Over time, a tattoo may be something you wish you could get rid of as quickly as possible. Reasons people seek tattoo removal range from the tattoo being the name of a past significant other, representing a provocative icon, or something that is preventing you from getting a job. Unfortunately, DIY tattoo removal methods do not work and could cause serious skin problems that require medical treatment.

Why Are DIY Tattoo Removal Methods Ineffective?

Cosmetologist doing some laser tattoo removal to the girl.

Understanding why dermatologists strongly discourage tattoo removal at home begins with knowing what happens to your skin when you get a tattoo. When a tattoo artist injects ink into the skin, the ink reaches the middle layer of the skin called the dermis. At this skin level, cell regeneration takes longer than it does on the top layer of the skin (epidermis). In addition, every time a tattoo needle pierces the skin, your immune system senses a wound and releases a flood of white blood cells called macrophages to start repairing these tiny wounds.

The healing process involving macrophages is what makes tattoo ink permanent. These cells actually hold onto the ink used to create a tattoo as they attempt to heal what your immune system thinks is skin damage. Eventually, the immune response diminishes, the tattoo heals completely, and you are left with a tattoo that can only be removed by a dermatologist.

DIY Tattoo Removal Methods That Don't Work

Woman holding a Tattoo Removal Cream in her hand.

Tattoo Removal Creams

Containing a variety of botanical, whitening, and herbal ingredients, tattoo removal creams may lighten a tattoo slightly but do not remove tattoos. Tattoo removal creams remain on the top layer of the skin. They cannot reach the dermis where tattoo ink has been absorbed by macrophages.

Depending on the combination of ingredients found in some creams, the skin could suffer reactions from the harshness of the cream. Contact dermatitis, scarring, skin peeling, and chemical burns could occur from using creams to remove tattoos. In addition, creams with high concentrations of bleach could permanently discolor the skin surrounding the tattoo.

Salt Solutions

Salt Solution Tattoo Removal concept.

Rubbing a salt solution over an unwanted tattoo for the purpose of removing it is called salabrasion. An ineffective technique for tattoo removal at home, salabrasion involves mixing a large amount of salt with tap water and soaking an abrasive material in the solution. This material could be a piece of fine sandpaper or a wood block wrapped in burlap.

The false claim that leaving the skin damaged and raw will result in dead skin cells falling off the skin and taking the ink with them is simply not true. Like tattoo removal creams, salabrasion carries the risks of scarring, infection, and severe contact dermatitis.

Lemon Juice for tattoo removal concept.

Lemon Juice for Tattoo Removal

With an acidity level nearly as strong as gastric juices, lemon juice is a popular DIY home tattoo removal method. Although rubbing lemon juice into your skin may lighten skin tone, the juice won't get rid of a tattoo. Remember, tattoo ink is embedded underneath the epidermis. Also, be aware that putting lemon juice on your skin and going outside in bright sunlight could cause phytophotodermatitis, a skin reaction that may result in permanent hyperpigmentation.

Does At-home Laser Tattoo Removal Work?

Laser tattoo removal on arm of a young woman.

Lasers available for purchase online or at pharmacies are not strong enough to reach the dermis. In fact, OTC lasers for tattoo removal only have a fraction of the power that dermatological lasers can deliver. While at-home lasers for certain superficial skin problems may be effective, they cannot penetrate the epidermis and reach the dermis. Only dermatologists have access to the kind of lasers that dissolve tattoo pigment.

Call Shasta Meadows Wellness to Learn About the Picocare 450 Laser Tattoo Removal Device

Get a tattoo removed safely and effectively by scheduling an appointment at Shasta Meadows Wellness Center for Picocare 450 Laser Tattoo removal treatment. By delivering a series of rapid-fire energy pulses to the dermis, this revolutionary laser tattoo removal device dissolves tattoo ink pigments into harmless microscopic particles. Within a short time, the immune system triggers certain lymph glands that flush these particles out of your body.

Contact us today to schedule a consultation appointment about laser tattoo removal with the Picocare 450.

Male sexual dysfunction is a medical condition that prevents men from achieving or maintaining an erection long enough to have satisfying sexual intercourse. Many men struggle with this disorder, yet most are reluctant to talk about it with their doctors. In fact, male sexual dysfunction and aging affect roughly 30 million men in America. But it doesn't have to define your life. Treatment in Redding, CA, is available that can help. 

Age-Related Changes in Male Sexual Function

Sexual dysfunction in men describes a whole category of disorders, including:

Male suffers from Sexual Dysfunction and Aging Concept.

As we grow older, changes take place in our bodies and in our minds that may make it difficult to perform sexually as we once did. For men, the changes may make traditional intercourse impossible. These types of changes include the following:

Physical Changes

Psychological Changes

Depressed man at night having trouble on sleeping.

There may be other reasons why you don't have the same interest in sex you once experienced or why you're unable to keep up arousal as you grow older. These include some medications, heavy alcohol use, and smoking. 

Causes of Male Sexual Dysfunction in Older Men

Whether male sexual dysfunction is caused by physical or psychological factors, help is available to manage this disorder and return life to normal. Often, something so simple as hormonal changes or other conditions, such as cardiovascular disease, can contribute to sexual dysfunction in men. 

Inflammation of the prostate, premature ejaculation, erection problems.

If the cause of sexual dysfunction is psychological in nature, seeing a therapist and learning to manage high levels of stress and anxiety, may also be helpful. 

