Nevus of Ota in dark skin--an uncommon but treatable entity.

BACKGROUND: Nevus of Ota can be effectively and safely treated since the arrival of q-switched lasers in dermatology. However, available literature is scarce regarding the treatment of Nevus of Ota in skin types darker than IV. OBJECTIVES: We report about four Fitzpatrick phototype V patients treated for Nevus of Ota with a q-switched Nd:YAG laser at 1,064 nm. METHODS: Four patients with Fitzpatrick phototype V were treated for Nevus of Ota with a q-switched Nd:YAG laser at 1,064 nm in a private practice setting. Pulse diameter for the treatments was 2 mm and pulses were applied typically in a non-overlapping fashion. Treatment energies ranged from 4.1 to 9.5 J/cm(2) . RESULTS: All four patients of this case series showed significant cosmetic improvement. Improvement ratings, based upon pre- and post-treatment photographs rated by blinded investigators, were in between 6 and 10 with a mean of 8.5 on a 10-point scale. Side effects were mostly short termed and typical for this laser technique. No post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation was observed however one case of permanent drop-like hypopigmentation was encountered. CONCLUSIONS: A 1,064 nm q-switched Nd:YAG laser treatment could be an effective and reasonably safe treatment for patients with Nevus of Ota and Fitzpatrick skin type V. Patients should be counselled before treatment regarding the risk of permanent hypopigmentation.

[Complications related to tattoo practice]. / Complications liées à la pratique du tatouage.

Complications related to tattoo practice. Tattooing can result in a wide variety of complications, whose prevalence and incidence remain still unclear. Hypersensitivity reactions (or allergies) to tattoo pigments are currently the most common complication on a tattoo, however are not predictable. Infections are nowadays directly related to the lack of asepsis and hygiene during the tattooing procedure or during the healing phase. Patients with a known cutaneous disease should be warned of a potential risk of localization of their disease to the tattoo. Patients with chronic conditions and/or impaired immunity should discuss with their physician about the possibility and when to have a tattoo. Laser removal is the gold standard for tattoo removal and include Q-switched, picoseconds and CO2 lasers. However, a complete disappearance of the tattoo is not always possible.

Complications liées à pratique du tatouage. Le tatouage peut entraîner une grande variété de complications, dont la prévalence et l'incidence restent encore mal connues. Les allergies aux pigments de tatouage sont actuellement la complication la plus courante mais elles ne sont pas prévisibles. Les infections sont directement liées au manque d'asepsie et d'hygiène pendant la séance de tatouage ou la phase de cicatrisation. Les patients souffrant d'une maladie cutanée connue doivent être avertis d'un risque potentiel de localisation de leur maladie sur le tatouage. Les patients atteints de maladies chroniques et/ou d'une immunité affaiblie doivent discuter avec leur médecin de la possibilité et du moment de se faire tatouer. L'élimination au laser est la méthode de référence pour supprimer les tatouages et comprend les lasers Q-switched nanosecondes, les lasers picosecondes et lasers CO2 et Erbium. Toutefois, une disparition complète du tatouage n'est pas toujours possible.