Wrecking Balm Tattoo Fade System:
Clinical Breakdown
Dr. Thomas Latino
Scientific Consultant
Preval Health
According to a survey conducted by the American Academy of Dermatology in 2006, 24% of Americans between the ages of 18 and 50 report they have at least one tattoo. Although tattoos or “body art” as it is no being referred to has grown in popularity; what happens when the “art” no longer becomes fashionable? What remedies does the individual have to remove the tattoo without enduring countless laser surgeries, harsh treatments and expenses necessary to restore their skin to its former status? There is now an alternative treatment for the treatment of tattoos. The “Wrecking Balm” Tattoo Fade System is comprised of a series of homeopathic ingredients that have been proven by science to possess high quality properties including but not limited to: (1) Anti-Inflammatory; (2) Anti-Microbial and (3) Anti-Fungal. The “Wrecking Balm” system is comprised of three unique components. First, there is the Microdermabrasion Device-the Dermomatic-an FDA Class 1 medical device; second the Suffusion Gel and lastly the Hyrdavescent Cream. Each of these components will be reviewed to highlight there effectiveness.
Microdermabrasion
Mircodermabrasion is a process approved for treatment by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Microdermabrasion has been granted use in a variety of treatment mechanisms including acne treatment, scar removal and tattoo fading and removal. The device, is the Demomatic and has been registered as a Class 1 Medical Device by the FDA. Additionally, there are two types of Microdermabrasion devices that have been granted approval by the FDA: (1) Manual and (2) Motorized. The device that is used in the “Wrecking Balm” system is a motorized device. This device is used by placing the Suffusion Gel on the Erosion Head of the device and the device is used to gently “buff” the skin; thereby removing the upper layers of the skin, referred to as the Epidermis. The removal of this layer of skin cells (which are dried and dead) exposes the layer of skin dyed and infiltrated with the tattoo pigment; allowing the introduction of the Suffusion Gel which contains chemical compounds that seek to fade out the tattoo and provide necessary protection for the exposed skin.
The literature has made a point to describe the effectiveness of dermabrasion in the removal of tattoos. According to a review of the main techniques of tattoo and skin pigmentation removal conducted by Bernstein (2007) described dermabrasion as one of the more effective and less invasive forms of tattoo removal. According to Bernstein, dermabrasion for the removal of tattoos is usually administered in a single treatment, although sometimes a series of treatments are used in an attempt to decrease the scarring that may occur from a single more intensive treatment. Utilizing multiple, less deep dermabrasion treatments can have the result of reducing scarring; however, there is virtually always some scarring, loss of normal skin pigment, and residual tattoo when using this method of tattoo removal ( Bernstein, 2007).
Suffusion Gel
The Suffusion Gel is the second component of the “Wrecking Balm” Tattoo Fade System. The Gel is comprised of roughly ten ingredients. There are approximately five core ingredients that render the essential properties necessary for the Gel to have maximum effectiveness. These ingredients are: (1) Peppermint Oil' (2) Walnut Shell Powder; (3) Tea Tree Leaf Oil; (4) Lemon Peel Oil and (5) Lavender Oil. Each of these ingredients will be briefly reviewed to place the effectiveness of the Suffusion Gel into context.
• Menthol Piperita (Peppermint Oil)
Peppermint Oil has been found to contain an acid that is rich in anti-inflammatory properties. Rsoamarinic Acid (RA) has the chemical formulation C18H16)8 and is a polyphenic carboxylic acid found in many herbal plants. RA is widely reported to contain biological properties including anti-inflammatory and anti-bacterial (Pearson, 2010). Considerable scientific support or the anti-inflammatory properties of RA exist within the literature. RA has shown significant inhibitory effects on inflammation and even downgrades those chemicals that stimulate an inflammatory response in the skin (Pearson, 2010).
• Walnut Shell Powder
Walnut Shell Powder is used as a detergent in removing oil, dirt, grease, soot and other harmful binding agents from one's skin. According to a study conducted by Mahler, in 2010, Walnut Shell Powder was introduced into a skin exfoliate along with a cleaning agent (detergent) and was compared to a composition containing only the detergent (Mahler, 2010). The results of the study demonstrated that adding Walnut Shell Powder to the mixture increased the effectiveness of the cleaning compound than when detergent only was used (Mahler, 2010).
• Melaleuca Alternifolia Leaf Oil
This oil is derived from the leaves of Australian Tea Trees and contains a specific chemical that has been demonstrated to suppress a variety of cellular, inflammatory responses. The main chemical ingredient of the oil is Terepinen-4-ol. This is found to suppress inflammatory mediator production by activated human moncytes. Terpinen-4-ol suppresses the production of numerous inflammation inducing compounds such as : (1) TNF-Alpha;(2) Interleukin-1Beta; (3) Interleukin-8; (4) Interleukin-10 and ProProstaglanding E2. This extensive anti-inflammation quality is an essential ingredient in the Suffusion Gel to significantly minimize the risk of uncomfortable inflammation.
