Laser Treatment of Tattoos and Other Dyschromia

Q-switched lasers (alexandrite, Nd:YAG and ruby lasers) can successfully remove tattoos with few adverse effects. Removing professional tattoos usually entails 20–25 treatment sessions at intervals of 4–6 weeks. Residual pigment may remain, especially when multi-coloured tattoos are involved. Amateur tattoos and traumatic tattoos are usually easier to treat (5–10 sessions). Drug-induced hyperpigmentation is fairly common and tends to respond well to treatment with Q-switched laser (the exception here is chrysiasis). Frequent adverse effects are changes in pigmentation (particularly hypopigmentation), shifts in tattoo colour and changes in skin texture; the latter two are usually temporary. Scarring is possible but rare when treatment is performed correctly.