Permanent Makeup Removal from Murine Skin Using 1,064-nm Q-switched Nd:YAG Laser and 694-nm Q-switched Ruby Laser: Comparing the Degree of Removal Following Irradiation at Different Time Points after Application / 대한피부과학회지

BACKGROUND: Q-switched lasers have made it possible to remove tattoos without leaving unsightly scars. OBJECTIVE: Tobdetermine the optimal time for permanent makeup removal using Q-switched Nd:YAG and ruby lasers, we compared the degree of removal and associated histological changes following irradiation at different time points. METHODS: Using black ink and a permanent makeup machine, we performed 108 separate permanent makeup applications on rat skin. The 1,064-nm Q-switched Nd:YAG laser (QSNDL) and 694-nm Q-switched ruby laser (QSRL) were used to irradiate the permanent makeup on the day of its application and also 3, 5, 7, 14, and 21 days later. We assessed changes in pigmentation over time at each irradiated site using Mexameter® measurements and skin biopsies. RESULTS: The Mexameter® analysis demonstrated no significant differences in pigment removal among irradiations with QSNDL or QSRL on the day of permanent makeup application or at 3, 5, 7, 14, and 21 days later. Histological analysis demonstrated that permanent makeup pigment migrated from the epidermis to the superficial and mid dermis over time. QSNDL more effectively removed pigment throughout the epidermis and dermis compared to QSRL. CONCLUSION: For maximum pigment removal efficacy, the melanin index results suggest that laser treatment should be performed on the day permanent makeup is applied. However, from the histological perspective, permanent makeup should be removed approximately 1 week later, at which point the crusts have peeled off and the wound repair process is almost complete. In this study, histological analysis suggested the superiority of treatment with QSNDL to that with QSRL.

THE THERAPEUTIC EFFECTS OF THE Q-SWITCHED RUBY LASER ON TATTOOS AND PIGMENTED LESIONS OF KOREANS

The Q-switched ruby laser has been used in clinics since the early 1980s. It was tried to remove tattoos at first with good effects. Thereafter, some physicians reported the usefulness of the laser in the treatment of some kinds of pigmented lesions such as nevus of Ota, freckles and lentigines. The reason why the Q-switched ruby laser has a lot of effect on tattoos and some pigmented lesions is that the laser has the function of selective photothermolysis on those cutaneous lesions. The authors have treated 185 patients with tattoos and cutaneous pigmented lesions using the Q-switched ruby laser during last 4 years ago. Patients had tattoos, nevus of Ota, freckles, lentigines, melasma, postinflammatory hyperpigmentation, and were followed up over 5 months after the end of the laser treatment. The authors analysed the results and compared them with other's results in Caucasians, and we intended to present a guide of the treatment using Q-switched ruby laser in Koreans. The results were as follows 1. Tattoos showed good results after the treatment because the most of tattoos are black or dark blue in color and cheated by amateur. We repeated the laser treatments with the interval of 2 weeks. 2. Nevus of Ota, freckles and lentigines showed good results after treatment of the Q-switched ruby laser 3. Melasma showed no improvement after the treatment. 4. The treatment of postinflammatory hyperpigmentation using the Q-switched ruby laser must be confined within a part of the lesion at the first visit of patient, because the therapeutic effects were observed in some patients only and the degree of depigmention after treatment was diverse. 5. The most common complication after Q-switched ruby laser treatment was pigmentary change, including hyperpigmentation in most of the cases and hypopigmentation in some cases. However, there was no visible scar or remarkable change of skin texture in all of the cases.

Q-switched ruby laser in the treatment of nevus of Ota

The purpose of this study is to evaluate the efficacy of Q-switched ruby laser in the treatment of nevus of Ota, a pigmented lesion on the face. The Q-switched ruby laser has been shown to remove tattoos without scarring. With this in mind, the nevus of Ota with pigmented cells in the dermis could be effectively treated with Q-switched ruby laser. Eighty patients (19 men, and 61 women) with nevus of Ota on the face were enlisted to be tested in evaluating the efficiency of Q-switched ruby laser therapy. The age of patients ranged from 1 to 62 years. The energy fluence used varied from 6 to 8.5 J/cm2. Treatment intervals ranged from 4 to 16 weeks, and the number of treatment sessions varied between 1 to 9 visits. During a 2-year follow-up period, more than fifty percent removal of nevus-pigment was noted in 64 of the 80 patients. Transient hyperpigmentation was noted in 32 patients lasting for 2 to 6 months after treatment; transient hypopigmentation was seen in 3 cases which recovered within one year. No patients had permanent textural or pigmentary changes or scarring. Q-switched ruby laser therapy appears to be an effective and safe modality for the treatment of nevus of Ota.

Q-Switched Ruby Laser in the Treatment of Nevus of Ota

BACKGROUND: The Q-switched ruby laser has recently shown that it can remove tattoos with-out scarring. Therefore the Q-switched ruby laser is expected to be effective in the treatment of nevus of Ota, which contains pigmented cells in the dermis. OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study is to evaluate the efficacy of Q-switched ruby laser in the treatment of nevus of Ota. METHODS: Twenty-five patients (6 men, 19 women) with nevus of Ota on the face were treat-ed. The age of the patients ranged from 3 to 62 years. The energy fluence used varied from 6 to 8.5 J/cm². Treatment intervals ranged from 1 to 3 months, and the number of treatments ranged from 2 to 9. Photographs were taken of all patients before and on every return visit. The photographs were then compared with each other. After completion of treatment, we evaluated some parameters including the extent of pigment-free area within the skin lesions (score 0-4), degree of lightening in the remaining skin lesions (score 0-3), and patient's own or their parents' opinions on the result of treatment (score 0-3). The scores of the above three parameters were added and the resulting scores were designated as excellent (score 9-10), good (score 7-8), moderate (score 5-6) and poor (score 0-4). RESULTS: Excellent treatment response (score 9-10) was obtained in 6 of the 25 patients. In all patients disappearance of pigmentation on a 40 percent or larger area was seen. One month after completion of treatment, the remaining lesion size was less than 40 percent of the original lesion in 21 (84.0%) patients. The degree of lightening in the remaining lesion was marked (score 3) in 22 (88%) patients. No scarring was noted following treatment. Transient hyperpigmentation was noted in 7 patients, and transient hypopigmented areas were noted in one patient. CONCLUSION: Q-switched ruby laser appears to be an effective and safe modality for the treatment of nevus of Ota.