• Medica Limonum (Lemon) Oil
Lemon oil has been found to contain and become well known for its extensive anti-bacterial and anti-microbial properties (Loving, 2007). The critical ingredients of Lemon Oil that have lead to the development of such properties are: (1) Alpha-pinene; (2) Canphene; (3) Beta-pinene; (4) Myrcene (Loving, 2007). In a recent study, the attributes of Lemon oil were tested in a restaurant by Loving in 2007. The rim of drinking glasses were tested for microbials both before and after the introduction of the Lemon Oil. According to the results, those glasses introduced to the Lemon Oil demonstrated a substantial and significant decrease in the number of microbals present (Loving, 2007). These results conclusively demonstrate the anti-bacterial and anti-microbial qualities that render Lemon Oil such a vital component of any treatment that is designed to reduce the probability and prevalence of infection.
• Lavandula Angustifolia Oil
Lavender Oil is a key ingredient in both the Suffusion Gel and they Hydravescent Cream. Lavender Oil has been demonstrated, clinically, to be an effective ingredient in treating a common form of skin infection commonly referred to as “Ringworm”; diagnostically it is termed “Dermatophitosis” (Yandley, 2004). Dematophitosis is a common skin infection that causes a ring like rash on the surface of the skin (Yardley, 2004). This infection is caused by a type of fungus that fees of warm, moist skin-the same type of skin that would lie underneath the Epidermis and be exposed after use of the Microdermabrasion treatment. However, introducing Lavender Oil as a component of a treatment has been found to reduce the spreading and manifestation of this fungus and therefore has been substantiated to possess high levels of anti-fungal and anti-bacterial properties (Yardley, 2004). In Yardley's study, Lavender Oil was compared to the traditional treatment for Dermatophitosis, Iodine. According to the results, Lavender Oil was found to have a higher level of effectiveness in treating and preventing Dermatophitosis compared to the traditional treatments (Yardley, 2004).
• Hydravescent Cream
The Hydravescent Cream is the final component of the “Wrecking Balm” Tattoo Fade System. The intent of this cream is to smooth and moisturize the skin on a daily basis to counterbalance the Microdermabrasion portion of the system. The Cream is composed of several ingredients designed to allow the skin time to heal after each treatment. However, there are two critical ingredients that are vital to the cream's success. These ingredients are: (1) Theobrama Cacao Seed and (2) Shea Butter.
• Theobrama Cacao Seed
Theobrama Seed is a core component of the Hydravescent Cream and possesses a multitude of properties. Each of these qualities render this ingredient a necessity in ensuring the proper treatment of the skin post any microdermabrasion. According to a study conducted by Veraldi (2009), Theobrama was clinical found to exhibit antimicrobial activity based on a sequence similar to the more common antimicrobial peptides (Veraldi, 2009). This similarity ensures that Theobrama is a vital component and an effective chemical additive to the Wrecking Balm System.
• Shea Butter
The second core ingredient of the Hydravescent Cream is Shea Butter. Used in numerous household and cosmetic products, Shea Butter is also unique in its containment of inflammation responses brought about by various cellular conditions. In a study conducted by Marcus, et. al. In 2008, Shea Butter was used as a treatment study of effective compounds required to diminish the impact and effect o Dermatitis and Atopic Dermatitis. According to the results, Shea Butter-when included as an ingredient in Dermatitis medication, demonstrated significant contributions to the over all anti-inflammation conditions associated with Dermatitis and Atopic Dermatitis (Marcus, et. al., 2008).
Conclusion
In summation, the Wrecking Balm Tattoo Fade System employs a variety of chemical compounds in order to reduce the pigmentation associated with tattooed skin. The system attempts to combine the approved treatment of microdermabrasion in order to slough off the Epidermal layer of skin cells in order to lay bare the dyed and ink stained skin below. The conjunctive use of natural, herbal and inorganic compounds, Wrecking Balm has drawn a delicate and substantial balance necessary to provide the consumer with a safe, affordable, less invasive and less harsh treatment for the removal of tattoos or other body art. Furthermore, the chemical compounds utilized within this system afford the consumer the much sought after protection they will need from opportunistic infections that normally result from sub-dermal skin cells being exposed. This protection is accomplished in a manner that is both effective and safe for the consumer.
References
Bernstein, E. (2007). Laser Tattoo Removal. Plastic Surgery, 21(3); 175-192
Pearson, W. (2010). Protection against LPS-induced cartilage inflammation and degradation provided by a biological extract of Mentha spicata. BMC Complementary and Alternative Medicine,10(10); 19
Mahler, V. (2010). Dirt-binding particles consisting of hydrogenated castor oil beads constitute a nonirritating alternative for abrasive cleaning of recalcitrant oily skin contamination in a three-step programme of occupational skin protection. British Journal of Dermatology, 7(162); 7
Loving, Anne LaGrange, and John Perz. "Microbial flora on restaurant beverage lemon slices." Journal of Environmental Health 70.5 (2007): 18
Yardley, Alisha. "A preliminary study investigating the effect of the application of some essential oils on the in vitro proliferation of Dermatophilus congolensis." The International Journal of Aromatherapy 14.3 (2004): 129
Marcus, John P., Ken C. Goulter, and John M. Manners. "Peptide Fragments From Plant Vicilins Expressed in Escherichia Coli Exhibit Antimicrobial Activity In Vitro." Plant Molecular Biology Reporter 26.2 (2008): 75
Veraldi, Stefano, et al. "Treatment of pruritus in mild-to-moderate atopic dermatitis with a topical non-steroidal agent." Journal of Drugs in Dermatology 8.6 (2009): 537
