Laser International 2010, Riyahd, Saudi Arabia
Sitting here in the King Faisal Convention Center during the opening session of this international laser meeting, the occasion has a certain significance given the size of the meeting and the gathering of a formidable faculty from around the globe. It will provide for new opportunities and collaborations that have largely been ignored previously. I congratulate Drs Sami Alsuwaidan and Abdulmajeed Alajlan for their incredible efforts to bring this international group of laser surgeons together in a hospitable, academic and energized manner.
Treatment of Skin Pigmentation
Dr Harvey Lui, who uses Q switched devices in 95% of his laser cases, is categorically against using lasers for melasma, Beckers nevus, epidermal nevi, and post inflammatory pigmentation. “There is no reason to treat these conditions with lasers …. Prayer might be better. If in doubt treat a small test area, always take a pre-operative photograph, and avoid gold treated patients who will always turn darker with laser treatment.”
Treatment of Tattoos
Dr Vic Ross says, “If you want to find out what tattoos contain, you need to perform X-ray diffraction studies.” Clearly, this would be impractical for any but a research project.
“Long pulsed lasers are not selective and will cause scarring in many cases. You need to see the immediate white frosting of the laser tissue reaction otherwise you are probably not getting the right response.”
“Paradoxical laser induced darkening is common in patients who have flesh colored tattoos, so you need to do a very small single pulse in these patients, or you and the patient might regret it.”
Mutagenicity with frequent Q switched laser treatments of tattoos. This is more of a concept than a reality, but Dr Ross has seen basal cell cancers appear in tattoo treated areas.
“If your child wants a tattoo, suggest black …. It’s the easiest to remove with laser surgery. The greens and flesh colored tattoos are really problematic.”
“Sometimes it’s just best to ‘say no’ when patients show up with a peacock type multi-colored tattoo. The likelihood of removing this tattoo completely is not high, and it might look worse than before treatment.”
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