Why are blue and green tattoos so hard to remove via laser tattoo removal?

The reality is that blue and green inks are not all that difficult to remove if the right laser is available. Blue and green inks do not readily respond to the wavelengths available at the majority of laser tattoo removal facilities.   Most laser tattoo removal facilities have a 1064nm wavelength laser available. This wavelength is perfect for blacks, dark browns, and dark purples. Because lighter colors do not respond well to this wavelength, many facilities also have a 532nm wavelength laser. This laser is terrific for reds, yellows, and oranges. It can also be used as a secondary treatment to help increase the immune system response and the flushing of the ink for tattoos that have proven to be “stubborn after a few treatments. Blues and greens can respond some to either of these wavelengths, but to achieve full removal, another laser will be necessary.

A ruby laser, 694nm, is excellent for removing blue and green ink. It is a visible light in the red spectrum. Red is the color opposite of green making it ideal for green inks. Blues also respond extremely well to the ruby laser as the color opposite for blue is a reddish orange. With the ruby laser it is possible for blues and greens to fade as well or better than black inks.

Below is an example of a black and blue tattoo before, 1 month after 1 treatment, and 1 month after a second treatment. The black ink was treated with the 1064nm wavelength laser while the blue was treated with the ruby laser. Both colors are responding very well to treatment. The fuzziness you see in the second and more so in the third picture indicates that ink has been broken into small enough particles that it is free to move beneath the skin. The immune system will attack and remove this ink as well.