Application of the Hyperspectral Imaging Method to Assess the Effectiveness of Permanent Makeup Removal

Abstract

The growing popularity of permanent makeup is associated with an increase in the need for treatments that effectively remove pigments from the skin. The risk of the radiation wavelength not being adjusted to the spectral ranges of individual pigments that compose the final color appears because complex dye compositions are used for permanent makeup. Incorrectly selected laser parameters may reduce the effectiveness of the treatment and increase the risk of thermal damage, leading to scarring and discoloration. The aim of the study was to evaluate the effectiveness of laser permanent makeup removal using hyperspectral imaging. Five different dyes were implemented into the skin of the pig’s ear. Then the dyes were removed using a Q-switched Nd:YAG laser. During the study, skin measurements were performed with a hyperspectral camera before and after laser application. The results were analyzed using GLCM, reflectance, and quadratic tree decomposition. Based on the obtained results, it was found that the most difficult dye to remove is white because it is characterized by high reflectivity of electromagnetic radiation. After the dye removal, there was a decrease in reflectance and contrast of GLCM and an increase in homogeneity for all dyes except for white. After the laser application, the pigments were distributed more equally in the skin.

Keywords

• permanent makeup
• skin imaging
• hyperspectral imaging
• permanent makeup removal
• Q-switched Nd:YAG laser