Analysis of the Effects of Macrophage Colony Stimulating Factor with Image Analysis in Tattoo Removal Using Alexandrite Laser Surgery

Kim, Il Hwan; Kim, Chong Hyeok; Oh, Chil Hwan

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Tattoos are acquired pigmented lesions of the skin, and the Q-switched alexandrite laser has been shown to be effective in removing blue-black as well as green, red and mauve colored tattoos. Following the laser therapy, macrophage phagocytes the altered pigment. Macrophage-colony stimulating factor(M-CSF) may influence the macrophage activities.
OBJECTIVE
This study was conducted to evaluate the potential adjunctive effect of M-CSF in tattoo removal with laser treatment. METHOD: A prospective study was taken, in 8 guinea pigs and 8 mice, to evaluate the clinical and histopathological clearing of tattoo pigment following the laser treatment of the tattoo at the M-CSF injection site.
RESULTS
1) Clinically, the tattoo resolved more rapidly with Alexandrite laser therapy in the M-CSF treated group. 2) Histopathologically, by using image analysis, there was no significant difference in the relative ratio of dermal tattoo pigment and tattoo containing cells, between laser treated(1.54% in guinea pig, 1.09% in mouse) and laser with M-CSF treated group(1.44% in guinea pig, 0.95% in mouse).
CONCLUSION
Our study reveals the role of M-CSF as an adjuvant in tattoo removal using Alexandrite laser surgery. However, further prospective animal studies and human trials, are needed to evaluate the action mechanism of M-CSF at the intradermal injection.