Laser energy splits the colored particles in portions small enough to be removed by the body’s scavenger cells.
Different wavelength are required for different colors.
However, part of the energy is also absorbed by the skin’s melanin producing cells and may ultimately kill those cells. Likelihood of this happening is higher for darker pigments e.g. “tribal tattoos”, ink etc.
Death of pigment producing cells is permanent and leaves light patches, which are very discernible in all skin tones except light caucasians. May be improved by epidermal overgrafting, a technique used to treat the light spots in a disease called vitiligo, where pigment producing cells die. Very expensive technique.
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