanin production and is commonly used in cosmetic skin bleaching. A two percent concentration of the chemical is commonly found in tattoo removal balms. The chemical has been banned in several countries due to the possibility that it may pose a cancer risk, and a ban in the United States was proposed by the FDA in 2006.

Minor differences between many of the products exist, including method, frequency and duration of use, but tattoo removal balm manufacturers all make the same basic guarantee: to lighten the tattoo over a gradual period of time without causing much pain. Consumer reviews for these body art removal creams provide a general consensus that when used as directed, the creams caused very little or no discomfort.

The most recent “it” product, Doc Wilson’s Wrecking Balm No. 3, takes tattoo removal one step further by incorporating a medical dermal device to help move the process along. This device was recently approved by the FDA for home use in tattoo removal. The three-step process claims to work by breaking down ink injected skin and taking advantage of the body’s natural skin regeneration process. Salicylic acid and phyllanthus emblica fruit, commonly referred to as Indian Gooseberry, are the two main active ingredients in the cream.

Consumers can expect to pay anywhere from $50 to over $300 for these products, which are easily found and purchased by phone or online.