title: A rapid tattoo removal technique using a combination of pulsed Er:YAG and Q-Switched Nd:YAG in a split lesion protocol.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Tattoo removal has evolved over the years and though Q-switched laser is the 'workhorse' laser, it invariably requires multiple sittings, which are dependent on numerous factors, including the skin colour, location of the tattoo, age of the tattoo, colour of pigment used, associated fibrosis and the kind of tattoo treated. Though ablative lasers, both pulsed CO2 and Er:YAG, have been used for recalcitrant tattoos, very few studies have been done comparing them with pigment-specific lasers. Our study was based on the premise that ablating the epidermis overlying the tattoo pigment with Er:YAG could help in gaining better access to the pigment which would enable the Q-switched laser to work effectively with less beam scattering.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  A study of rapid tattoo removal (RTR) technique using a combination of pulsed Er:YAG and Q-Switched Nd:YAG in a split lesion protocol.
  
  
  METHODS
  This prospective study was undertaken during 2010-13 at a laser Clinic in the Maulana Azad Medical College, New Delhi. A total of 10 patients were recruited, 5 of amateur tattoo and 5 of professional tattoo. After informed consent each tattoo was arbitrarily 'split' into two parts. One part was treated with QS Nd:YAG laser(1064 nm) and the other part with Er:YAG laser immediately followed by the QS Nd:YAG. The laser treatments were repeated at 6-week intervals until the tattoo pigment had cleared. On the combination side in subsequent sittings only the QS Nd:YAG was used, to minimize repetitive ablation. To ensure consistency in the intervention methods a trained dermatologist who was independent of the treatment delivery randomly rated 10% of the procedures.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The mean improvement achieved by the Q-switched laser (2.93) was less than the combination laser (3.85) side (p = 0.001) and needed more sessions (3.8 vs. 1.6; p = 0.001). There was a statistically significant difference in the improvement on the combination side till the second session. On the combination side patients required a maximum of 2 sessions, while the Q-switched laser required 3-5 sessions for appreciable lightening.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  From our study it was concluded that use of a pulsed ablative laser may help in rapid removal of tattoos in conjunction with QS lasers with minimal side effects and can be used as a RTR.
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, Maulana Azad Medical College , New Delhi , India.
authors.forename: Kabir
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Sardana
authors.forename: Rashmi
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Ranjan
authors.forename: Atul M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Kochhar
authors.forename: Khushbu Goel
authors.initials: KG
authors.lastname: Mahajan
authors.forename: Vijay K
authors.initials: VK
authors.lastname: Garg
mesh_terms: D003357:Cosmetic Techniques; D006801:Humans; D053844:Lasers, Solid-State / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D028022:Low-Level Light Therapy / Q000295:instrumentation*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D013653:Tattooing
keywords: Er:YAG Laser; amateur tattoo; professional tattoo