Laser treatment of amateur tattoos in Arabs in Kuwait: effectiveness and safety.

BACKGROUND

Laser treatment of amateur tattoos on Fitzpatrick type V skin produces a considerable risk of complications because of the increased incidence of adverse pigmentary changes. The principle of selective photothermolysis predicts that the Q-switched alexandrite laser should be effective in removing tattoo ink with minimal side effects in patients with skin phototype V.

OBJECTIVE

To study the effectiveness of the Q-switched alexandrite (755 nm, 50 ns) laser in the treatment of amateur tattoos in Arabs in Kuwait.

METHODS

One hundred patients, each with multiple tattoos, were treated until total clearance. Fluences used ranged from 5 to 7 J/cm(2) with a spot size of 3 mm. Clinical evaluation was performed at baseline and at each follow-up visit until dyspigmentation resolved.

RESULTS

Total clearing was observed in all tattoos after an average of six sessions. Both tattoo clearing and post-laser hypopigmentation (29%) and hyperpigmentation (38%) increased with higher fluences.

CONCLUSION

In this prospective study, our findings suggest that the Q-switched alexandrite laser is an effective laser in removing amateur tattoos in patients with skin phototype V, but with a high incidence of pigmentary changes.