Effective treatment of traumatic tattoos with a Q-switched Nd:YAG laser.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: It is well known that the Q-switched Nd:Yag (QSNd:YAG) laser works well in the treatment of blue-black tattoos and benign pigmented lesions. It is less well known that this laser can also treat traumatic tattoos after accidents. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Twelve patients with traumatic tattoos were treated with a QSNd:YAG laser, 1064 nm. RESULTS: Gravel, mascara, high explosives, and older tattoos responded best with total clearance after 2-5 treatments. Hard materials such as asphalt, amalgam, and metal needed 6-11 treatments, and there was not always complete clearance. Transcient hypopigmentation but no scarring was seen. CONCLUSION: QSNd:YAG laser treatment of traumatic tattoos is effective, atraumatic, and a good alternative to mechanical dermabrasion or other conventional therapies.

Evaluation of port wine stains by laser Doppler perfusion imaging and reflectance photometry before and after pulsed dye laser treatment.

Treatment of choice for congenital capillary malformations of the port wine stain type is presently the pulsed dye laser. Although treatment results have usually been excellent or good, a few patients respond less well. Looking for a tool to predict and monitor the treatment we used laser Doppler perfusion imaging and reflectance photometry. Measurements with laser Doppler perfusion imaging were performed in 19 patients initially and after 1-3 treatments and with reflectance photometry initially and after 1-6 treatments. Before treatment, 15 of the patients had an increased bloodflow within the port wine stain in comparison with normal contralateral skin. After the laser treatments, 15 of 18 patients had decreased bloodflow within the lesion and all 18 had surrounding hyperemia. Reflectance photometry showed a successive increase in blanching and predicted within 6 weeks of the first treatment the eventual clinical result. The bloodflow, as measured with laser Doppler perfusion imaging, did not correlate well with the photometrically registered erythema. Reflectance photometry is a useful objective tool, which early in the treatment course indicates whether laser therapy will be successful. Laser Doppler perfusion imaging is less helpful in monitoring patients but may be of use in the study of port wine stain pathophysiology.