New tattoo approaches in dermatology.

Tattoos have fascinated mankind for centuries. Although these body marks were once considered to be permanent, technical and scientific progress in recent years has made it possible to remove tattoos by various treatment modalities. Contemporary technology involves the use of nonablative quality-switched lasers, which are considered to be the gold-standard treatment option for the removal of unwanted tattoo ink. Current research in the field of tattoo removal is focused on faster lasers and more effective targeting of tattoo pigment particles including picosecond laser devices, multi-pass treatments, dermal scatter reduction, application of imiquimod, and the use of microencapsulated tattoo ink.