What should you know about types of Q-switched laser?

A Q-switched device releases energy in very short pulses. Common wavelength choices are selected according to the colour and depth of the target. Some settings are used for brown marks, while others are chosen for darker tattoo pigments or a broader range of colours. A clinician may also adjust spot size, energy and repetition to suit the area and your skin tone.

The same device can therefore be used in different ways, but it is not automatically suitable for every mark. A dark spot may be a benign pigment change, a post-inflammatory mark or something that needs examination before cosmetic treatment.

Have the area assessed before treatment, especially if a mark is new, changing or unlike the others on your skin. Share any history of pigment darkening, cold sores, recent tanning, active irritation and medicines that make you more light-sensitive. Avoid tanning and follow the clinic’s instructions about skincare before and after a session.

After treatment, protect the area from sunlight, keep any crusts intact and use only the products recommended for healing. Several appointments may be needed, particularly for tattoo ink or deeper pigment; the number depends on the target and its response.

Seek prompt medical advice for increasing pain, spreading redness, pus, fever, blistering that worsens or swelling near the eyes. Contact the treating clinician if a treated area develops marked colour change, delayed healing or a scar-like texture. A changing or bleeding pigmented lesion should be assessed rather than treated as a cosmetic spot.

Which wavelength and settings fit my skin tone and the target? Is the mark suitable for laser treatment after examination? What temporary colour changes, blistering or crusting should I expect, and how will you protect the surrounding skin?