Lasers for Tattoo Removal

As part of our commitment to resident education, Cutis is excited to offer this monthly section with board-relevant, easy-to-review material. Each month this section will focus on the key facts of commonly tested topics. It will be a resource for review while on the go, for group study, or for last-minute preparation. This section is not meant to be comprehensive but rather a supplement to other study materials.

Successful tattoo removal requires a selective method with minimal risks for scarring, surrounding dyspigmentation, and textural changes. Amateur tattoos, which are frequently monochromatic, require fewer treatment sessions than professional multicolored tattoos. Additional factors that influence a successful outcome for tattoo removal include anatomic location, age of the tattoo, and size of the tattoo. This fact sheet reviews the Q-switched lasers that are the most efficacious for tattoo removal and discusses the pigments they can target. Picosecond lasers also are becoming more frequently used and are included here. Common side effects also are described.

To view this month's Fast Facts for Board Review, click here.

To view the answers to the practice questions, click here.