Abstract
Removal of benign pigmented skin lesions and tattoos in individuals regretting their tattoo is performed using Q-switched nanosecond lasers and the recently introduced picosecond lasers. In some dermo-epidermal pigmented lesions, only for specific applications, also the long-pulse lasers find indication. Melanin is the target in all the benign pigmented lesions and it adsorbs a wide range of laser wavelengths. However, every wavelength has specific indications on the basis of the lesion depth and the patient phototype. In view of the various tattoo pigments with different absorption spectra specific laser wavelengths are needed. The type of laser wavelength chosen for removal largely depends on the patient’s tattoo color and skin type. Q-switched (QS) lasers such as the QS Ruby, QS Nd: YAG, and QS Alexandrite until recently were the most effective devices for tattoo removal. However, picosecond lasers have quickly become the mainstay of treatment due to their superior efficacy and decreased treatment durations.
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Sbano, P. (2020). Pigment-Specific Lasers for Benign Skin Lesions and Tattoos: Long Pulsed, Nanosecond, and Picosecond Lasers. In: Fimiani, M., Rubegni, P., Cinotti, E. (eds) Technology in Practical Dermatology. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-45351-0_33
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-45351-0_33
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