TATTOO FORMATION FROM ABSORBABLE SYNTHETIC SUTURE AND SUCCESSFUL REMOVAL WITH Q-SWITCHED RUBY-LASER

BACKGROUND. Traumatic tattoos result from accidental or unintentional deposition of exogenous pigment within injured skin. Pigments may cons ist of heavy metals, vegetable matter, or commercial dyes. OBJECTIVE. The clinical and histologic description of a traumatic tattoo resultin g from a surgical procedure using undyed, braided, synthetic, absorbab le suture material and its removal with the Q-switched ruby laser (694 nm, 28 nsec). METHODS. The pigmented linear lesion was biopsied and p rocessed using standard histological methods. Subsequently, the area w as treated on two occasions with the Q-switched ruby laser. RESULTS. T he pigmented lesion was completely removed with the Q-switched laser t reatments. CONCLUSION. We report on the occurrence of a traumatic tatt oo resulting from synthetic suture material and complete removal with the Q-switched ruby laser. (C) 1996 by the America Society for Dermato logic Surgery, Inc.