IS YOUR TATTOO A MAGNET?

Many people get a tattoo because they see it as an attractive form of body enhancement and they enjoy the positive attention it attracts. 

However, some times the attraction of a tattoo may be not what is expected.

Some medical conditions and injuries can require a scan for diagnosis or assessment, called an MRI (Magnetic Resonance Imaging).

An MRI works by producing a strong magnetic field and radio waves that create a detailed image of the organs and tissues within the body.

Often, individuals with tattoos do not know exactly what is in the ink their tattooist used, but many inks have been identified to contain heavy metals, such as arsenic, copper, lead and mercury.

If you can cast your memory back to science class at school, you may recall learning that magnets attract metal. Because MRI's work using magnets, this combination can cause problems.

While this is uncommon, there have been a few reported cases of a burn occurring on the skin, if the MRI involves the area of the skin containing the tattoo. If the MRI is undertaken too soon after the application of the tattoo, there is also a chance that the ink may “bleed out” from the design.

It is also possible that the presence of a tattoo may distort the MRI image, when in the vicinity of the scanned area.

The chance of having an adverse reaction are reportedly low, but always let your doctor know where your tattoos are and how long ago they were applied, and then be guided by your doctor on the best course of action.

Senior RN, Kim Murphy

AN EMBARRASSING PROBLEM - IT'S NOT JUST THE TATTOO ON MY ARM, IT'S THE SWEAT UNDERNEATH IT!

At Neutral Bay Laser & Dermatology Clinic, tattoo removal is only one of many conditions we treat. We understand that one reason people choose to remove tattoos is a feeling of embarrassment at the design, which seemed to match who they were or their lifestyle choices at one point in their lives, but now may give "the wrong impression" or cause social and work-related problems, because of its nature. And, as people in the caring professions, we hate to see patients suffer emotionally from something that can be easily treated and removed from their lives.

One such condition, treated routinely in our clinic, is Axillary Hyperhidrosis, more commonly known as excessive sweating.  

When someone suffers from hyperhidrosis, areas of the body become prone to excessive levels of sweating, which can cause embarrassment because of odour, clothing marks, wet droplets of sweat on the face, or wet palms. 

For most people, this problem can be easily treated with injections of botulinum toxin Type A (most commonly known by the brand name "Botox", though there are other brands of this drug available), to the affected areas (usually palms and under the arms). The botulinum toxin Type A is a muscle relaxant (which is why it works well to relax frown lines in the face). Relaxing muscles around our sweat glands prevents the glands from being able to excrete as much sweat, reducing the excessive sweating to a "normal" amount. 

Numbing cream can be applied prior to treatment, to minimise discomfort. The treatment takes approximately 15 minutes and most patients have a good reduction in sweating for several months after their treatment. 

As with most of our treatments, we require you to be assessed by our dermatologist prior to commencing treatments, and if you are referred to us by your GP for hyperhidrosis treatment, some treatments may attract a medicare rebate. 

If excessive sweating is causing you embarrassement, relief may be closer and easier than you think. 

Concern about skin cancer in Australia is well founded, as we have very high rates of both melanoma and other skin cancers. 

Have you ever wondered what effect having a tattoo might have on skin cancer risk?

Tattooed areas of skin are just as susceptible as any other part of your skin, to developing problematic skin issues, even skin cancers - unfortunately the ink does not protect it.

While having a tattoo does not, in itself, increase the risk of skin cancer, the tattoo may disguise a cancerous lesion or make a skin cancer less noticeable.

This is particularly important if you have had a tattoo to hide a scar from a previously treated skin cancer.

It may also be worth thinking about how your proposed tattoo might look if you need to have a skin cancer treated, which appears on tattooed skin. Surgical removal of a cancer will leave a scar and therefore, a missing piece of your tattoo. Other treatments may be limited (such as MRIs, which can react negatively to the metals in tattoo ink) or may cause inflammatory responses which may have an affect on the visual appearance of the skin, and therefore the tattoo. 

If you do have a tattoo, it is important, when you check your own skin, that you pay particularly close attention to any lesions which may be hiding in your tattoo. If you notice anything that concerns you, then you should see your GP or Dermatologist to have it checked out.

