Tattoo Removal: What laser works best on red ink?

Hello,Tattoo removal, if not done correctly, can result in either scarring or ghosting.  Here are some tips:
Find a reputable office with a Pico laser. It produces faster results with less scarring than a nano alone.  Tattoo removal shops are not as reputable as a Doctor. Many of these shops close as quickly as they open, leaving you out of luck on pre-paid packages.Stay out of the sun— sunlight can be harmful to healing in after any laser procedureAvoid infections- This means keep your tattoo area clean (i.e. don’t garden right after a tattoo removal on your arm, etc), don’t pick scabs or blisters if they occur.  Follow our post procedure instructions. Avoid swimming for 48 hours as water can infect the treated areas.Allow healing between treatment sessions- typically 4-8 weeks.Be healthy- while the tattoo laser breaks up the tattoo particles, your body will actually eliminate the particles. Being healthy will help achieve this process faster and allow for consistent healing. Drink lots of water, get adequate sleep, and eat vitamin enriched foods.In our practice we utilize the currently most powerful Pico laser on the market called the PiQo4 by Lumenis.  The main advantage of a stronger tattoo laser (combining nano and pico wavelengths at greater power) is faster breakup of the tattoo.  The science of tattoo removal is complex but essentially the greater power will photo acoustically break up tattoo particles in smaller pieces.
Best,
Anil Shah

Red ink used to be one of the most difficult ink to remove in a tattoo.  Alex Trivantage laser is best laser on the market.  This laser is the only one on the market that can target colors including red.  The multiple wave lengths can target all the colors in the tattoo with 4-6 sessions.  You should contact a board certified dermatologist as soon as possible.

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Great question! Learn
more about the Picosure laser, this revolutionary new laser will permanently
remove your tattoo without harming the surrounding tissue. Consult with your
doctor about this laser to find out if it is best for you.

The best laser choice for red tattoo removal is the 532 nm q-switched Nd:YAG laser. Q-switched lasers are the mainstay of tattoo removal these days and we have three major types currently, the Nd:YAG, Ruby, Alexandrite. The Ruby and Alexandrite lasers are in the near-infrared spectrum, which means that they are not very well absorbed by red pigments. This may seem counterintuitive, but things that look red do not absorb red light, they instead reflect only red light and absorb all other wavelengths. This is why a rose looks red to the human eye, it reflects the color red. Now, with red tattoos, the same principle applies, and so instead, you would want to use the color laser that is absorbed best by red pigments, and that happens to be the complementary color on the color wheel, or green. The ND:YAG usually fires a laser beam at 1064 nm, which is also infra-red, but these lasers can also double their frequency, allowing for a 532 nm wavelength, which is in the green spectrum. That is why the 532 nm q-switched Nd:YAG laser is currently the best laser for removal of red tattoos. Good luck! 

The 532 wavelength of a PICOSECOND laser, I do have a Picosure with a 532 filter and it does not have the power to remove reds. Its filtered. In this case I use my Revlite or Pastelle 532, but other good lasers that outperform my Picosure include the Picoway or the Enlighten. All the best, The Fiori Institute, Brisbane. Australia.