[Laser therapy for tattoos].

Tattoos are produced by bringing colorants of various compositions into the skin. The ingredients of these colorants are not declared and are not subjected to pharmacological and toxicological tests. Ultrashort and high intensity laser pulses are used to remove tattoos. The laser beam breaks up the pigments embedded in the skin so that they can be transported away from the site. Clinically, the pigment becomes less intense or completely disappears. The success of the laser treatment essentially depends on the pigments used in the tattoo and on how deeply the pigments are embedded in the skin. The laser treatment is slightly painful and has a low rate of permanent side effects.