Using a Side Effect to Therapeutic Advantage: The Darkening of Red Eyebrow Tattoo Pigment Following Q-Switched Laser Treatment

Using a Side Effect to Therapeutic Advantage: The Darkening of Red Eyebrow Tattoo Pigment Following Q-Switched Laser Treatment
March 2000
To cite this article: J. Michael Casparian MD, James Krell MD (2000)
Using a Side Effect to Therapeutic Advantage: The Darkening of Red Eyebrow Tattoo Pigment Following Q-Switched Laser Treatment
Dermatologic Surgery 26 (3), 255Ò258.
doi:10.1046/j.1524-4725.2000.09206.x
Blackwell Synergy

J. Michael Casparian, MD*
*University of Kansas Medical Center, Kansas City, Kansas, and and James Krell, MDDepartment of Dermatology, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, Alabama *University of Kansas Medical Center, Kansas City, Kansas, and Department of Dermatology, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, Alabama
Address correspondence and reprint requests to: J. Michael Casparian, MD, The University of Kansas Medical Center, Division of Dermatology, 4023 Wescoe, 3901 Rainbow Boulevard, Kansas City, KS 66160-7319, or email: jcaspari@kumc.edu.
J.M. Casparian, MD, and J. Krell, MD, have indicated no significant interest with commercial supporters.

Abstract
Background. Q-switched lasers are commonly used to achieve tattoo removal, utilizing the principle of selective photothermolysis. However, certain tattoo pigments may darken following laser pulsing.

Objective. To determine whether this side effect can be used to therapeutic advantage in a woman who previously had her eyebrows enhanced with a dark tattoo that spontaneously changed to a reddish hue over time.

Method. The woman's eyebrows were pulsed with the Q-switched Nd:YAG laser at both 532 nm and 1064 nm.

Results. The test areas pulsed with the 1064 nm laser revealed partial clearing. However, 532 nm Q-switched Nd:YAG pulses produced darkening of tattoo pigment both at the test sites and in the subsequent treatment.

Conclusion. Q-switched lasers can produce darkening of red tattoo pigment. In some cases this side effect can be used to therapeutic advantage.

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