Frequently Asked Questions About Nuviderm:
What is the Nuviderm TCA Home Tattoo Removal System?
Is Nuviderm A Tattoo Removal Cream?
How Does Nuviderm Work?
How Does Laser Tattoo Removal Work?
Combine Nuviderm with Laser Tattoo Removal
What Are The Treatment Intervals with Nuviderm Tattoo Removal & How Fast Does It Work?
How Large An Area Can Be Treated?
Is Using Nuviderm complicated?
How Much Does It Cost And What's Included?
How Often Do You Ship Nuviderm?
Are Tattoos Easy To Remove?
Are Risks Associated With Nuviderm?
Is My Skin Type a Good Candidate for Nuviderm Fade and Tattoo Removal?
I Am a Diabetic is it Safe for Me to Use this Product?
When is the best time to start removing my tattoo?
What is a dram?
What is the Nuviderm TCA Home Tattoo Removal System?
The active ingredient in Nuviderm, TCA, is the only home tattoo removal product that has been the subject of two medical studies and proven to be effective at the removal of tattoos. See Medical References
TCA is a popular non-prescription skin peeling agent. It is considered a medium strength cosmetic acid and is commonly used by doctors, health spas and private individuals to remove fine lines, wrinkles and skin blemishes such as warts, moles and freckles. It is also used to reduce the size of, and in some instances, remove facial acne scarring. It has also been used to remove calluses, stretch marks and age spots. All Nuviderm ingredients have been medically tested and proven to fade and/or remove tattoos. Visit tattoo removal process to learn more.
Is Nuviderm A Tattoo Removal Cream?
No. Nuviderm is a clear liquid, not a cream, and contains no Hydroquinone, a skin bleaching chemical found in most Tattoo Removal Cream. Over the counter sales of Hydroquinone is banned in Australia, England, France and Japan because of cancer fears and the risk of a skin disease, Exogenous Ochronosis. A similar ban is proposed for the United States. To learn more visit: What is Nuviderm?
How Does Nuviderm Work?
NuvidermTCA is a concentrated cosmetic acid which must be diluted, a simple process that is explained in the instructions that come with each purchase.
Nuviderm fade and tattoo removal works on the same principle as Laser tattoo removal, which is, by controlled inflammation. Nuviderm creates a controlled chemical inflammation and Laser Surgery creates a controlled heat generated inflammation. Both methods work. The inflammation causes the ink to rise to the surface and slowly fade away once the skin layer containing the tattoo is reached which, on average, is after completing approximately 5 - 6 treatment cycles.
Once the ink bearing layer is reached the tattoo will fade with each successive treatment until it is completely gone.
Nuviderm causes a slight stinging sensation which doesn't hurt nearly as much as getting the tattoo. The simple act of blowing air on the site relieves the sting or it can be immediately neutralized with a baking soda and water mixture. Visit our Tattoo Removal Process page to learn more.
How Does Laser Tattoo Removal Work?
Lasers produce short pulses of intense light that pass through the top layers of the skin to be selectively absorbed by tattoo pigment. This laser energy causes the tattoo pigment to fragment into smaller particles that are then removed by the body's immune system.
In order to break apart the ink the laser super heats the pigment and reaches temperatures as high as 1650 degrees Fahrenheit. This extreme heat is responsible for the pain associated with laser tattoo removal.
Human skin contains a lot of water so when the pigment heats and expands, the water in the skin surrounding the ink basically boils off and creates blisters. It is sometimes described as feeling like drops of hot bacon grease on the skin or being rapidly popped by a rubber band over and over again. That is why Lasers hurt more than getting the original tattoo. For more information visit: Laser Tattoo Removal.
Combine Nuviderm With Laser Tattoo Removal
The cost of Laser tattoo removal is approximately 10 times the cost of the original tattoo. Pre-fading a tattoo with Nuviderm TCA before undergoing Laser treatment can save up to 60% on the cost of Laser removal. A Nuviderm faded tattoo will require fewer Laser treatments and will result in a less painful Laser treatment because faded ink requires less heat absorption to "break apart" or vaporize the ink. A pre-faded tattoo will likely have a shorter recovery time after Laser surgery because a pre-faded tattoo is easier to remove. Less ink in the skin means less ink to remove and less time under the Laser. Less time under the Laser means money in your pocket.
Lasers work best on black, dark blue and red.
Lighter colors such as turquoise, light blue, light greens, pink, yellow and white are very difficult for lasers to remove and will require more sessions and cost more money to remove.
If your tattoo contains these colors pre-fading with Nuviderm will lower the cost laser removal considerably. Read our section about laser tattoo removal.
What Are The Treatment Intervals With Nuviderm And How Fast Does It Work?
Depending on your skin type and how fast you heal treatment cycles with Nuviderm last anywhere from 2 to 4 weeks for an average depth peal and 6-8 weeks for a deep peal. On average the majority of our customers have about a 3 week treatment cycle.
It takes roughly one to two weeks for Nuviderm treated skin to begin to peel. It takes about another week for all dead skin to fall off once peeling begins. Allow area to heal an additional week or two before starting your next peel.
Depending on your skin type, age of the tattoo, ink composition, depth of ink and adherence to instruction guidelines you will begin to notice a softening of borders and fine lines in just a few treatments.
Unlike Lasers, Nuviderm works on all colors. With proper depth of peel all colors will fade away. Visit tattoo removal process to learn more.
How Large An Area Can Be Treated?
Do not treat an area larger than 3"x3" at any one time. That is, if you are treating more than one tattoo or are treating a very large tattoo, limit your treatment area to no more than a 3"x3" total area per day. Make sure to do a skin patch test in the vicinity of the area to be treated. Patch test information is a portion of the complete and detailed instructions which are included with each purchase.