At Neutral Bay Laser & Dermatology clinic, we insist all patients seeking tattoo removal first have the area reviewed by our dermatologist, to ensure there are no suspicious lesions which may be adversely affected by the laser in the tattoo removal process. 

This has to be my favourite tattoo of the month:

And it comes with one of my favourite tattoo stories. 

This tattoo, a gorgeous magnolia branch covering this woman’s shoulders, upper arms and décolletage, was a 40th birthday present from her closest friends, and when I saw it, a few months after it was first inked, the white ink used on the magnolia petal tips was still blindingly white. The colours have mellowed a little with time, the white more so than the others, but it remains a stunning work of art.

The older disc shaped tattoo that this woman still has, was inked for her 21st. It’s a copy of the stamp with which she identifies her pottery pieces. 

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Dr Helena is a GP who is a specialist in tattoo removal at Neutral Bay Laser & Dermatology Clinic as well as practicing as a GP in Newtown, NSW. She has a love for amazing tattoo art and the stories behind them.

 
For a free consultation to discuss what's involved in removing your tattoo, call us today!

MANAGING TATTOO REMOVAL PAIN

Are you concerned about pain during tattoo removal?

There's no need!

The Picosure tattoo removal laser feels a bit like a hot elastic rubber band flicking on the skin.

During your laser tattoo removal treatment, cold air is blown on the skin using the Zimmer cooling device. This cool air has a numbing effect and, for most patients, is enough to allow the treatment to be completed without further pain relief.

Other options for managing discomfort include

• taking oral painkillers one hour prior to your treatment,
• application of topical numbing cream one to two hours prior to laser treatment
• local anaesthetic injections.

Please be reassured that our doctors and nurses will ensure your treatments are manageable for you. At Neutral Bay Laser & Dermatology Clinic, we not only want to give treatments at the highest possible standard and efficacy, but we want your experience of the treatment to be as enjoyable as possible. 

Call us today to book your no-obligation consultation, to discuss removing your tattoo as quickly and painlessly as possible. 

Allergic reactions to tattoo ink, while rare, can occur in anyone, and can occur with permanent or temporary (henna) tattooing. Reactions can include inflammation, itchiness, lumpy areas, swelling of the tattooed area and/or surrounding skin, rashes and what can appear like "bubbles" in the tattoo. A quick google search of "tattoo allergy" will provide you with a horrifying array of images showing these reactions - it's enough to scare you away from your next tattoo decision!

Here's what you need to know:

1. While allergies can develop to any colour or ink, the most commonly reported reaction is linked to red ink. However, as there is no international regulation of tattoo ink, we are unable to determine the content of ink, Especially when tattoos are obtained overseas, so the exact cause of the reactions are hard to pinpoint.

2. Like any allergic reaction, the symptoms can range from mild redness or itching to life threatening anaphylaxis (swelling of the throat that constricts breathing). 

3. Reactions can be immediate or they can occur long after the tattoo has been applied. This delay in reaction can be related to another stimulus, such as another tattoo (which increases your body's exposure to the allergen and creates a reaction) or to an illness that compromises the immune system. 

4. Because of the potential seriousness of allergic reactions, it's very important to consult your GP if you notice any symptoms of allergy. In most cases, your GP will refer you to a dermatologist, who can assess the seriousness of the skin reaction and prescribe a course of treatment to help contain the symptoms. 

5. While allergies cannot be avoided, some people suggest a test patch tattoo on a part of the skin that is concealed, such as behind the ear, to confirm that immediate allergic reaction is unlikely. Those with a previous history of skin irritations or allergies would do well to research the exact ingredients of the ink being used, especially any metals or other known allergens. Hypoallergenic inks are available. 

6. It is generally not recommended that those experiencing an allergic reaction to tattoo ink receive laser tattoo removal. The process of laser removal explodes the particles of ink sitting within the skin, and the ink is absorbed into the body to be processed and expelled. However, if the body has already indicated it will react to the ink, allowing the ink to be further absorbed into the body may result in a more severe reaction, spread throughout the body. Surgical tattoo removal may be possible and appropriate in some cases.

Terence Poon

Dermatologist and Laser Specialist

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