TREATMENT GUIDE |
treatment guide Tattoo removal
T Castro and MA Trelles discuss the past, present and future developments in tattoo removal treatments and processes
T 76 ❚
ATTOOS ARE AN ancient form of art with origins that can be traced back as far as the Stone Age. They have remained popular throughout time
and across many cultures and continents. The majority of tattoo pigments are not FDA-approved, and therefore it is usually not clear what compounds make up any given tattoo ink. Generally, tattoo pigments are comprised of inorganic and/or organic compounds, such as chromium, mercury, iron, copper, carbon, and polycyclic compositions.
Traditional tattoo removal Over the centuries, different methods for tattoo removal have been explored. The earliest report of attempted tattoo removal was from Aetius, a Greek physician who described salabrasion in 543 AD. Less modern tattoo removal
techniques involve the destruction or removal of the outer skin layers by mechanical, chemical, or thermal means, accompanied by inflammation1
.
Transepidermal elimination of pigment occurs through denuded skin and via an exudative phase that allows tattoo pigment to migrate to the wound surface. The inflammatory response would also promote macrophage activity, with increased phagocytosis enabling additional pigment elimination during the healing phase2, 3
. Q-switched lasers remain the gold
standard for tattoo removal, but using the appropriate device and technique does not guarantee a successful clinical outcome. The commonly used lasers for tattoo removal are the Q-switched 694 nm ruby laser, the Q-switched 755 nm alexandrite laser, the 1064 nm Nd:YAG laser, and the 532 nm Nd:YAG laser.
September 2012 |
prime-journal.com
Further research and developments Research is underway to improve both the techniques and devices used for laser tattoo removal. The recently presented
ÔR20Õ method suggests repeating QS laser treatment four times in a single session spaced 20 minutes apart to allow whitening to fade4
. After 3 months,
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