Page 65 - An Introduction to Laser Tattoo Removal

Chapter 2 – Fundamentals of Laser Tattoo Removal v1.0
Figure 31: A cavitation bubble during the collapse phase – the energy released in this process release light (sonoluminescence) and sound!
Hypo- and hyper-pigmentation following laser tattoo treatments
As mentioned above (in the ‘Melanin Absorption’ section) all the lasers currently used in tattoo removal treatments emit wavelengths that can be absorbed by epidermal melanin.
This absorption of light energy can result in either hypo- or hyper-pigmentation:
Hypo-pigmentation:
Figure 32: A fairly typical example of hypo- pigmentation following laser treatments
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Chapter 2 LEVEL A Laser Tattoo Removal
© The Laser-IPL Guys, 2021
Depending in the patient’s skin and melanin content, much of the melanin may be destroyed during laser treatment. If the natural skin colour is even slightly pigmented, then there will appear some areas lacking that skin colour. This condition is deemed to be ‘hypo- pigmented’.
In most cases, the skin’s natural repair processes will regrow melanin back into the hypo-pigmented areas, thereby returning the skin back to its normal colour.