Tattoo Removal in People of Color Who Were Formerly Incarcerated or Were Gang Members - Complications and Best Practices

Aug 28, 2026

Limited data address how tattoo removal proceeds in people of color who were formerly gang-involved or incarcerated. This single-center retrospective study analyzed patients treated at Homeboy Industries’ Ya’Stuvo Tattoo Removal Clinic from January 2016 to December 2018, reviewing 2,118 tattoos and using a representative sample of 502 patients. Complications such as hypo- or hyper-pigmentation, keloids, or scarring occurred in 5.57% of tattoos. Complications reduced completion likelihood, with higher risk linked to greater energy fluence, professional tattoo placement, colored tattoos, and more prior treatment sessions. Findings inform best practices to support reintegration.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryHealthcare

FormatPDF

Pages14

Reading Time35 min

AccessFree to download

Abstract and Background

Study Design and Setting

Key Findings on Complications

Risk Factors and Practical Implications

Laser Tattoo Removal Context

Tattoo Removal in People of Color Who Were Formerly Incarcerated or Were Gang Members: Complications and Best Practices Jo Marie Reilly, Philip Spektor, Miguel De La Torre, Sneha Paranandi, Jessica Bogner Journal of Health Care for the Poor and Underserved, Volume 34, Number 4, November 2023, pp. 1414-1426 (Article) Published by Johns Hopkins University Press For additional information about this article [https://muse.jhu.edu/article/912726](https://muse.jhu.edu/article/912726) ORIGINAL PAPER Tattoo Removal in People of Color Who Were Formerly Incarcerated or Were Gang Members: Complications and Best Practices Jo Marie Reilly, MD. MPH, FAAFP Philip Spektor, MS Miguel De La Torre, MD Sneha Paranandi, MD Jessica Bogner, MA Abstract: There are limited data about the tattoo removal process in formerly gang-involved and incarcerated people of color. This single center retrospective study was conducted on patients treated at Homeboy Industries’ Ya’Stuvo Tattoo Removal Clinic between January 2016–December 2018. It reviewed data on 2,118 tattoos, and a representative sample of 502 patients was used to conduct our analysis. Treatment on 118 of the tattoos (5.57%) resulted in at least one complication (hypo-or hyper-pigmentation, keloids, or scarring) . Patients who experienced tattoo removal complications (7.3%) were less likely to return to complete the removal process. More complications were experienced with higher fluences of energy, on tattoos placed by professional artists, on colored tattoos, and tattoos on clients who had a greater number of treatments. The study highlights complications and best practices in tattoo removal in people of color, a process critical to the reintegration and gang disengagement of this vulnerable population. Key words: Tattoos, gang affiliation, incarcerated, underserved populations, laser tattoo removal, complications, best practices. W hile tof selaf-tteoxopsrareessibecomingon among itnhceregaseninergaly coml popumlatoinoan,d arheyeaorfteeanlspoefrrceeqived auentlysaasfsoormciated with past or present gang involvement, propensity for risk-taking, and prison.1–2 Further, prison tattoos carry additional health risks including hepatitis C, HIV, and other unknown risks due to variable ink composition and application process.3–5 Due to these risks and stigma, negative attitudes toward the presence of visible tattoos on the face, neck, and hands often pose a major barrier to those seeking to reintegrate into civil JO MARIE REILLY, PHILIP SPEKTOR, MIGUEL DE LA TORRE, and SNEHA PARANANDI are affiliated with the Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California. PHILIP SPEKTOR is also affiliated with The Rappaport Faculty of Medicine, Technion—Israel Institute of Technology. JESSICA BOGNER is affiliated with the Homeboy Industries and the Los Angeles Unified School District, Office of the Chief Strategy Officer, Strategic Data and Evaluation Branch. Please address all correspondence to: Jo Marie Reilly, Keck School of Medicine of USC, 1975 Zonal Ave, KAM B-31, Los Angeles, CA, 90033; [Email: jmreilly@med.usc.edu](Email: jmreilly@med.usc.edu). © Meharry Medical College Journal of Health Care for the Poor and Underserved 34 (2023): 1414–1426. society, gain meaningful employment, and, most importantly, live safely after leaving gang and prison life.2 Consequently, tattoo removal services can be transformational in reducing marginalization and enabling former gang members to successfully effect positive change in their lives.6 The city of Los Angeles is home to one of the largest gang populations in the world, of which the vast majority belong to minority African American or Hispanic ethnic groups.1,7 Homeboy Industries (HBI), based in East Los Angeles, operates a large gang intervention and rehabilitation program in which laser tattoo removal is by far its most highly sought-after clinic service. Over 4,000 clients benefit every month from laser treatments admi

FAQs

这项研究关注哪些人群的纹身激光清除？

研究聚焦于曾参与帮派或曾被监禁的人群，并特别关注有色人种中的深色皮肤相关结局与并发症。

研究采用了什么方法与数据规模？

研究为单中心回顾性研究，数据来自2016年1月至2018年12月在 Homeboy Industries 的 Ya’Stuvo 纹身清除门诊接受治疗的患者。共回顾2,118个纹身，并用代表性样本中的502名患者进行分析。

哪些因素与纹身清除并发症发生更相关？

并发症风险与能量剂量（fluence）更高、专业纹身师制作的纹身、彩色纹身，以及接受治疗次数更多的客户有关。

并发症会如何影响治疗完成？

出现纹身清除并发症的患者更不可能返回并完成完整的清除疗程。

Aug 28, 2026

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