It's absolutely amazing the things we do to our bodies when we are young; we think we are invincible. Once a week tanning bed visits from 2003 to 2005? Yes, that was not the wisest idea. But, you see the dermatologist once a year for a check-up now and wear lots of SPF 45. Social smoking in your late teens? Good thing you quit that! That colorful character tattooed on your wrist at 19? OK, that is something that could take many painful laser treatments to be removed.



Tattoo regret, do you have it? What becomes of all the tattoos that haunt us; those ex boyfriend names etched upon our back and Playboy bunny tattoos of our youth? Worse, do you have a tattoo on a very visible location, such as your face, neck or hand?

If you have tattoo regret, you are not alone. About 14% of all Americans have at least one tattoo and according to a January 2008 Harris Interactive Poll, 16% of those tattooed later regret their tattoo. Of this 16%, 20% believe they were too young when they commissioned the tattoo, 16% regret the tattoo because it will fade over time, 18% simply do not like their tattoo and 19% came to realize the tattoo is permanent; thus are marked for life. According to dermatologists, the most popular tattoos to remove are names of old flames and gang related tattoos.

If you do regret your tattoo, what can you do about it?

Laser Removal - This could possibly take around 10 treatments and cost several hundred dollars per each treatment. For example, a large tattoo on your back may cost a couple thousand dollars to remove. Does laser removal work? Yes and no, the laser removal option is not guaranteed.

Pulsed Light Therapy- Although a bit more expensive than laser removal, this tattoo removal option is less painful and more effective.

Tattoo Removal Creams- Much less expensive, easy to apply at-home and definitely painless; tattoo removal creams show promise. A very popular brand: Tattoo-Off (tattoo-off.com) appears to rank better in studies when compared to similar products.

Cover your tattoo with another tattoo- This is an option if your original tattoo lends itself to the possibility and you have an interest in another tattoo. Angelina Jolie famously covered a blue-colored dragon on her hip with a large black cross.

Tattoo cover up makeup- Maybe you are saving your money for the laser or pulsed light therapy treatments, or maybe you only regret your tattoo when you are on the job. For temporary tattoo concealment, there are products on the market to assist in an easy cover up, such as the Tattoo Camo product (tattoocamo.com).

However you want to handle your tattoo regret, know you are not alone. Even with the popular slogan "think before you ink" it is easy to get caught up in the moment. It is recommended that you think about your long-term life goals when contemplating a tattoo. However, the life goals you have at 21 may shift dramatically when you are 31; who has a crystal ball for that?