Laser treatment of amateur tattoos in Arabs in Kuwait: effectiveness and safety.
BACKGROUND
Laser treatment of amateur tattoos on Fitzpatrick type V skin produces a considerable risk of complications because of the increased incidence of adverse pigmentary changes. The principle of selective photothermolysis predicts that the Q-switched alexandrite laser should be effective in removing tattoo ink with minimal side effects in patients with skin phototype V.


OBJECTIVE
To study the effectiveness of the Q-switched alexandrite (755 nm, 50 ns) laser in the treatment of amateur tattoos in Arabs in Kuwait.


METHODS
One hundred patients, each with multiple tattoos, were treated until total clearance. Fluences used ranged from 5 to 7 J/cm(2) with a spot size of 3 mm. Clinical evaluation was performed at baseline and at each follow-up visit until dyspigmentation resolved.


RESULTS
Total clearing was observed in all tattoos after an average of six sessions. Both tattoo clearing and post-laser hypopigmentation (29%) and hyperpigmentation (38%) increased with higher fluences.


CONCLUSIONS
In this prospective study, our findings suggest that the Q-switched alexandrite laser is an effective laser in removing amateur tattoos in patients with skin phototype V, but with a high incidence of pigmentary changes.
Qasem
Kholoud Darwish
KD
Department of Dermatology, As'ad Al-Hamad Dermatology Center, Shuwaikh, Kuwait. kholouddar@gmail.com
Alotaibi
Mohammad Fehan
MF
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002648:Child; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D017495:Hyperpigmentation / Q000209:etiology; D017496:Hypopigmentation / Q000209:etiology; D007730:Kuwait; D053844:Lasers, Solid-State / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011446:Prospective Studies; D013653:Tattooing; D055815:Young Adult