Berlin - Tattoos are supposed to be for eternity, but they can suddenly become a nuisance. 

Sometimes the design goes out of fashion or it's spoiling the chance of promotion or causing strife in a relationship because a new girlfriend detests the idea of seeing the name of the ex-girlfriend on her boyfriend's shoulder. 

"When one's living conditions change, some people want to be rid of a tattooed symbol or name," said Ursula Albrecht, head doctor at Berlin's Vivantes dermatology clinic. There are now reliable tattoo removal methods, she added. 

"The most effective procedure is the laser, which seldom causes scarring," said dermatologist Maja Hofmann, a laser expert at Berlin's Charite Hospital. 

"The colour pigment that has been pricked into the skin is dispersed." 

The length of such a therapy depends mainly on the size of the tattoo and how intricate it is. 

"To remove a professionally done tattoo, which often has more pigments and more colours, it can take 12 to 15 session," said Hofmann. "Less professional tattoos that are not so deep and that usually are monotone can be removed in five to seven sessions." 

But be warned, the laser treatment is expensive. 

"The price of a session depends on the size of the tattoo, but usually it costs between 50 and 200 euros, said Hofmann. However, when all charges are added up, a tattoo removal can cost a few thousand euros, and that usually has to be covered out of pocket. 

Health insurers don't pay for tattoo removals because they consider it a cosmetic treatment, said Albrecht. 

Tattoo removal is not only expensive and time-consuming, it's also not entirely pain-free. 

"The pain is perceived differently depending on sensitivity and the location of the tattoo," said dermatologist Harald Bresser of Munich. 

"You can compare it to the pain of flipping a rubber band against the skin." 

While some patients find the laser less unpleasant than getting the tattoo, others clearly suffer. 

"When necessary, the doctor uses a cream that numbs the skin, a local anaesthetic or a pain medication," said Bresser. 

During the period after the treatment, there are a few things to watch out for. 

"Washing the area that was treated must be done very carefully, usually for three days," said Bresser. "After that, the patient can wash the affected skin with warm water and shower, then carefully dry off." 

Scabs or blisters should not be picked off or removed, and the skin remains especially sensitive to sunlight six to 12 weeks after the laser treatment, therefore it must be protected. 

The laser is, however, not the only method of removing tattoos. They can also be removed surgically if their shape and size are relatively contained, Albrecht said. 

The clear advantage of this method is the ultimate elimination of the tattoo in a single procedure. The disadvantage is it always leave a scar. (dpa)