The effect of the perfluorodecalin patch on particle emission and skin temperature during laser-induced tattoo removal.

Laser-based procedures for tattoo removals are popular due to high efficacy and a relatively moderate insult. However, it often requires multiple sessions to achieve a satisfactory effect. The perfluorodecalin (PFD) patch utilizes an optical clearing agent to speed up the removal process and may decrease skin insult and harmful particles emission during treatment. This study assessed in pigs the effect of the PFD patch in connection with laser treatment of skin with and without tattoos to determine whether the PFD patch provides benefit in lowering thermal skin insult and particle emission during treatment. Skin temperature measured by infrared thermometer during laser treatment or shortly thereafter showed a significant (approximately 40%) decrease with the PFD patch in sites with tattoos. For laser-treated sites without tattoos, there was a significant decrease of particles observed with the PFD patch. In laser-treated sites with tattoos, a strong trend was seen (approximately a twofold decrease) but did not reach statistical significance due to high variability. The present data show that the PFD patch limits the increase in skin temperature produced with laser during treatment. Moreover, it decreases the emission of particles in sites without tattoos and is suggestive of a similar effect in sites with tattoos.

Rapid, high-fluence multi-pass q-switched laser treatment of tattoos with a transparent perfluorodecalin-infused patch: A pilot study.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Perfluorodecalin (PFD) has previously been shown to rapidly dissipate the opaque, white micro-bubble layer formed after exposure of tattoos to Q-switched lasers [1]. The current pilot study was conducted to qualitatively determine if the use of a transparent PFD-infused silicone patch would result in more rapid clearance of tattoos than conventional through-air techniques. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Black or dark blue tattoos were divided into two halves in a single-site IRB-approved study with 17 subjects with Fitzpatrick skin types I-III. One half of each tattoo served as its own control and was treated with one pass of a standard Q-switched Alexandrite laser (755 nm). The other half of the tattoo was treated directly through a transparent perfluorodecalin (PFD) infused patch (ON Light Sciences, Dublin, CA). The rapid whitening reduction effect of the Patch routinely allowed three to four laser passes in a total of approximately 5 minutes. Both sides were treated at highest tolerated fluence, but the optical clearing, index-matching, and epidermal protection properties of the PFD Patch allowed significantly higher fluence compared to the control side. Standard photographs were taken at baseline, immediately prior to treatment with the PFD Patch in place, and finally before and after each treatment session. Treatments were administered at 4- to 6-week intervals. RESULTS: In a majority of subjects (11 of 17), tattoos treated through a transparent PFD-infused patch showed more rapid tattoo clearance with higher patient and clinician satisfaction than conventional treatment. In no case did the control side fade faster than the PFD Patch side. No unanticipated adverse events were observed. CONCLUSIONS: Rapid multi-pass treatment of tattoos with highest tolerated fluence facilitated by a transparent PFD-infused patch clears tattoos more rapidly than conventional methods.