title: Clinical, histologic, and ultrastructural evaluation of tattoos treated with three laser systems.
abstract: We examined the response of tattoo pigments treated with three commercially available lasers: Q-switched ruby, Q-Switched neodynium:yttrium,aluminum,garnet (Nd:YAG), and the alexandrite. Tattoos applied to hairless guinea pigs and treated with the aforementioned lasers were evaluated clinically, histologically, and ultrastructurally. Clinical evaluation showed red brown, dark brown, and orange pigment responded best to the Nd:YAG laser (1064 nm). The alexandrite laser was most effective for removing blue and green pigment, the Q-switched ruby laser was most effective for removing purple and violet pigment, and the Nd:YAG laser (532 nm) removed red pigment the best. Black pigment was lightened equally with the Nd:YAG laser (1064 nm) and (532 nm) and the alexandrite laser (755 nm). No clinical scarring was observed; however, some colors turned black after treatment. Histologic and ultrastructural examination showed epidermal and dermal damage to be most evident after treatment with the Nd:YAG laser. Our study shows that certain tattoo pigments respond better to different laser systems.
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, University of Minnesota Medical School, Minneapolis 55455.
authors.forename: B D
authors.initials: BD
authors.lastname: Zelickson
authors.forename: D A
authors.initials: DA
authors.lastname: Mehregan
authors.forename: A A
authors.initials: AA
authors.lastname: Zarrin
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Coles
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Hartwig
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Olson
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Leaf-Davis
mesh_terms: D000537:Aluminum Oxide; D000538:Aluminum Silicates; D000818:Animals; D001608:Beryllium; D003594:Cytoplasmic Granules / Q000648:ultrastructure; D004817:Epidermis / Q000473:pathology / Q000528:radiation effects / Q000648:ultrastructure; D005347:Fibroblasts / Q000648:ultrastructure; D006168:Guinea Pigs; D053685:Laser Therapy; D008264:Macrophages / Q000648:ultrastructure; D008854:Microscopy, Electron; D009354:Neodymium; D015388:Organelles / Q000648:ultrastructure; D010860:Pigments, Biological / Q000528:radiation effects; D012867:Skin / Q000473:pathology* / Q000528:radiation effects / Q000648:ultrastructure; D013653:Tattooing; D015019:Yttrium
chemical_list: D000538:Aluminum Silicates; D010860:Pigments, Biological; D009354:Neodymium; D015019:Yttrium; D000537:Aluminum Oxide; D001608:Beryllium