Page 58 - An Introduction to Laser Tattoo Removal

Chapter 2 – Fundamentals of Laser Tattoo Removal v1.0
the converse is true for melanin absorption – longer wavelengths are absorbed less by melanin than shorter ones.
So, 1064 nm light will penetrate the deepest into the skin, while hardly being absorbed by the basal melanin layer. This is why it is a particularly good choice for deeper ink particles. (Of course, the ink colour must also be considered...)
This is true regardless of the pulsewidth chosen!!
Sun tans
A sun tan must be regarded as a barrier, whether induced by the sun or tanning beds. The increase in melanin in the basal layer will ‘interfere’ with the progress of light energy into the dermis. This is likely to increase the heat generated in this layer resulting in unwanted damage.
Consequently, it is always better to send the patient away for a few weeks to allow the tan to diminish. If you proceed to treat a tanned skin, you must take into account the greater risk of epidermal damage.
This risk varies with the wavelength – 532nm is much more likely to induce damage than 694 or 755nm. The Nd:YAG 1064nm is least likely to interact with the melanin (due to the very low absorption at that wavelength), but it may still induce some unwanted changes.
Fake tans must also be removed before treating the skin with the laser.
The physical location of the tattoo is important
When ink particles are removed from the tattoo site it is taken by the lymphatic system to the lymph nodes in the axillae (armpits), groin, neck or knees. For this reason, it appears that the rate of removal depends on where the tattoo is located on the body. Head and neck tattoos appear to fade significantly faster than those on the fingers, or certainly the toes, probably because these are far from the lymph nodes. (For a good explanation of the lymphatic system please click here.)
While this has not been investigated clinically (as far as we know to date), there is plenty of anecdotal evidence (from many laser users around the world) that it is the case.
Of course, there are many other factors which can affect the rate of ink removal including the state of health of the patient, the state of their skin, obesity, diabetes, exercise levels etc. And this doesn’t include the technology, which can also have a major effect!
At present, no one knows the relative importance of the above factors in the overall process. ________________________________________________________________________ 58
Chapter 2 LEVEL A Laser Tattoo Removal
© The Laser-IPL Guys, 2021