In some instances, medications such as antidepressants, antihistamines, blood pressure medications, and opioid pain relievers may cause problems with sex and aging male libido.

Addressing Male Sexual Dysfunction as You Age

Surprisingly, only 10 percent of men who are affected by erectile dysfunction ever seek treatment. And of those who do, roughly half will discontinue treatment after starting because of the stigmas surrounding this very common condition. This is unfortunate. Older people can have very active, healthy, and satisfying love lives. But sometimes, the way the body and mind age can get in the way. Happily, treatment options are available that include:

Hormone Replacement Therapy

Clipboard with medical form and sign Hormone Replacement Therapy.

As you age, your body may begin to produce lower levels of the hormones that affect sex drive and sexual performance, including testosterone and HGH (Human Growth Hormone). Medications that help boost these hormone levels can be very therapeutic in restoring your quality of life. Your provider may offer you a choice of topical gels, patches, injections, tablets, or time-release implants to help restore your hormones to sufficient levels. 

Shockwave Therapy

At Shasta Meadows Wellness Center, we offer an innovative treatment for sexual disorders in males called GentlePro. This state-of-the-art treatment uses painless and non-invasive shockwaves to stimulate blood flow to the penis. All you'll feel is a mild "tingling" sensation during the procedure, but you'll notice a big difference in your sexual performance for up to two years after the conclusion of treatment. 

Strategies for Maintaining Sexual Health in Older Age

Old man doing some outdoor physical exercise.

Lifestyle changes may also be effective for sex and aging male libido. Getting plenty of daily exercises, eating a healthy diet, and getting the required amount of sleep may be all that's required to improve your sex life. And if you have issues with stress or your mental health, talking with your doctor or therapist for management strategies can be very helpful. 

Lastly, talking with your partner about the changes taking place with your sexual function is vital. While it may be difficult to have this discussion, it's a necessary part of any healthy, loving relationship. 

Contact Shasta Meadows Wellness Center in Redding, CA

For help with male sexual dysfunction and aging in or near Redding, CA, contact Shasta Meadows Wellness Center today. Our friendly and professional medical team is happy to sit down with you to discuss your goals for a happy, satisfying future.

Dealing with anxiety can be a very frustrating experience, and it can also be difficult to get through daily life activities when you're anxious. Fortunately, there are options to help you feel better, including TMS therapy for anxiety. TMS stands for Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS), and it's non-invasive and non-surgical.

The goal of TMS in Redding, CA is to activate specific areas of the brain. Doing that correctly can often help with anxiety and depression. By sending magnetic pulses to the right brain areas, the brain can be trained to "think differently" about events and experiences. The treatment doesn't take a long time, and many people see quick improvements.

Understanding Anxiety Disorders

Anxiety disorders are often crippling because they cause normal, typical experiences in life to seem overly frightening. Sometimes the anxiety seems to come out of nowhere and isn't related to what's taking place around a person. They might be anxious over something in the past or worry about the future, or might not know why they feel fearful.

woman suffers from severe anxiety disorder.

There are also several types of anxiety disorders, including:

These aren't the only kinds of anxiety issues people can experience or the only reasons they can be anxious, but they're some of the more common ones. Because anxiety disorders are so prevalent, it's estimated that over 40 million people are affected, and that's just in the United States.

What is TMS Therapy, and How Does it Work?

Patient in TMS for Anxiety treatment.

TMS therapy for anxiety focuses on magnetic stimulation of areas of the brain. It has been used for many years to treat depression and is often successful. Its use in treating anxiety is more recent, but it has shown promising results. If you're asking if TMS therapy works for anxiety you aren't alone, and the answer is often yes, it does provide relief.

During a TMS therapy session in Redding, CA, a medical professional will put a coil around your head. Then, magnetic pulses will be sent through the coil and targeted to specific brain regions. Sometimes pulses are consistent, and sometimes they're intermittent. This treatment is tailored to the patient's specific needs.

Most of the time, anxiety has a biological component. This is typically located in the brain's prefrontal cortex, which is the target of TMS for anxiety. By activating these areas that would not typically activate themselves, it is possible to reduce anxiety and help people feel calmer, sometimes from the very first treatment.

What to Expect During TMS Therapy for Anxiety

What is TMS therapy for anxiety? How does it work, and what does the process feel like? Those are fair questions to have, and you naturally want to learn more about the process before you consider whether it's right for your needs.

Typically, you can expect:

Depress patient having a consultation with a professional psychiatrist.
  1. A consultation with a medical or mental health professional who offers TMS
  2. A discussion about what the procedure may offer to you
  3. An explanation of the specifics of the procedure, to reduce anxiety around it
  4. Information about any side effects you may feel, such as a tapping sensation or clicking noise
  5. Any risks that you need to know about
  6. A treatment that takes under one hour
  7. Working with your provider to schedule additional treatments, if needed

There are some small risks with TMS therapy, and it's important to weigh those against the potential benefits for your particular situation.

The Bottom Line on TMS

TMS therapy for anxiety in Redding, CA can be the right choice to improve your quality of life. TMS has been shown to help with anxiety-related issues such as:

Depressed man at night having trouble on sleeping.

No matter what kind of experiences you're having with anxiety, TMS may be the right choice for your needs. As a non-invasive therapy that is seen a lot of effectiveness in treating depression and anxiety, this therapy is another option to consider in your quest to feel better again.

Ready to explore whether TMS therapy is right for you? Call 530-236-6615 today to book an appointment with Shasta Meadows Wellness Center. We're here to help!

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