Is Using Nuviderm TCA Complicated?
No. Our easy to read and follow instructions walk you through each step of this simple process. From application through the peel cycle you can be sure that we are an email or phone call away should you have any questions. Visit tattoo removal process to learn more.
How Much Does It Cost And What's Included?
Nuviderm Basic 1 oz- $39.95
Includes enough Nuviderm to remove or extremely fade one 3x3 tattoo and detailed instructions.
Nuviderm Basic 2 oz- $59.95
Includes enough Nuviderm to remove or extremely fade two 3"x3" tattoos and detailed instructions.
Nuviderm Deluxe Kit - $47.95
Enough Nuviderm to extremely fade or completely remove one 3x3 tattoo, detailed instructions and our Starter Accessory Kit which includes everything you need to begin removing your tattoo.
The Starter Accessory Kit includes: Sun block, Cotton Application Swabs, Measuring Pipette, Mixing Glass.
Nuviderm Double Deluxe Kit- $68.95
Enough Nuviderm to extremely fade or completely remove TWO 3x3 tattoos,detailed instructions and our Starter Accessory Kit which includes everything you need to begin removing your tattoo.
The Starter Accessory Kit includes: Sun block, Cotton Application Swabs, Measuring Pipette, Mixing Glass.
Visit our Order Now page for special promotional pricing
How Often Do You Ship Nuviderm?
All Nuviderm orders are shipped next day except orders placed on a weekend in which case they will be shipped the following Monday.
Are Tattoos Easy To Remove?
Tattoos were meant to be permanent and there is no reason to expect a tattoo removal to be fast, easy or without some discomfort.
Tattoo removal creams that claim to be able to remove a tattoo by simply rubbing cream on a tattoo once or twice a day are purposely deceptive.
Anyone who has a tattoo knows they experienced some discomfort when the tattoo was planted in their skin. It stands to reason that there will be some discomfort during the tattoo removal process. We advise staying away from companies who use deceptive advertising practices when describing how their product works.
Most Dermatologic surgeons advise that complete tattoo removal is quite difficult because, as we all know, tattoos are meant to be permanent and removing them is not easy, regardless of the method used.
The process of creating a tattoo involves thousands of tiny puncture wounds through which the ink is injected into the skin. The tattoo process itself creates scarring in the skin. Dermatologists consider a tattoo to be a scar filled with ink. Once the ink is removed the scar remains. The amount of scarring depends on the skill and experience of the tattoo artist
Are There Risks Associated With Nuviderm TCA?
Any tattoo removal product actually capable of removing a tattoo is capable of damaging your skin. Any person or advertising copy that says otherwise is not telling the truth.
Like laser tattoo removal, there is a chance that Nuviderm may harm the skin with Nuviderm if used in excessive strengths. Do not use Nuviderm in an undiluted form. Be sure to read the instructions carefully and use the weakest strength that will cause your skin to peel. Determining the proper strength is fully explained in the instructions.
Other possible side effects are hypo-pigmentation, which is a lightening of the skin on the treated area compared to the surrounding skin pigment once the treatments have been completed and hyper-pigmentation which is a darkening of the treated area compared to the surrounding skin pigment once the treatments have been completed.
To our knowledge there is no way to correct hypo-pigmentation. Hyper-pigmentation can be corrected by using a skin fading or bleaching cream on the affected area once tattoo removal treatments have been concluded.
Other Cautions:
Not for internal use
Not recommended for use on neck, face or genital areas.
Do not use to remove facial makeup tattoos.
Keep away from eyes & avoid all contact with eyes
People with existing exiting skin conditions should consult a physician before beginning treatment.
New skin is sensitive to sunlight and should be covered with clothing or with a sun block containing a high Sun Protection Formula - minimum of 30. Freshly peeled skin is easily damaged by UV radiation from the sun. KEEP IT COVERED!
Physical activity is fine but new skin is tender and prone to chafing. Be kind to your new skin and protect it from abuse.
A slight redness over the treatment area may persist for several weeks or months.
Hypo-pigmentation is a common by product of laser and TCA tattoo removal and may be of particular concern for dark-complected people. Persons with a skin tone of III, IV or V on the Fitzgeral Skin Chart (see below) have a greater chance of experiencing hyper-pigmentation than persons with skin classifications of I, II or VI on the same chart.
Is My Skin Type a Good Candidate for Nuviderm Tattoo Fade & Removal?
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration and the American Academy of Dermatology recognize six skin-type categories. If you have the Skin-types V or VI listed below you have a greater chance of experiencing hypo-pigmentation as a result of using a skin peel for tattoo removal.
See “Are There Risks Associated with Nuviderm?” above.
The Fitzpatrick Skin Types Chart
Skin Types |
Sun, Example, History |
I |
Always burns easily, never tans, extremely sensitive skin, Red-headed, freckled, |
II |
Always burns easily, tans minimally, very sensitive skin |
III |
|
IV |
|
V |
Rarely burns, tans well, sun-insensitive skin |
VI |
|
I Am a Diabetic is it Safe for Me to Use This Product?
Nuviderm is not recommended for diabetics or others with chronic conditions that inhibit healing.
When is the Best Time to Start Removing My Tattoo?
The best time to start removing your tattoo is during the winter so that you will be ready for swimsuit weather next summer.
What is a Dram?
According to the Merriam Webster Dictionary: Dram Main Entry: fluid dram: a unit of liquid capacity equal to 1⁄8 fluid ounce Beware of companies selling tattoo removal by the dram. The effective volume of tattoo removal agent you receive for the money is far, far less than 1 oz.