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Laser tattoo removal hypopigmentation skin cancer risk
This is Dr. David
there is no skin cancer risk from laser tattoo removal
you can always protect the hypopigmented skin with sun screen.
Hi Dr David
I talked to you before about this
but I have pictures now
and would like to show you
sure
I have sent you 5 images in total
yes, I got them.
what is your question?
you don't have to worry about skin cancer risk.
getting the laser tattoo removal has left me with white areas hypopigmentation in those areas and I am worried I have no natural protection against the sun in those areas. because my melanin has gone
you will get back melanin in that area again over time.
it is not a life long issue.
your cells will make melanin there again.
can you see the white areas I am talking about?
yes.
have I got natural protection from the sun in those areas
melanin
pigment
Dr. David?
you will with time put more in natural melanin pigment into those areas.
sorry I don't understand
your body will put in natural melanin in the skin there over time
you will not get skin cancer now.
skin cancer happens over a lifetime of sun exposure.
you do still have some melanin in your skin.
your skin isn't completely unprotected at this point.
are you talking about in the white areas
let me know if you have other questions.
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So even though these areas our white I still have natural protection from the sun like the rest of my skin?
yes, they have natural protection.
and you won't get skin cancer overnight.
or even in one year or two years or 5 yeras.
so how comes it looks white in those areas ?
it is from your laser tattoo removal.
is it white because it has taken my pigment
my melanin
it hasn't taken all of your melanin.
you still have melanin in the skin a
and your skin will make more over time.
I had a tattoo done over it
yes, I know.
I had a tattoo done over it after I had the original one removed
but you can still see the whites areas
is there a reason for this?
it is from the laser therapy taking away some small areas of your own pigments.
but it doesn't take away 100% of your melanin.
is pigment and melanin not the same thing
melanin is the pigment in your skin which gives you darker color.
but having small white areas doesn't mean there is no melanin in those areas.
is melanin your natural protection from the sun?
it is part of it.
but you still have melanin in those white areas.
you sure Dr. David
yes, I am sure.
i am a cancer doctor.
Thank you.
you are welcome
one more question
don't forget to leave positive feedback below when done.
last time I went on holiday
before I ever got laser tattoo removal
I got burnt
because I didn't use any protection
and I remember the whole of my face going red and then going hard
like a extra layer of hard skin then it peeled off over the days
was that dangerous that my skin burned?
yes, skin burns are not good for your skin.
but your skin heals
one sun burn does not cause skin cancer.
you just have to continue to protect your skin with time
ok
but getting back to the white areas cause by the laser tattoo removal.
what other questions do you have?
have I still got melanin in the white areas?
so have I got natural protection against the sun in those white areas like the rest of my skin
it may not be as much as the rest of your skin
but it does have some melanin in it.
are you 100% sure that I do have melanin in those white areas?
I am sure.
are you 100% sure that I do have melanin in those white areas caused by the laser tattoo removal?
I have told you
it is impossible to remove all melanin from your skin
thank you Dr. David
you are not albino in that area.
I have another question
don't forget to leave positive feedback below.
I have another question Dr. David
please leave positive feedback below
and start a new question for me
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I just want to know have I got a increased risk of skin cancer?
not if you protect your skin and don't get any more sun burns.
you will be fine.
if you are going to be outdoors for a long time, you need to use sunscreen
just like everyone else.
yes I understand. But because of my white areas has that increased my risk skin cancer
Dr David?
no, those white areas have not increased your risks for skin cancer .
your body will make more melanin in those areas over time
and the pale area will get better with time.
so the white areas caused by the tattoo removal have not increased my risk of skin cancer due to lack of melanin in those areas?
no, it has not.
I have told you this before
there is still melanin in those areas.
and in time, your body will produce more.
Ok thank you Dr. David
it seems like you have some serious anxiety issues about developing skin cancer.
you need to talk to your doctor about these anxieties you are having
and get some treatment for your excessive anixety
and talk to a counselor regularly
or therapist about your anxiety.
Thank you for your help
that is how we get credit for helping clients.
thanks.
