DERMATOLOGY: LASER TREATMENTS GET RID OF TATTOOS. J0SHUA FOX, M.D., dermatologist and founder of ADVANCED DERMATOLOGY and THE CENTER FOR LASER AND COSMETIC SURGERY in New York:
“Americans are fond of using decorative tattoos as a form of expression. According to a study in the September 2006 edition of the Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology, nearly one in four Americans report being “tattooed” at least once. Yet the same study reports that 17 percent of those with tattoos would like to have them removed. The good news is that laser treatments and equipment have kept pace with the rising interest in tattoo removal. While there are several lasers that may be used to remove decorative tattoos, the Q-switched ruby laser is the most effective, according to the American Academy of Dermatology.”