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What Time Of Year Is Best For Tattoo Removal?

By dan | Feb 03, 2025 | Laser Tattoo Removal | 0 Comments

Laser tattoo removal is the most effective way to get rid of your unwanted tattoos. If you’re wondering about what the best time of year for tattoo removal is, you might be surprised to learn that there are benefits to having it done in any season.

Now, as with any laser treatment, including skin treatments such as laser hair removal, winter is arguably the best time of year to have them. However, the advancements in laser technology mean you can have laser tattoo removal at any time of the year, as long as you take care.  

You need to think about factors such as the location of your tattoo, the healing process and how active your lifestyle is. That probably sounds like a lot to think about, so to help you make the right decision, we will break down everything you need to know about laser tattoo removal in the summer or winter. 

If you want to speak with one of our laser experts about how laser tattoo removal works, get in touch with us to book an appointment.

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Understanding the laser tattoo removal process

Before we dive into whether summer or winter is the best time to get laser tattoo removal, first it’s helpful to learn more about the laser removal process. 

Laser tattoo removal technology

Not all technology was created equally. This is why it is important to ensure that you choose the best laser device for your skin type and tattoo type. 

At Zapp Laser Studio, we use the PicoSure Laser tattoo removal device. Not only is this the most advanced laser treatment on the market, but it targets the tattoo ink harder and faster to make each session quicker. Not to mention, unlike other laser devices, PicoSure can treat all colours on the spectrum, even hard-to-treat colours such as white or blue. 

 

How a laser tattoo removal session works 

In each session, we glide the laser device across your tattoo. This sends ultra-short pulses of light energy directly into the tattoo ink particles to break them down without harming the healthy skin around them. 

The power of the laser light energy means that the ink particles shatter into tiny pieces. This enables your body to process and flush them out over time through your immune system. 

In your first few laser treatments, the laser will target the ink deeper into your skin. In the final few sessions, we increase the energy of the laser but decrease the depth to target ink on the skin’s surface. 

For successful laser tattoo removal, you need to see your course of treatments through to the end. You also need to follow our aftercare guidance, so that your skin heals and you allow your body to process all of the ink particles. 

 

Things to consider when having laser tattoo removal in the summer or winter months 

Sun exposure

During the colder winter months, we will naturally see much less sunlight, which means less exposure to harmful UV rays. This means you may be able to cover up less after your tattoo removal sessions and allow your skin to breathe more. 

A little direct sun exposure can be good for your skin (think vitamin E), but only if you wear adequate sun protection and do not spend too long in it. It is possible to have laser treatments such as tattoo removal and hair removal methods, but you need to do so with caution. 

When you have laser tattoo removal, you should avoid sun exposure where possible. However, if you need to go out in the sun, you will need to use sun cream and minimise the time you spend in it. Ideally, you will wear a cover-up to ensure full protection of the treated area. 

It is recommended that you stay out of the sun in the few weeks leading up to your first session or in between sessions. If you have a tan or sunburn, this makes the skin more sensitive, which can irritate tattoo removal treatments. You will also be at more risk of peeling, blistering and scarring following your sessions. 

The biggest risk with having a sun tan is that the laser can be attracted to the extra melanin in your skin instead of the tattoo ink. This increases the chances of the laser stripping your skin pigment and causing hypopigmentation. 

For this reason, depending on the location of your tattoo, it can be more simple to have your laser tattoo removal procedure in the winter months. 

 

No shaving 

While you can shave the day before your first tattoo removal treatment, you should not shave, wax or pluck in between treatments. 

You need to hold off on hair removal around your tattoo until the skin is completely healed. Shaving before this point can lead to scrapes or cuts that can result in an infection or scars forming. 

This can be tricky if you have a tattoo in an area often exposed during warmer months. Whereas, in winter months you are more likely to leave hair to grow for longer, as you can cover up with your autumn and winter wardrobe. 

 

Summer can have its advantages 

It is true that the summer months can be more challenging for undergoing laser tattoo removal, but you can do it and it can also have some benefits. 

The first is that in summer, you can wear more breathable fabrics and looser clothing, which makes having tattoo removal more comfortable. It not only gives your laser expert easy access to your tattoo, but it also makes covering up to protect it easier too. 

Secondly, it is possible to heal faster. This is because your body tends to be more active in its natural healing process during the warmer months. This can lead to quicker recovery times between your laser treatment sessions. 

 

Size, location and age do matter

Not all tattoos can be removed fully in one season. If you have a fairly new tattoo, or your tattoo includes harder-to-treat colours such as yellow or white, you will need more sessions to see the best results. 

Equally, if you have tattoos on your hands and feet, or the ink is deeper in your skin, you will also need to have a longer course of treatment. 

You need at least 6-10 sessions to completely remove a tattoo, and 2-6 to fade a tattoo. You also need to wait at least 10 weeks between your sessions to allow for your skin to heal. When you factor all this in, it is more likely that your laser treatments will take place across winter and summer.  

 

Do you want some more information?

We understand that there is a lot that can go into making your decision to have laser tattoo removal. And sometimes, it is just easier to speak to someone face-to-face to ask all the questions you have in your head. 

This is why we offer all of our clients a no-obligation consultation. This is our chance to get to know more about you and assess your unwanted tattoo. But it is also your opportunity to see how laser tattoo removal works and what results you can expect to see. 

We have studios in London, Bristol and Brighton, so why not get in touch now by clicking the link below. 

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