Page 79 - An Introduction to Laser Tattoo Removal

Chapter 2 – Fundamentals of Laser Tattoo Removal v1.0
In fact, the 532nm is a bit of an anomaly! A South Korean study found that either nano- or picosecond energy pulses at this wavelength had significant effects on a range of tattoo inks – in some cases, more than with the other commonly-used wavelength! See the table on page 51 for a comparison of 532, 755 and 1064nm in both pulsewidths on six ink colours.
The 532nm wavelength was found to be remarkably efficient in treating these colours. We should not under-estimate its usefulness!
Wavelength Effects
532 nm
Strongly absorbed by melanin
More heat energy in the basal layer (base of epidermis)
More blistering!
Strongly absorbed in blood
More potential to damage blood vessels
Lower penetration into the dermis (anisotropy) Lowest ‘back-scattering’ levels
Strong absorption by red inks
694/755 nm Significant absorption by melanin Can easily blister darker skin types
Little absorption by blood
Strong absorption by ‘darker’ inks
Highest back-scattering levels – up to 60%
1064 nm Very little absorption by melanin Least risk of blistering
Virtually zero absorption by blood
High back-scattering levels – up to 55.5% Well absorbed by black and darker blues
But, it should be noted that 532nm is more likely to cause excess epidermal heating and blistering, and more punctate bleeding!
The ruby and alexandrite wavelengths (694 and 755nm) are very similar with similar effects on the skin and inks. Both are moderately well absorbed by melanin, but with very little absorption in blood. Hence, they can both induce unwanted pigmentary changes in the skin (for darker skin types) but with little chance of blood vessel damage.
Both can treat many ink colours very well, but there is a mythconception that both wavelengths are ‘better’ on greens or light blues. This is simply not true! I can remember, from the 80s and 90s, using the QS ruby to remove many green tattoos, while, at the same time, struggling to
________________________________________________________________________ 79
Chapter 2 LEVEL A Laser Tattoo Removal
© The Laser-IPL Guys, 2021