Document Detail


Tattoo removal by non-professionals--medical and forensic considerations.
MedLine Citation:
PMID:  20028442     Owner:  NLM     Status:  MEDLINE    
Abstract/OtherAbstract:
Tattoos are common phenomena in the western world and the demand for their removal has become widespread in the recent years. The introduction of quality-switched lasers has provided an effective removal method that is increasingly being exploited by tattoo studios themselves. Dermatologists, however, are frequently confronted with complications and side effects of tattoo removals that were performed by non-professionals. The objective of this study is to assess potential risks and pitfalls of laser tattoo removal when performed by medical laymen. The methods followed are systematic and evidence-based review of the literature. Four major problem areas were identified: rare but potentially severe allergic or toxic effects of decomposition products of the tattoo pigments; bodily harm caused by out-of-specification usage of the laser devices; malignant disease that is obscured within the area of a tattoo and requires meticulous dermatological diagnosis; and insufficient pre-operative consultation of patients about the risks, side effects and realistic expectations on the therapeutic outcome. We came to a conclusion that tattoo laser removal by medical laymen is unacceptable from the point of view of patient safety and the laws need to ban this practice swiftly.
Authors:
S Karsai; G Krieger; C Raulin
Publication Detail:
Type:  Journal Article; Review     Date:  2009-12-17
Journal Detail:
Title:  Journal of the European Academy of Dermatology and Venereology : JEADV     Volume:  24     ISSN:  1468-3083     ISO Abbreviation:  J Eur Acad Dermatol Venereol     Publication Date:  2010 Jul 
Date Detail:
Created Date:  2010-07-19     Completed Date:  2010-11-08     Revised Date:  2011-01-21    
Medline Journal Info:
Nlm Unique ID:  9216037     Medline TA:  J Eur Acad Dermatol Venereol     Country:  Netherlands    
Other Details:
Languages:  eng     Pagination:  756-62     Citation Subset:  IM    
Affiliation:
Department of Dermatology, University of Greifswald, Greifswald, Germany.
Export Citation:
APA/MLA Format     Download EndNote     Download BibTex
MeSH Terms
Descriptor/Qualifier:
Forensic Medicine*
Humans
Laser Therapy / adverse effects
Tattooing*
Comments/Corrections
Comment In:
J Eur Acad Dermatol Venereol. 2011 Feb;25(2):239-40   [PMID:  20477918 ]
J Eur Acad Dermatol Venereol. 2010 Jul;24(7):862-3   [PMID:  20384676 ]

From MEDLINE®/PubMed®, a database of the U.S. National Library of Medicine


Previous Document:  Application of quantitative reverse-transcription PCR (qRT-PCR) for the determination of the total v...
Next Document:  Non-ablative 1550-nm erbium-glass and ablative 10 600-nm carbon dioxide fractional lasers for acne s...