The removal of amateur tattoos by salabrasion

Due to the recent upsurge in self-inflicted tattoos in teenagers it was decided to employ for their removal the method of salabrasion, i.e. abrasion with table salt. This technique was recently used by Manchester (1973, 1974) for the removal of commercial tattoos. Fourteen patients with twenty-eight tattoo or only tiny flecks of pigment remaining visible; eleven showed a fair response, i.e. the tatoo, although much lighter in colour, was still legible but the patient was satisfied with the result; three showed a poor response, i.e. the tattoo appeared as if untreated; four (two patients) defaulted. In general, as could be expected, the darker the tattoo the more difficult was its removal and those on fingers were particularly resistant.