Newer Trends in Laser Tattoo Removal

Abstract

Q switched lasers are the current gold standard for laser tattoo removal. Though these systems are generally quite effective in clearing tattoos & have an established safety record, certain limitations exist while following the standard protocol. To overcome these limitation newer techniques such as multipass method, combination treatments with chemical agent and other laser have been introduced. These methods help in faster, less painful and complication free tattoo removal.

INTRODUCTION

Q switched lasers are the current gold standard for laser tattoo removal. Though these systems are generally quite effective in clearing tattoos and have an established safety record, certain limitations exist while following the standard protocol. Until now, multiple sessions spaced over a period of time have been the protocol for laser tattoo removal.

The limitations of this include: Incomplete clearance, long total treatment duration with the large interval between sessions, ink retention despite multiple sessions, treatment-associated side effects such as blistering and dyschromia.

Attempts have been made to overcome these shortcomings by modifying the technique or combining multiple lasers to achieve optimal results and minimize adverse effects.

BACKGROUND AND LASER TISSUE INTERACTIONS

Tattoos consist of thousands of large particles of pigment suspended in the skin. Laser tattoo removal is based on successful application of the theory of selective photothermolysis.

Q switched laser delivers energy in an ultra-short duration, typically in nanosecond range with very high peak power. This energy is then selectively absorbed by tattoo ink because of its preferential wavelength and thermal relaxation time.

The surface temperature of the ink particles can rise to thousands of degrees but this energy profile rapidly collapses into a shock wave.[1]

This shock wave then propagates throughout the local tissue (the dermis) causing brittle structures (tattoo pigment) to fragment and leads to vibrational damage to cellular structures and rupture of cell membranes.[1]

The rapid heating of melanosomes converts cytoplasmic water into steam, which results in intracytoplasmic vacuole formation.

Due to this, there is sudden change in light scarring properties of skin, which is evident clinically as whitening or frosting. Frosting prevents further penetration of laser into the skin.[2]

The current trends and techniques in laser tattoo removal have attempted to reduce the total number of sessions needed, to shorten the total duration of time required to achieve clearing of tattoos and also to minimize adverse effects.

Some of these techniques are described in the following sections.

R20 method for tattoo removal

R20 method of tattoo removal is based on principle of repeated exposure of laser light in a single session.[3]

Frosting created by application of Q switched laser prevents penetration of further laser light in the dermis. If we wait for sometime the frosting usually subsides and laser can penetrate again.

Using this principle, Kossida et al. used a novel technique in which they delivered four laser passes in a single session, after waiting for 20 min between each pass (R20 method).

The laser energy is delivered using same parameter and a gap of 20 min is given in between each pass. The frosting observed after first pass may not be evident during subsequent passes, still it is recommended to wait for 20 min because there may be intracellular steam formation.[3]

They reported higher efficacy of this method at the end of 3 months in tattoo clearance when compared to standard method. Bunert et al. showed similar results in professional tattoos[3] and Zawar et al. in amateur tattoo[4] [Figure 1].

Figure 1.

R20 methods in an army recruit with rapid clearing of treatment post 1-month. Parameters used: 1064 wavelength, 5 ns pulse duration, 4 mm spot 4.6 J/cm2 fluence, four passes

The exact mechanism of action is not known. It was postulated that the after subsidence of frosting if we deliver laser, then it can penetrate deeper in the dermis thus targeting more dermal ink. It can also fragment the ink particle into smaller pieces thus allowing faster clearance of ink by macrophages.

There are many advantages of R20 methods. It is more effective than traditional method. The number of sessions required for tattoo removal is greatly reduced thus decreasing the number of visits to the clinic and increasing patient compliance. The original studies showed that it is not only more effective but also safe in most of the patients.

The disadvantages are one single session can take 3½ h. to 4 h. to complete thus requires long waiting in clinic. It also can require multiple R20 sessions to eliminate the ink completely, which still may not be possible. Although reported safe in type 1–4 skin, in pigmented skin the overall incidence of blistering, scarring, and pigmentary alteration can be more [Figure 2].

Figure 2.

