Originating as rites of passage, religious symbols and marks of status many centuries ago, and used by many ancient cultures, tattoos have become a mostly voluntary, recreational interest over time. A lucrative market has developed in recent years due to the increased demand for tattoo removal resources in light of the rapid increase in tattoo popularity.

While there are many costly surgical procedures available for the removal of unwanted body art, such as laser and Intense Pulsed Light treatment, the latest phenomenon in ink removal is the do-it-yourself at home cream tattoo removal. Currently, several tattoo removal balm products dominate the market, including the popular products Wrecking Balm, Tattoo Erase and TatBGone. Tattoo removal balms often differ in active ingredients, but the dominant chemical in the skin ink removal industry is hydroquinone, which disrupts the formation of melanin in the skin and is often used for cosmetic skin bleaching and to reduce the appearance of freckles and age spots. Tattoo removal creams usually contain a two percent concentration of the chemical. A ban on hydroquinone was proposed by the FDA in 2006 under suspicion that the chemical may cause cancer, and it has already been banned in many counties worldwide.

Minor differences between many of the products exist, including method, frequency and duration of use, but tattoo removal balm manufacturers all make the same basic guarantee: to lighten the tattoo over a gradual period of time without causing much pain. Consumer reviews for these body art removal creams provide a general consensus that when used as directed, the creams caused very little or no discomfort.

The current king of creams, Doc Wilson’s Wrecking Balm No. 3, incorporates a medical dermal device into the process, taking at-home tattoo removal one step further. The device was recently approved by the FDA as safe to use in the home without medical supervision. Wrecking Balm’s three-step-process works by breaking down the skin injected with ink and taking advantage of the natural skin regeneration and healing process. Phyllanthus emblica fruit, sometimes referred to as Indian Gooseberry, and salicylic acid are the active ingredients in the tattoo removal balm.

Prices on home tattoo removal products vary greatly, and consumers can expect to shell out as little as $50 or as much as $300. Most can easily be purchased online or by phone.