Efficacy of laser treatment of tattoos using lasers emitting wavelengths of 532 nm, 755 nm and 1064 nm

Bettina Prinz · S.R. Vavricka · G. Burg · Reinhard Dummer

32 citations0/0 files storedBritish Journal of Dermatology

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Tattoo and Body Piercing Complications melanin and skin pigmentation Dermatologic Treatments and Research

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Multifunctional laser devices can be used to treat tattoos successfully. OBJECTIVES: To report the efficacy of laser treatment in professional, amateur, accidental and permanent make-up tattoos from our own experience and to compare it with the literature. METHODS: We retrospectively studied 74 consecutive patients with professional, amateur, make-up and accidental tattoos between June 1998 and November 2000. Patients were treated with a Q-switched Nd:YAG laser (wavelengths of 532 nm and 1064 nm), a Q-switched alexandrite laser (755 nm) and a variable pulse Nd:YAG laser (532 nm). RESULTS: Fourteen patients (19%) achieved a complete response (>95% lightening of treated tattoos), 23 (31%) an excellent response (76-95% lightening) and 21 (28%) a good response (51-75% lightening). Sixteen patients (22%) showed only a slight improvement (< or =50% lightening). Make-up tattoos and blue-black professional tattoos were most successfully treated. Multicoloured professional tattoos needed more treatments (mean +/- SD 5.7 +/- 5.4) in comparison with single-colour tattoos (3.5 +/- 2.0). The amateur tattoos needed fewer treatments (2.8 +/- 1.1) in comparison with professional tattoos. With accidental tattoos the results depended on the particles which had penetrated the skin. In contrast to literature reports, newer tattoos showed a trend to better treatment results than older tattoos. CONCLUSIONS: Using modern Q-switched lasers, tattoos are removed successfully with minimal risk of scarring and permanent pigmentary alterations. Even multicoloured tattoos can be treated successfully and with a low rate of side-effects.

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References

1990Treatment of tattoos by Q-switched ruby laser. A dose-response study 1991Light and Electron Microscopic Analysis of Tattoos Treated by Q-Switched Ruby Laser 2000Q-switch laser and tattoo pigments: First results of the chemical and photophysical analysis of 41 compounds 2001In vitro quantitative chemical analysis of tattoo pigments.1995Q-switched alexandrite laser treatment (755 nm) of professional and amateur tattoos 2001Laser Removal of Tattoos 1994Clinical, histologic, and ultrastructural evaluation of tattoos treated with three laser systems 1997The Q-switched neodymium: YAG laser and tattoos: a microscopic analysis of laser-tattoo interactions

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