Having a gang tattoo can be hazardous to your health. If you have one, I'm sure I don't have to tell you that. If you are no longer a member of that particular gang - or any gang - you probably have considered getting the tattoo removed. There are several options open to you.

The most widely known option is laser tattoo removal. The highly concentrated laser light breaks up the ink, which is then absorbed by your body. Generally several treatments are required to get satisfactory results, so at up to $850 per treatment, costs can mount up quickly. Repeated treatments can cause permanent scarring. The blisters and scabs caused by the treatments are painful.

Intense pulsed light therapy (IPL) is similar to laser treatments. A gel is applied to the skin to help intensify the light and then pulses of intense light are emitted onto the tattoo. The IPL treatments aren't as painful as laser treatments, but as with lasers, multiple treatments are necessary to fade the tattoo. IPL is also very pricey, costing up to $10 per pulse.

Tattoo removal creams and TCA (TriChloroacetic) are less expensive - and less painful - alternatives. They can be used in the privacy of your own home. Removal creams attack the tattoo ink. TCA causes a skin inflammation, which peels away a layer of skin and thus a small amount of the tattoo ink. Using creams or TCA is a long process, often taking many months, and results can be mixed. Some people report excellent fading while others report that the tattoo is hardly faded at all. What many people do is initially fade the tattoo with TCA or creams and then get laser surgery to remove the tattoo completely.

With any of these techniques, costs can add up and you may not have the money required. Don't lose hope. There are many programs available that will help former gang members get rid of their tattoos for free or for very nominal cost. Check with your city's public services or Google "gang tattoo removal" to find a program near you. Harlan Halloway