Can you still benefit from laser tattoo removal if you have an underlying medical condition like Raynaud’s?

One thing that is guaranteed in life is that we age, and with aging we suffer from the results of many controllable and uncontrollable factors of daily living. 

• A controllable factor would be something like our diet, amount of exercise, smoking, drinking alcohol, and even our blood pressure and cholesterol levels are factors that we can consciously control. 
• An uncontrollable risk factor for our health would be something like our sex, family medical history, and our age. 

Uncontrollable risk factors are unfortunately something that we cannot change, and it is inevitable for all of us, no matter the seriousness of the condition. Even those that have lived very healthy lifestyles by exercising, eating properly, and never smoked, have oftentimes developed very serious medical conditions.

For all intents and purposes, however, how does this relate to laser tattoo removal? In this blog article, we want to specifically focus on those with Raynaud’s Disease. 

Raynaud’s Disease

Recently, we treated a client at Unthink Inc., who suffers from a rare medical condition called Raynaud’s Disease. Raynaud’s Disease is a condition in which an individual’s arteries spasm in their fingers and hands. It is less likely that they will develop it in their feet or other parts of the body, though. The spasms are caused by decreasing blood flow or supply to smaller vessels, which creates the appearance of the fingers and hands being white. The sensation that people with Raynaud’s Disease describe is that the fingers and hands become quite numb and painful. Typically, women that live in colder climates are more prone to this condition. 

There are two different types of Raynaud’s Disease: primary and secondary.

• Primary Raynaud’s Disease is idiopathic (when a condition arises for an unknown reason), and it manifests at an early age, commonly before the age of 30.
• Secondary Raynaud’s Disease results after other medical conditions and issues have developed and this condition becomes a direct result of previous medical issues.

Laser Tattoo Removal and Raynaud’s Disease

Now that we have explained what Raynaud’s Disease is, its symptoms and causes, we should explain how it may work with laser tattoo removal. 

In short, any condition that impacts the blood circulation and flow in the body can be a concern for laser tattoo removal. This is because the two body systems that are responsible for removing the ink particles from the tattoo rely heavily on healthy blood flow. These two body systems are the immune system and the lymphatic system. We all know that smoking (cigarettes and marijuana) are heavily discouraged during laser tattoo removal, due to the risk of arteriosclerosis, which causes the walls of the arteries in the body to harden and thicken. This directly impacts the circulatory system in the body, which is somewhat similar to what Raynaud’s disease does to blood circulation.

Read more about laser tattoo removal and smoking by clicking here.

Zimmer Cryocooler

Another factor that should be considered, but may not immediately come to mind is the use of the Zimmer Cryocooler that is used during a laser tattoo removal sessions. The idea of the Zimmer Cryocooler is to decrease sensitivity during the laser tattoo removal session. The Zimmer decreases the room’s temperature air to as low as -16’C as a way to desensitize the nerve endings and decrease the amount of pain from the laser. The resulting cold temperature from the cryocooler is a direct trigger for Raynaud’s, and it is unpredictable in its impact on how the patient will react. This may cause more pain than needed for laser tattoo removal and may result in the session becoming very uncomfortable for the patient.

What Can Or Should You Do

Before you begin laser tattoo removal, it is imperative that you speak with your laser technician about any and all of your health concerns. This will ensure that your technician is prepared for whatever issues may be underlying or at the surface, and different measures might be taken during the laser tattoo removal treatment. Always complete the medical intake to the best of your ability as this will give the technician a rundown of your medical history and the risks that could be associated with laser tattoo removal.

If you are considering tattoo removal and have a question about how the process may affect your underlying medical condition like Raynaud’s Disease, psoriasis or dermatitis, contact Unthink Inc and speak with me, Jim. After 30 years as an RN, I’m sure I can help ease any concerns you may have before we begin to fade, alter or remove your unwanted ink.

Contact me directly and book a consultation, I would be happy to discuss your concerns and questions in more detail.