Laser treatment of tattoos and pigmented lesions Flashcards
Q-switched lasers with extremely short pulse durations are best suited for the selective destruction of most pigmented lesions.
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The main chromophores in skin are melanin in pigmented lesions, oxyhaemoglobin in vascular lesions and water in all cells.
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By limiting the pulse duration (ie. the time that the laser is fired into the chromophore), it is possible to contain damage to the selected chromophore.
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If the laser is fired in a time longer than the target’s thermal relaxation time, the generated heat will cause selective damage to the target chromophore.
F Shorter than the target’s thermal relaxation time (the time required for the target to lose 50% of heat)
If the laser pulse duration is too short, the heat produced in the chromophore will have time to spread to the surrounding structures, cause non-selective damage that may lead to scarring.
F This is true with pulse durations that are too long.
Since melanosomes are quite large, they cool very slowly when heated (ie. they have a longer thermal relaxation time).
F Melanosomes are small, cool very quickly when heated, short thermal relaxation time.
The estimated thermal relaxation time of a melanosome is approximately 250-1000 nanoseconds.
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Lasers with very short pulse durations, in the nanosecond domain, are ideally suited to target the small melanosome chromophore.
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Short pulse lasers are called Q-switched (QS) lasers, indicating quality-switched.
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The delivery of an exceptionally high-energy laser pulse within a long time span results in rapid heating of the target melanosome, causing it to explode.
F Short time span.
Melanin has a narrow absorption spectrum.
F Broad – UV, visible and near-infrared light.
Ideal wavelengths to treat pigmented lesions would be those with greater absorption by melanin than by oxyhaemoglobin.
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Melanin light absorption decreases with decreasing wavelength.
F Decreases with increasing wavelength.
Lasers with shorter wavelengths (eg. pulsed-dye, QS KTP and QS ruby) are typically used for lentigines, given that the pigment is superficial.
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Lentigines are successfully treated with various types of laser sources
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QS lasers including the 694nm QS Ruby, 755nm QS alexandrite and the 532nm frequency-doubled Nd:YAG lasers are most commonly used for the treatment of individual lentigines
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Shorter wavelengths are also optimal for the treatment of dermal pigmented lesions or deeper vascular lesions.
F Not optimal.
Longer wavelength pigment lasers (eg QS Nd:YAG) are used where the pigment is located in the dermis, such as naevus of Ota and tattoos.
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QS alexandrite lasers, with an intermediate wavelength, may be used for both superficial and deep pigment.
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Longer pulse width ruby, alexandrite and Nd:YAG lasers, predominantly used for hair removal, do not have the same wavelength as the QS versions used in the treatment of pigmented lesions.
F Do have same wavelength.
Intense pulsed light is not a suitable option for the treatment of superficial pigmented lesions.
F
With intense pulsed light, polychromatic light ranging from 515-1200nm is emitted with filters to cut off light above a predetermined wavelength.
F Below a predetermined wavelength.
Ablative lasers can be used to non-selectively eliminate pigment as a secondary event, eg. CO2, Er:YAG, YSGG and the fractional lasers.
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For treating pigmented lesions, higher fluences should be used in the treatment of patients with darker skin types, since the threshold response will likely occur at a higher fluence.
F Lower fluences.
Patients with darker skin are at greater risk for post-operative hyper or hypopigmentation.
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It is preferable to use a longer wavelength device in patients with darker skin, since longer wavelengths penetrate more deeply than shorter wavelengths and produce relatively less epidermal damage with the same dermal effect.
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Patients with suntans can be treated with pigment lasers. .
F Shouldn’t be treated
QS lasers are not helpful in the treating naevus of Ota
F Are extremely helpful
Prolonged scarring can develop in patients who have used isotretinoin at any time in the past.
F Within preceding 6 months.
Retinal injury is only a hazard the patient undergoing laser.
F All personnel in the room.
Placement of intraocular metal eye shields should be considered when treatment is in the immediate periocular area.
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Reflective surfaces and windows should be covered, no flammable materials should be present, and access to the procedure room should be limited during laser treatment.
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QS lasers do not generally cause tissue or blood spatter.
F Can cause some tissue and blood splatter.
The use of alcohol in the cleaning area prior to laser treatment does not pose any safety hazard.
F Alcohol must not be present on the skin at time of laser delivery (risk flash fire).
Clearance of 70% of melanocytic lesions is reported in patients treated at least 5 times with the QS ruby laser
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A study of QS Nd:YAG treatment for acquired nevus of Ota-like macules suggests that epidermal cooling may be associated with an increased risk or post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation
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Following irradiation with QS laser light, sublethal laser damage may increase DNA damage leading to an increase in p16 expression
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There are several reported cases of true malignant transformation of benign pigmented lesions following laser treatment
F There has never been a reported case, despite the fact that benign-appearing nevi that recur following laser treatment may show new-found atypia
Red-brown tattoo colour contains pigment Iron oxide and is treated with QS Ruby laser
F QS KTP laser
For the treatment of large tattoos, lesions containing large amounts of dermal pigment, or when ablative lasers are used, infiltrative local anaesthesia or regional nerve blocks should be used.
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Shorter wavelength lasers are generally well suited for the treatment of dermal lesions as a result of their high absorption by melanin and limited depth of penetration.
F True for epidermal lesions.
Longer wavelength lasers penetrate deeper into the skin for dermal lesions but have less melanin absorption.
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Fair-skinned photodamaged patients with both mild vascular and pigmentary changed are best suited for treatment with intense pulsed light devices.
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The most effective lasers for deeper dermal and pigment tattoos are IPL, KTP and QS ruby lasers.
F QS alexandrite and Nd:YAG.
With any modality, the degree of lightening is usually directly proportional to the number of treatments performed.
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Laser treatment of melanocytic naevi is completely safe and recommended for those lesions which are cosmetically bothersome.
F Controversial – unclear whether laser has any potential to induce malignant change in naevus cells.
Benign appearing naevi that tend to recur following laser treatment may show new-found clinical and histologic atypia, referred to as pseudomelanoma.
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There has never been a report of true malignant transformation of a benign pigmented lesion following laser treatment.
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QS laser treatment is recommended as first-line treatment of melasma or postinflammatory pigmentation.
F Often paradoxically increases dermal melanophages.
Repeated fractional photothermolysis utilising the 1550nm laser (Fraxel) has shown some benefit for melasma.
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