A new study in Archives of Dermatology that was also covered in USA Today reviews the factors involved in successful tattoo removal with a Q-switched laser.
The group of researchers, from Italy, followed 352 patients (201 men and 151 women) with a median age of 30 years. All patients were treated by the same investigator with a Q-switched 1064/532-nm Nd:YAG laser and a Q-switched 755-nm alexandrite laser according to tattoo colors. Treatments were scheduled at 6-week or longer intervals.
Nearly half of the patients in the study [47.2% (95% confidence interval [CI], 41.8%-52.5%)] had successful tattoo removal after 10 sessions, according to the article in Archives, and nearly three-quarters of participants [74.8% (95% CI, 68.9%-80.7%)] achieved successful tattoo removal after 15 sessions. The researchers identified a number of factors that related to success of treatment: the presence of colors other than black and red, a tattoo larger than 30 cm2, a tattoo on the feet or legs or older than 36 months, high color density, treatment intervals of 8 weeks or less, and development of a darkening phenomenon. Smoking was also a factor; tattoos were harder to remove if the participant smoked. All of these factors were associated with a reduced clinical response to treatment.
Writing in Archives, the researchers conclude: “To our knowledge, this study is the first to formally assess prognostic factors for effective tattoo removal by Q-switched laser. Several variables influence response rates and should be considered when planning tattoo removal treatments.”
To read more about the use of Q-switched lasers in laser tattoo removal, please see the article “Best Clinical Practices in Laser Tattoo Removal” from the July issue of The Dermatologist.
To read the study in Archives of Dermatology, please click here.
