R Ashinoff1, V J Levine, N A Soter. 1. Ronald O. Perelman Department of Dermatology, New York University School of Medicine, New York 10016, USA.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Cutaneous allergic reactions to pigments found in tattoos are not infrequent. Cinnabar (mercuric sulfide) is the most common cause of allergic reactions in tattoos and is probably related to a cell-mediated (delayed) hypersensitivity reaction. OBJECTIVE: The purpose of these case presentations is to describe a previously unreported complication of tattoo removal with two Q-switched lasers. RESULTS: Two patients without prior histories of skin disease experienced localized as well as widespread allergic reactions after treatment of their tattoos with two Q-switched lasers. CONCLUSION: The Q-switched ruby and neodymium:yttrium-aluminum-garnet lasers target intracellular tattoo pigment, causing rapid thermal expansion that fragments pigment-containing cells and causes the pigment to become extracellular. This extracellular pigment is then recognized by the immune system as foreign.
BACKGROUND:Cutaneous allergic reactions to pigments found in tattoos are not infrequent. Cinnabar (mercuric sulfide) is the most common cause of allergic reactions in tattoos and is probably related to a cell-mediated (delayed) hypersensitivity reaction. OBJECTIVE: The purpose of these case presentations is to describe a previously unreported complication of tattoo removal with two Q-switched lasers. RESULTS: Two patients without prior histories of skin disease experienced localized as well as widespread allergic reactions after treatment of their tattoos with two Q-switched lasers. CONCLUSION: The Q-switched ruby and neodymium:yttrium-aluminum-garnet lasers target intracellular tattoo pigment, causing rapid thermal expansion that fragments pigment-containing cells and causes the pigment to become extracellular. This extracellular pigment is then recognized by the immune system as foreign.
Authors: Peter J Nicksic; Rebecca L Farmer; Samuel O Poore; Venkat K Rao; Ahmed M Afifi Journal: Aesthetic Plast Surg Date: 2021-07-06 Impact factor: 2.326