Challenges in Laser Tattoo Removal: the Impact of Titanium Dioxide on Photodegradation of Yellow Inks

Overview

Journal Arch Toxicol

Specialty Toxicology

Date 2025 Mar 6

PMID 40047861

Authors

Batool A Aljubran

Kirstin E Ross

Ula Alexander

Claire E Lenehan

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

As tattoos have grown increasingly popular, there has been an increase in their removal. This is commonly achieved using laser treatments. However, certain tattoo inks are resistant to removal using laser methods because of their composition. This includes the removal of yellow pigments and tattoo inks containing titanium dioxide (TiO). This research examined a series of yellow pigments (PY14, PY74, PY65) and tattoo inks, pre- and post-irradiation, with a QS Nd:YAG laser irradiation at 532 nm. The pigments and products were analysed using a range of techniques, including EDX-SEM, DLS, XRD and GC-MS. Results of this study indicate that the presence of TiO alters the laser degradation process of the pigments studied, with observable changes to particle morphologies, particle size, and evolved volatile products. In addition, some of the degradation products were identified to be potentially harmful to the human body.

References

Alabdulrazzaq H, Brauer J, Bae Y, Geronemus R . Clearance of yellow tattoo ink with a novel 532-nm picosecond laser. Lasers Surg Med. 2015; 47(4):285-8. DOI: 10.1002/lsm.22354. View

Anderson R, Geronemus R, Kilmer S, Farinelli W, FitzPatrick R . Cosmetic tattoo ink darkening. A complication of Q-switched and pulsed-laser treatment. Arch Dermatol. 1993; 129(8):1010-4. DOI: 10.1001/archderm.129.8.1010. View

Anderson R, Parrish J . Selective photothermolysis: precise microsurgery by selective absorption of pulsed radiation. Science. 1983; 220(4596):524-7. DOI: 10.1126/science.6836297. View

Ara G, Anderson R, Mandel K, OTTESEN M, Oseroff A . Irradiation of pigmented melanoma cells with high intensity pulsed radiation generates acoustic waves and kills cells. Lasers Surg Med. 1990; 10(1):52-9. DOI: 10.1002/lsm.1900100112. View

Bantz C, Koshkina O, Lang T, Galla H, Kirkpatrick C, Stauber R . The surface properties of nanoparticles determine the agglomeration state and the size of the particles under physiological conditions. Beilstein J Nanotechnol. 2014; 5:1774-1786. PMC: 4222438. DOI: 10.3762/bjnano.5.188. View

Bauer E, Cecchetti D, Guerriero E, Nistico S, Germinario G, Sennato S . Laser vs. thermal treatments of green pigment PG36: coincidence and toxicity of processes. Arch Toxicol. 2021; 95(7):2367-2383. PMC: 8241676. DOI: 10.1007/s00204-021-03052-w. View

Bauer E, Scibetta E, Cecchetti D, Piccirillo S, Antonaroli S, Sennato S . Treatments of a phthalocyanine-based green ink for tattoo removal purposes: generation of toxic fragments and potentially harmful morphologies. Arch Toxicol. 2020; 94(7):2359-2375. DOI: 10.1007/s00204-020-02790-7. View

Baumler W, Eibler E, Hohenleutner U, Sens B, Sauer J, Landthaler M . Q-switch laser and tattoo pigments: first results of the chemical and photophysical analysis of 41 compounds. Lasers Surg Med. 2000; 26(1):13-21. DOI: 10.1002/(sici)1096-9101(2000)26:1<13::aid-lsm4>3.0.co;2-s. View

Beute T, Miller C, Timko A, Ross E . In vitro spectral analysis of tattoo pigments. Dermatol Surg. 2008; 34(4):508-15. DOI: 10.1111/j.1524-4725.2007.34096.x. View

10.

Bianchi F, Careri M, Mangia A, Musci M . Retention indices in the analysis of food aroma volatile compounds in temperature-programmed gas chromatography: database creation and evaluation of precision and robustness. J Sep Sci. 2007; 30(4):563-72. DOI: 10.1002/jssc.200600393. View

11.

Boegelsack N, Sandau C, McMartin D, Withey J, OSullivan G . Development of retention time indices for comprehensive multidimensional gas chromatography and application to ignitable liquid residue mapping in wildfire investigations. J Chromatogr A. 2020; 1635:461717. DOI: 10.1016/j.chroma.2020.461717. View

12.

Brauer J, Reddy K, Anolik R, Weiss E, Karen J, Hale E . Successful and rapid treatment of blue and green tattoo pigment with a novel picosecond laser. Arch Dermatol. 2012; 148(7):820-3. DOI: 10.1001/archdermatol.2012.901. View

13.

Champion J, Mitragotri S . Role of target geometry in phagocytosis. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 2006; 103(13):4930-4. PMC: 1458772. DOI: 10.1073/pnas.0600997103. View

14.

Champion J, Walker A, Mitragotri S . Role of particle size in phagocytosis of polymeric microspheres. Pharm Res. 2008; 25(8):1815-21. PMC: 2793372. DOI: 10.1007/s11095-008-9562-y. View

15.

Chen X, Zhao D, Liu K, Wang C, Liu L, Li B . Laser-Modified Black Titanium Oxide Nanospheres and Their Photocatalytic Activities under Visible Light. ACS Appl Mater Interfaces. 2015; 7(29):16070-7. DOI: 10.1021/acsami.5b04568. View

16.

Engel E, Vasold R, Santarelli F, Maisch T, Gopee N, Howard P . Tattooing of skin results in transportation and light-induced decomposition of tattoo pigments--a first quantification in vivo using a mouse model. Exp Dermatol. 2009; 19(1):54-60. DOI: 10.1111/j.1600-0625.2009.00925.x. View

17.

Ferguson J, August P . Evaluation of the Nd/YAG laser for treatment of amateur and professional tattoos. Br J Dermatol. 1996; 135(4):586-91. View

18.

Germinario G, Garrappa S, DAmbrosio V, van der Werf I, Sabbatini L . Chemical composition of felt-tip pen inks. Anal Bioanal Chem. 2017; 410(3):1079-1094. DOI: 10.1007/s00216-017-0687-x. View

19.

Gurnani P, Williams N, Al-Hetheli G, Chukwuma O, Roth R, Fajardo F . Comparing the efficacy and safety of laser treatments in tattoo removal: A systematic review. J Am Acad Dermatol. 2020; 87(1):103-109. DOI: 10.1016/j.jaad.2020.07.117. View

20.

Hauri U, Hohl C . Photostability and breakdown products of pigments currently used in tattoo inks. Curr Probl Dermatol. 2015; 48:164-9. DOI: 10.1159/000369225. View