Abstract: Methods and compositions for simulating a dermal compartment of skin are disclosed. In one aspect of the invention, methods of producing such a skin model include the steps of admixing a collagenous protein source, a blood protein source, and dermal cells in an aqueous carrier, and then allowing the resulting mixture to solidify to produce a gel. In one technique, at least a portion of the mixture, e.g., the collagenous protein source is first heated and then cooled to induce gelation. For example, the mixture can be heated to at least 50 degrees C. and then cooled to temperature below 5 degrees C. to induce gelation.

Abstract: A method and system for tattoo removal from a subject by exposing tattoo ink particles trapped within the dermis to a cold plasma is described herein. The tattoo removal method and system can be used to remove the tattoo from the skin of the subject being treated. In addition, the method and system described allows for the extraction of the tattoo ink particles, which may have toxic properties, from the subject's body.