A 26-year-old woman comes to see you in the office. She has tattoo marks on the back of her neck and anterior chest wall. She has had these tattoos for 10 years and wants to remove them now. Which of the following is the correct statement regarding the removal of tattoo marks?

Question

A 26-year-old woman comes to see you in the office.  She has tattoo marks on the back of her neck and anterior chest wall.  She has had these tattoos for 10 years and wants to remove them now.  Which of the following is the correct statement regarding the removal of tattoo marks?

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Explanation: Tattooing is a relatively common practice. Most tattoos are seen in adolescents and young adults (age 13-25). The tattooing process involves repeated skin punctures using solid bore needles which place the tattoo pigment into the dermis. The pigment is taken up by macrophages in the dermis, which allows it to remain in the skin permanently. People who have had these marks for a long time sometimes desire tattoo removal. Some of the common techniques used to remove tattoo marks include dermabrasion, cryosurgery, thermal cautery, surgical resection, and, more recently, laser removal. These techniques can be used to remove the marks on any part of the body. Dermabrasion involves the removal of the superficial layer of the epidermis, thereby allowing the pigment to leach out of the skin. Laser removal involves the use of lasers of different wave lengths. It is thought that the laser breaks up the pigments into smaller molecules, which are taken up and cleared by the macrophages in the skin. Although it is a safe procedure, laser removal can leave scar marks and cause skin hypo- or hyper-pigmentation. (Choice A) Tattoo removal is an expensive and complicated procedure, but it is certainly possible. (Choice B)Removal of the tattoos has no relation with the age of the tattoo marks. (Choices C and D)The common techniques for tattoo removal described can be used on any part of the body. Educational objective: Dermabrasion and laser removal are the most common procedures for the removal of tattoo marks.

A 26-Year-Old Woman Comes to See You in the Office