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Second‐degree burn within a tattoo after intense‐pulsed‐light epilation
Author(s) -
Riml Stefan,
Larcher Lorenz,
Grohmann Martin,
Kompatscher Peter
Publication year - 2013
Publication title -
photodermatology, photoimmunology and photomedicine
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.736
H-Index - 60
eISSN - 1600-0781
pISSN - 0905-4383
DOI - 10.1111/phpp.12039
Subject(s) - intense pulsed light , harm , hair removal , medicine , pulsed laser , dermatology , laser therapy , laser , psychology , optics , physics , social psychology
Summary The use of high energy light sources [laser, intense pulsed light ( IPL )] is booming in aesthetic surgery. A trend, especially concerning usage of photoepilation in cosmetic institutes, is detectable. Photoepilation works through selective photothermolysis, by heating the chromophore melanin within the hair follicles. We present a case impressionably demonstrating that high‐energy light demands profound knowledge of its mechanism of action, and can cause severe harm in absence of basic knowledge. Photoepilation is a balancing act between maximal therapeutic effect and minimal side effect risk. Nevertheless, complications have to be clearly distinguished from professional errors. The latter are rising especially with IPL devices, mainly because its use depicts a legal grey area in most of the countries and is not bound to physicians' supervision. Due to its worse risk–benefit profile as compared with that of laser therapy, we advise against the use of IPL devices and claim for stricter regulation of its use, similar to laser devices.