R20 method-scarring

R0 method of tattoo removal

Although better than the traditional treatment, the R20 method has limitations. Long waiting time for 60–80 min is problematic for physician and patient. To overcome this problem, Reddy et al. reported the use of perflurodecaline to reduce the frosting immediately so as to apply laser in quick succession without waiting for 20 min.[5]

As mentioned earlier, the frosting observed during tattoo removal is because of release of gas bubbles in stratum corneum. Perflurodecaline is a liquid perflurocarbon. These are colorless, inert compounds with low surface tension and insoluble in blood and water. They have high gas solubility and high optical clarity. This compound is extensively studied in medical applications including as a blood substitute due to oxygen-and carbon dioxide-gas carrying capacities, and Food and Drug Administration-approved use as an ophthalmologic vitreous body replacement.

When perflurodecaline is applied to laser frosted area, it absorbs the released gas and thus clears the frosting within 3–5 s so the next laser pass can be given immediately without waiting for 20 min. The total treatment time is thus reduced from 80 min to 5 min.[5]

Apart from increased gas clearance from the tissue PFD also has other advantages. It has high optical clarity. It saturates air spaces when applied and thus may increase the depth of penetration of laser treatment.[6] PFD has also been suggested to have potential additional benefits including reduced collateral thermal tissue injury due to tissue compression owing to its high specific gravity.[7]

PFD is widely used in ophthalmology and is easily available in ophthalmic pharmacies. It is commercially available as a Zero W spray.

Reddy et al. compared R0 and R20 methods and reported that the R0 method is as effective as R20 method with a reduced treatment time of 5 min[5] [Figure 3].

Figure 3.

R0 method: Parameters used: 1064 wavelength, 5 ns pulse duration, 4 mm spot 4 J/cm2 fluence, 4 passes. a) Before treatment. b) depigmentation 7 days after R0 method. c) Healing 1 month after laser treatment with spontaneous correction of depigmentation

Combination of imiquimod and Q switched laser

Imiquimod is a topical immune response modulator. Topical application of imiquimod alone is known to fade the tattoos to some extent when applied immediately after tattooing. Based on this finding, it was postulated that imiquimod interferes with tattoo pigment phagocytosis and prevents tattoo maturation.

Application of laser recreates the biological scene similar to early tattoos.[8] Wherein most of the tattoo pigmented lies freely in the tissue. Thus, it was postulated that combining Imiquimod with a laser could increase the efficacy of both modalities.

Elsaie et al. evaluated imiquimod and QSYL in the treatment of tattoos and reported more favorable outcome in the tattoos treatment with combination than tattoos treated alone or with placebo.[9] However, Ricotti et al. studied 20 patients with daily application of imiquimod cream and 4–6 weekly application of QSYL for five session and reported imiquimod as ineffective combination. Furthermore they also reported more complications on imiquimod treated site.[10] Based on the limited studies, the use of imiquimod in combination with QSL remains controversial as of now.

Diascopy in combination with QSYL

Murphy reported a simple and novel technique to reduce the pain and decrease epidermal damage during laser tattoo removal.[10] The technique consists of application of a glass microscope slide firmly on the treatment area. This applied pressure results in evacuating the blood from capillary plexus. The laser pulse is then applied through the glass slide.

In a study of 31 patients, he reported significantly less pain and less epidermal damage with this technique.[11]

Dermal scatter reduction

Light scattering properties of skin and hemoglobin prevent effective penetration of the laser into the skin, which ultimately reduces its clinical efficacy in clearance of deeper tattoos. This becomes more problematic when one tries to remove the colored tattoos since shorter wavelengths are used to treat them. These shorter wavelengths have limited penetration depth.

