Tattoos, as a personalized way of expression, are increasingly popular among young people. However, over time, some people may choose to remove tattoos due to changes in work, family or personal preferences. Laser tattoo removal, as an effective removal method, has been widely used. However, during the laser tattoo removal process, both doctors and users need to pay attention to eye protection to avoid eye damage from laser.
1. What is a tattoo
Tattooing is a process of forming a permanent pattern by piercing the skin with pigment and allowing the pigment to penetrate into the dermis of the skin. Tattoos come in different colors and shapes and can be customized according to personal preferences.
2. The principle of tattoo removal
There are many ways to remove tattoos, such as surgical excision and dermabrasion. Among them, laser tattoo removal has become the most commonly used removal method due to its advantages of less trauma and fast recovery. The principle of tattoo removal is to use laser irradiation to make the pigment particles in the skin absorb energy and produce a thermal effect, which causes the pigment particles to break and decompose, and eventually be naturally metabolized and excreted from the body.
3. What is the principle of laser tattoo removal?
The principle of laser tattoo removal is selective photothermal action. Different types of lasers can specifically destroy pigment particles of different colors. For example, Q-switched lasers can effectively remove black and blue tattoos, while picosecond lasers have a better removal effect on red and yellow tattoos. After laser irradiation, the pigment particles are broken down into smaller particles and then removed by the body's lymphatic system.
4. Laser instruments commonly used to remove tattoos
① Q-switched ruby laser (wavelength 694nm): This laser is particularly suitable for removing black and blue tattoo pigments. Due to its specific wavelength, it can be efficiently absorbed by dark pigments, thereby producing the thermal effect required to fragment these pigments.
② Q-switched Nd-YAG laser (wavelength 1064nm): This laser has a longer wavelength and is suitable for deeper skin treatments, especially for tattoo pigments in deeper areas. In addition, it also shows good results in treating more stubborn green pigments.
③ Q-switched Alexandrite laser (wavelength 755nm): This laser device performs well in treating tattoos of various colors, especially blue and black tattoo pigments. Its wavelength allows deep penetration into the skin while minimizing damage to surrounding tissues.
④ Frequency-doubled Q-switched Nd-YAG laser (wavelength 532nm): This laser is specially designed to remove more difficult colors, such as red and yellow pigments. Its high absorption rate makes these usually difficult-to-remove colors treatable.
⑤ Picosecond laser system: This laser technology provides an extremely short pulse width, allowing highly concentrated light energy to be produced on the skin, thereby breaking up tattoo ink particles more precisely. Picosecond lasers are considered faster and more effective than traditional nanosecond Q-switched lasers, especially when removing stubborn colors such as green, blue and black inks.
⑥ Fractional CO2 laser: This type of laser is mainly used for surface reconstruction of the skin, but can also be used to assist in tattoo removal in some cases. It stimulates the skin's natural repair process by creating tiny thermal damage zones, helping to mitigate any pigmentation or texture changes caused by traditional laser tattoo removal.
| Laser Type | Wavelength | Main Application |
|---|---|---|
| Q-switched Ruby Laser | 694nm | Removal of black and blue tattoo inks |
| Q-switched Nd-YAG Laser | 1064nm | Treatment of deeper skin layers, stubborn green inks |
| Q-switched Alexandrite Laser | 755nm | Treatment of various colors, especially blue and black |
| Frequency-doubled | 532nm | Removal of difficult colors like red and yellow |
| Picosecond Laser Systems | Various | Faster and more effective treatment for stubborn inks |
| Fractional CO2 Laser | 10,600nm | Skin resurfacing, assisting in tattoo removal |
5. How should common laser protective glasses be selected?
When performing laser tattoo removal or other laser treatments, it is crucial to wear appropriate laser protective glasses. The high-intensity beams produced by lasers can cause serious damage to the eyes, including corneal burns, increased lens opacity and even retinal damage. Therefore, the correct selection and use of laser protective glasses is a basic requirement for protecting the safety of operators and patients.
Choosing the right laser protective glasses
① Wavelength matching: Make sure that the selected glasses can effectively block the specific wavelength of the laser equipment used.
② Optical density (OD): describes the ability of glasses to block lasers of a specific wavelength. Higher OD values provide a higher level of protection.
③ Comfort and adaptability: The glasses should fit comfortably and not interfere with the treatment process.
④ Certification and standards: Choose glasses that meet international safety standards, such as EN207.
6. Summary
Laser tattoo removal has been widely used as an effective removal method. Understanding the working principle and protective measures of laser tattoo removal will help us better perform tattoo removal treatment. When choosing laser protective glasses, make sure they meet safety standards and choose according to the type of laser used.