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Tattoos and Beyond: the Clinical Evolution of Picosecond Laser Technology

  • Laser Therapy (J Jagdeo, Section Editor)
  • Published:
Current Dermatology Reports Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Picosecond lasers are a new commercial development in cutaneous laser surgery. While the importance of short picosecond laser pulses for the treatment of tattoos has long been known, the development of picosecond lasers has only recently been commercially viable. The picosecond lasers are able to photomechanically fragment tattoo ink particles more effectively than traditional Q-switched lasers. Similarly, pigmented lesions can be effectively treated with picosecond technology. New handpieces are able to fractionate and focus the picosecond laser pulse to cause light-induced optical breakdown in the dermis. The nonthermal dermal injury stimulates collagen production benefitting those with cutaneous scarring and photoaging. As newer systems are developed with multiple picosecond wavelengths, the clinical indications for their use will continue to expand.

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References

Papers of particular interest, published recently, have been highlighted as: • Of importance

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Washington Institute of Dermatologic Laser Surgery, 1430 K Street, NW Suite 200, Washington, DC, 20005, USA

    TC Keaney & TS Alster

Authors
  1. TC Keaney
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  2. TS Alster
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to TS Alster.

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Conflict of Interest

Dr. Terrence Keaney declares that he has no conflict of interest. Dr. Keaney reports personal fees from Syneron Candela, other from Cutera, personal fees and other from Invisible Ink, during the conduct of the study; personal fees and non-financial support from Allergan, personal fees and non-financial support from Skinceuticals/L’Oreal, personal fees from Restoration Robotics, outside the submitted work.

Dr. Alster reports non-financial support from Syneron Candela, during the conduct of the study; personal fees from Merz, stock from Home Skinovations, and personal fees from Galderma, outside the submitted work.

Human and Animal Rights and Informed Consent

This article does not contain any studies with human or animal subjects performed by any of the authors.

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This article is part of the Topical Collection on Laser Therapy

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Keaney, T., Alster, T. Tattoos and Beyond: the Clinical Evolution of Picosecond Laser Technology. Curr Derm Rep 5, 217–221 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s13671-016-0149-2

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s13671-016-0149-2

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