Comparison of the Q-Switched Alexandrite, ND:YAG, and Ruby Lasers in Treating Blue-Black Tattoos

Authors: Leuenberger M.L.¹; Mulas M.W.³; Hata T.R.¹; Goldman M.P.²; Fitzpatrick R.E.²; Grevelink J.M.^{1, *}

Source: Dermatologic Surgery, Volume 25, Number 1, January 1999 , pp. 10-14(5)

Publisher: Wiley-Blackwell

Abstract:

A new generation of highly selective short-pulsed lasers has emerged in recent years for the treatment of tattoos. Several studies (including reports by the present investigators) have proven the efficacy of each of the three commercially available, FDA approved devices; namely, the Q-switched alexandrite, Q-switched Nd:YAG and Q-switched ruby lasers. Considerable differences among the three have been reported in relation to the rate of clearing of the tattoo ink particles, tissue effects, beam profile, wound healing, and side effects.

This study was primarily conducted to examine and compare the clinical response of patients with blue-black tattoos simultaneously treated with three different Q-switched lasers (alexandrite, Nd:YAG, ruby) with a focus on the percentage of tattoo lightening/clearance and the occurrence or non-occurrence of pigmentary change as a side effect.

A total of forty-two blue-black tattoos seen at two laser centers (Massachusetts General Hospital Dermatology Laser Center and Laser and Skin Surgery Center of La Jolla) were simultaneously treated with three types of Q-switched lasers: a Candela Q-switched alexandrite laser (755nm 50-100 nanoseconds, 3.0mm spot size, 6-8 J/cm²); a Continuum Biomedical Q-switched Nd:YAG laser (1064nm, 10-20 nanoseconds, 3.0mm spot size, 5-10 J/cm²); and a Spectrum Q-switched ruby laser (694nm, 25-40 nanoseconds, 5.0mm spot size, 4-10 J/cm²). Paired t-tests and McNemar tests were used to compare the treatment outcome and pigmentation side effects between sites per tattoo, with each site representative of one of the three lasers. The statistical significance level was set at p < .05.

Overall, the Q-switched ruby laser had a significant difference in tattoo lightening versus the Q-switched Nd:YAG and Q-switched alexandrite lasers. An increase in the number of treatments paralleled a statistically significant increase in tattoo clearance for all three Q-switched lasers.

The Q-switched ruby laser had the highest clearance rate in blue-black tattoos and the highest incidence of longlasting hypopigmentation. The Nd:YAG had no incidence of hypopigmentation.

Language: English

Document Type: Research article

Affiliations: 1: Massachusetts General Hospital Dermatology Laser Center, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts 2: the Laser and Skin Surgery Center of La Jolla, Scripps-XIMED Medical Center, La Jolla, California 3: the Department of Dermatology, University of Maastricht, the Netherlands *

Publication date: 1999-01-01

• In this: publication
• By this: publisher
• In this Subject: Dermatology ,  Surgery
• By this author: Leuenberger M.L. ;  Mulas M.W. ;  Hata T.R. ;  Goldman M.P. ;  Fitzpatrick R.E. ;  Grevelink J.M.

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