Laser Treatment of Accidental Tattoos: Experience at a Tertiary Referral Center

Successful Removal of 17 Tattoos Self-Administered Using Black Eyeliner Ink with Quality-Switched Neodymium-Doped Yttrium Aluminum Garnet 1,064-nm Laser: A Case Report

Introduction

Tattooing has a rich historical presence in various human civilizations, with the earliest physical evidence dating back to around 3258 BC. While acceptance of tattoos is increasing in the Western world, negative associations remain. Short-pulsed lasers, such as Q-Switched (QS) or picosecond lasers, are the gold standard for tattoo removal.

Case Presentation

This case report discusses the successful removal of 17 amateur tattoos, which were self-administered by a 19-year-old female patient using black eyeliner ink and sewing needles. The tattoos, distributed across her body, including the face and hands, were partially or completely removed over 10 sessions using the QS Neodymium-doped Yttrium Aluminum Garnet 1,064-nm laser.

Conclusion

The factors that influence the efficacy of tattoo removal are highlighted, including tattoo type, location, and coexisting fibrosis. The psychological and social importance of effective tattoo removal is emphasized, particularly for young people seeking to disassociate from past experiences or affiliations.

Laser Removal of Buccal Skin Coloration Caused by India Ink Injection for Cancer Marking

Why was India ink used in this case of gingival cancer?Why did the skin change color in this case?What are the benefits and limitations of laser treatment?What is the ideal marking method?

Tattoos in Psychodermatology

Tattooing is a permanent form of body art applied onto the skin with a decorative ink, and it has been practiced from antiquity until today. The number of tattooed people is steadily increasing as tattoos have become popular all over the world, especially in Western countries. Tattoos display distinctive designs and images, from protective totems and tribal symbols to the names of loved or lost persons or strange figures, which are used as a means of self-expression. They are worn on the skin as a lifelong commitment, and everyone has their own reasons to become tattooed, whether they be simply esthetic or a proclamation of group identity. Tattoos are representations of one’s feelings, unconscious conflicts, and inner life onto the skin. The skin plays a major role in this representation and is involved in different ways in this process. This article aims to review the historical and psychoanalytical aspects of tattoos, the reasons for and against tattooing, medical and dermatological implications of the practice, and emotional reflections from a psychodermatological perspective.