Hello Dr. David,
I just wanted you to see the white areas after I got a tattoo done over those areas you can still see those white areas even though i got a tattoo over those white areas, can you see those white areas? and you say to protect those areas with a long sleeve shirt but do i need to because you did say i have natural protection from the sun in those white areas.
Is there a reason why you can still see the white areas through the tattoo because i got a tattoo done again to cover the white areas but i can still see them.
I sent you five images in total did you get them all.
I thought that getting the tattoo done over it will cover up the white areas so you wont be able to see them but i can still see them.
I thought that the ink would cover up the white areas so you cannot see them but the white areas still come through. I know a tattoo does not offer any protection but just from a visual point of view to get rid of the white areas i though a tattoo would cover the white areas.
Why is this?
Does this mean the ink will not take to the skin in the effected areas
Dr. David,
My Dad is Indian My Mum is Turkish Cypriot. So i am half Indian half Turkish Cypriot and with my white areas on both arms which i have sent you pictures of what would you say my risk of skin cancer is?
Thank you for your reply. I understand what you are saying. But i just would like to know my risk as it is with the information I have provided you about my white areas, has the white areas on both of my arms effected my risk of skin cancer.
Thank for you for your reply Dr. David
Ok. I thought due to having no skin color in those areas i thought i am at a increased risk of skin cancer. Because i have white areas on both arms.
Ok doctor. Thank you for your information. I have one more question
is factor 4 sun lotion good for protection against the sun
I went away last week and it was hot i got burnt because i was not using sunscreen and then went to the shop during holiday and bought factor 4 sunscreen.
Does factor 4 offer no protection?
And have i got a increased risk of skin cancer because i burned because i was not using any sunscreen.
How much does your risk of skin cancer increase when you get burnt and stay in the sun?
Ok I understand. My sunburn was very bad. It was sore & red. and eventually went hard and formed a layer of skin on top my skin and then started to peel off. It was on my face but also on my body so basically i was burnt all over.
Would this of effected my risk of skin cancer.
A while ago I went to go see a dermatologist about my hypopigmentation white areas on my skin. As I recall she said I am much more likely to get skin cancer and said 150% more likely to get skin cancer because of my white areas . What does this mean?
Hi Dr. David,
I replied back to her and asked her to explain and she replied back saying 'Relative risks are not absolute estimates and are applied to skin colours and types as a whole.'
but my pigment has gone from my skin in the areas i had tattoo removal
Are you saying to protect that area because I am more likely to get skin cancer? have I got less natural protection from the sun in that area?
I sent you 5 images of my skin were I had laser tattoo removal but i had more laser tattoo removal after that so you have not seen the the most up to date pictures of my skin and now I have them covered up. I am worried that because i have not shown you the most up to date pictures of when i finished my laser tattoo removal that you didn't see all my white areas i ended up with, so this would effect what your telling me in terms of my skin cancer risk
but I might be at higher risk than you think?
So is my white areas not a risk factor?
but those white areas still do not have the same natural protection as the rest of my skin?
I understand but i just would like to know about natural protection. because i feel depressed that i have ruined by bodies natural defenses.
You say I have pigmentation left in the skin but my skin is white in those areas I had laser tattoo removal?
Dr. David
So it does not matter how many whites areas (Hypopigmentation) I have, does my risk of skin cancer increase with the number of white areas i have?
If my whole body was covered with these white areas (Hypopigmentation) from laser tattoo removal would my risk of skin cancer increase?
How comes it looks like I have no pigment and is white in those areas but you say i still have pigment there?
So has laser tattoo removal have the ability to remove all your pigment?
Not just one arm Dr. David, remember both of my arms I have white areas.
50% of each arm is white (Hypopigmentaion) I had laser tattoo removal on both arms. Do you agree?
So would that not be a large area, 50% of both my arms have no pigment is that not enough reason to be concerned you said if my whole body did not have pigment due to laser tattoo removal and that increased my risk of skin cancer than surely what I have which is no pigment on 50% of both my arms would increase my risk?
I understand what you are saying but how can you be so sure that I have pigment still in those areas because it appears white with no pigment at all.
Are you 100% sure, how do you know this?
So in the areas that appear white how much less pigment have I got compared to my normal skin.
How much less natural protection in the white areas do i have compared to my normal skin?