A new study published in Dermatology analyzed the efficacy and safety of quality-switched ruby, quality-switched Nd:YAG and picosecond lasers in the treatment of accidental hyperpigmentation in a larger patient cohort.

This was a retrospective systematic single-center analysis, conducted on 70 patients presenting accidental hyperpigmentation at the Dermatology Department of the University Hospital of Zurich, from 2008-2017. Patients with accidental tattoos due to road injuries, explosives or other traumas and iatrogenic measures were included. Data, including laser parameters such as wavelength, energy density, spot size and intervals between the sessions, were analyzed.

It was noted that 38 patients were successfully treated by quality-switched nano- and/or picosecond laser therapy. The treatment was completed in 28 cases within a mean number of 3-5 laser sessions, without any complications. Furthermore, a tendency towards faster elimination of facial accidental tattoos and/or originating from road injuries was observed, compared to tattoos located on the extremities and those caused by explosions, piercings or iatrogenic measures or consisting of metal pigment particles.

The results demonstrated the validity and safety of quality-switched and picosecond lasers in the treatment of accidental hyperpigmentation. It was stated that using a combination of different wavelengths and pulse lengths on the same lesion and gradually increasing the fluence in the course of the laser treatment is recommendable to increase the efficacy.

Source: Dermatology. 2020 Apr 2:1-7. doi: 10.1159/000506459.