The Science
Do Tattoos Cause Cancer? What the Research Actually Shows
Do tattoos cause cancer? The question went viral in 2024 after a Swedish study reported that people with tattoos appeared…
Skip Beckett
I'm Skip Beckett and I write Tattoo Takeoff. I have no medical background and no ties to any clinic, laser manufacturer, or product. I started this site after looking for straight answers about tattoo removal and finding almost nothing that wasn't written by someone with something to sell. Every article here is built from primary research with the sources linked so you can check my work.
All Skip Beckett's 38 posts
What Affects Results
Amateur vs Professional Tattoos: What Ink Type Changes About Removal
The amateur vs professional tattoo removal comparison is the first sorting question most providers ask and it’s a reasonable one.…
What Affects Results
Are Older Tattoos Easier to Remove? What the Evidence Shows
Are older tattoos easier to remove? It’s one of the most repeated claims in the field, and people who’ve carried…
Aftercare
What to Put on Your Skin After Tattoo Removal and What to Skip
Working out what to put on skin after tattoo removal is harder than it should be. One clinic hands you…
Aftercare
Sun Exposure and Tattoo Removal: What to Do Before and After Every Session
Sun exposure after tattoo removal is the piece of aftercare with the longest reach. Most of what you do in…
Aftercare
Blistering and Scabbing After Tattoo Removal: What’s Normal and What Isn’t
Blistering after tattoo removal usually shows up without warning. You leave the appointment with skin that looks like a mild…
The Process
What Actually Happens at a Tattoo Removal Session, Start to Finish
A lot of the nerves before a first appointment come down to not knowing the choreography of it. So here’s…
The Process
How Long Does Tattoo Removal Take? The Real Timeline
The question people ask first is how long does tattoo removal take and the answer surprises them: it’s not weeks,…
The Process
Is Tattoo Removal Painful? What It Really Feels Like
If you’re thinking about tattoo removal, you’re probably wondering: is it painful? Yes, it is, but (good news) it’s also…
The Science
Does Tattoo Removal Cause Cancer? What the Research Says
If you’ve been looking into whether removal is safe, you’ve probably hit the scarier version of the question: does it…
The Science
How Your Body Clears Tattoo Ink After Laser Treatment
Most people picture the laser as the thing that removes a tattoo, as if the light itself wipes the ink…
Choosing a Provider
Tattoo Removal Red Flags: Warning Signs Before You Book
Removal is a real medical procedure done with a powerful laser and usually across the better part of a year.…
Choosing a Provider
Dermatologist, Medspa, or Removal Clinic: Where Should You Get a Tattoo Removed?
You can get the same tattoo removed in three pretty different kinds of places and the sign on the door…
Choosing a Provider
Who’s Operating Your Laser and Why It Matters
The question of who can perform laser tattoo removal is the one that changes the outcome the most and it’s…
Costs
Does Insurance Cover Tattoo Removal?
If you’re hoping insurance will help pay to remove a tattoo, I have news. It probably won’t. Health insurance is…
Costs
Per-Session vs. Package: How Tattoo Removal Is Actually Priced
Start pricing tattoo removal and you’ll quickly run into two very different ways of paying for it. One clinic quotes…
Costs
How Tattoo Size Affects Removal Cost
Ask what tattoo removal costs and any provider will answer with a question of their own: how big is it?…
Tattoo Removal 101
Laser vs. Other Tattoo Removal Methods
If you’ve started looking into tattoo removal, you’ve probably seen laser treatment mentioned everywhere, alongside the occasional ad for a…