title: Clearance of yellow tattoo ink with a novel 532-nm picosecond laser.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Although technology and tattoo removal methods continue to evolve, yellow pigment clearance continues to be challenging and usually unsuccessful. We describe a case series of six tattoos containing yellow ink, successfully treated with a frequency-doubled Nd:YAG 532-nm picosecond laser.
  
  
  METHODS
  Case series with six subjects participating for the treatment of multicolored tattoos that contain yellow pigment. Treatments performed with a frequency-doubled Nd:YAG 532-nm picosecond laser at 6-8 week intervals.
  
  
  RESULTS
  One subject achieved complete clearance of the treated site after one session, and five subjects required 2-4 treatments to achieve over 75% clearance. Minimal downtime was experienced, and no scarring or textural skin changes were observed in any of the treated sites.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This is the first case series that demonstrates effective and consistent reduction of yellow tattoo ink using a frequency doubled Nd:YAG 532-nm laser with a picosecond pulse duration. Treatments were well tolerated and subjects had positive outcomes. This is a small observational case series from an ongoing clinical trial, and studies with a larger sample size and comparative group are needed in the future.
authors.affiliation: Laser & Skin Surgery Center of New York, New York, New York, 10016.
authors.forename: Hamad
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Alabdulrazzaq
authors.forename: Jeremy A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Brauer
authors.forename: Yoon-Soo
authors.initials: YS
authors.lastname: Bae
authors.forename: Roy G
authors.initials: RG
authors.lastname: Geronemus
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D004487:Edema / Q000209:etiology; D004890:Erythema / Q000209:etiology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007281:Ink; D053685:Laser Therapy / Q000379:methods*; D053844:Lasers, Solid-State; D008297:Male; D010146:Pain / Q000209:etiology; D013653:Tattooing
keywords: Nd:YAG; frequency doubled; pigment; skin