If an optical clearing agent such as glycerol, dimethyl sulfoxide, and glucose is applied to the skin before laser irradiation; because of its high refractive index, hyperosmosis, and biocompatibility into skin, these agents reduces skin scattering of laser beam. This not only allows deeper penetration but also delivery of higher effective energies.[12]

Fox and Diven did the first human study using this concept. They applied glycerol after removing stratum corneum using the low-pressure transdermal delivery device and reported increased efficiency of laser tattoo removal.[13]

Microencapsulation of tattoo ink

In recent years, scientist designed permanent but easily removable ink using a combination of organic and inorganic inks (e.g. b-carotene and iron oxide). This pigment is then stabilized by a transparent microencapsulation technique using polymethylmethacrylate beads.[8]

The pigment in this microsphere can easily targeted using a pigment specific wavelength. This will result in breakage of microspheres and exposing the ink to the body's defense mechanism. In an unpublished data Klitzman et al. demonstrated 80% clearance of tattoo in a single session using microencapsulated tattoo ink in guinea pig and hairless rats.[14] Although promising modality for faster tattoo removal, there are no published data in humans and its safety and efficacy needs further evaluation. Recently one such brand is available in United States as the Infinitink^® (Freedom Ink, USA).

PICOSECOND LASER

Current QYL laser has pulse duration in nanosecond [10⁻¹² s]. If we narrow down the pulse duration, furthermore, the peak energy of the laser beam becomes very high. This results in more rapid heating of the tattoos and finer fragmentation. The lymphatic elimination of these finer particles is easier resulting in faster clearing of the tattoos.

The picosecond lasers with pulse durations in the range of 50–100 picosecond were introduced commercially in the early part of 2013. At present, we have 3 or more systems with a wavelength of 755 nm and 1064 nm and pulse duration of 50–100 picoseconds.

Recent studies by Brauer et al. demonstrated the efficacy of 755 nm picosecond laser in treating blue and green tattoos. They demonstrated 75% clearance in just 1 or 2 treatment.[15] Saedi et al. also reported similar efficacy. However, they also reported complications such as hypo and hyperpigmentation at 3 months follow-up in few of their patients.[16]

Although effective and safe in white skin, their safety remains to be evaluated in pigmented skin. Furthermore, their present exorbitant cost makes them less attractive option in our scenario.

Combination lasers

Monotherapy with QSL is often effective for tattoo removal but combining QS laser with an ablative fractional laser or nonablative fractional laser may yield faster clearing, minimize number of sessions, and reduces side effects. The combination can be in any order; FL followed by QSL helps reduces blister formation.

Since treatment with fractional lasers creates a multiple channel in the skin, the tattoo ink can be cleared with necrotic debris. There is epithelial and dermal restructuring thereby reducing the chances of scar formation and pigmentary alterations.[17]

A study by Weiss and Geronimus found that after multiple sessions of QSL followed immediately by either NAFR or AFR increases tattoo clearance, eliminates blistering, shortens recovery, and diminishes treatment induced hypopigmentation. They noted the addition of AFR to QSL enhances the rate of pigment clearance. Addition of NAFR to QSL may decrease the degree of treatment-induced hypopigmentation.[18]

Marini proposed a combination of fractional Er:YAG laser skin conditioning followed by QS Nd:YAG laser for laser tattoo removal. In their two-step technique, the used a fractional Er:YAG laser to drill micro holes into the skin which was followed by QSL treatment. According to the authors, this fractional Er:YAG laser conditioning protects the skin from damages at higher fluences by allowing the escape of gases through these micro holes and thus relieving the internal pressure generated by QSL treatment. This also aided in repeating the next pass after 20 min. They concluded that this procedure led to a 30% reduction in the number of sessions.[19]

Au et al. analyzed[17] the incidence of bulla formation after tattoo treatment using the combination of the picosecond Alexandrite laser and a fractionated CO₂ laser ablation. In their study, 32% of patients treated with the picoseconds laser alone experienced blistering, whereas none of the patients treated with the combination developed blistering. The study showed a statistically significant decrease in bulla formation associated with tattoo treatment when fractionated CO₂ ablation was added to the picosecond alexandrite laser.

These studies suggest a shift in paradigm in laser tattoo treatments demonstrating the benefits of the combination over QSL alone.

CONCLUSION

QS lasers have established themselves as the mainstay of therapy for tattoo removal. With the aim of improving outcomes and enhancing the speed of clearance, newer techniques, and modifications have been proposed that seem to deliver the results. Evolution in technology with the commercial availability of picosecond lasers has opened the doors to targeting tattoo pigments that were hitherto difficult to treat. These techniques and the development of laser responsive tattoo inks may pave the way to more efficient and safe tattoo removal in the future.