FDA Grants Extended Clearance of the Describe Patch for Tattoo Removal

Merz North America’s DESCRIBE® PFD Patch is now cleared by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for all commonly used lasers for tattoo removal.

The new FDA clearance also extends the shelf life of the Patch from two years to three years.

The Patch, which is placed over tattoos prior to removal with a laser, allows physicians to treat tattoos more efficiently by enabling rapid multiple laser passes in a single treatment session.

The Patch was previously cleared in April 2015 for use with the 755 nm QS Alexandrite laser, which is effective in removal of tattoos with blue or black ink. This clearance now includes use of the 532, 694, 755 and 1064 nm standard Q-Switched (QS) lasers and 532, 755, 785 and 1064 nm standard picosecond lasers in Fitzpatrick Skin Type I-III patients. The expanded indication allows the Patch to be used with all commonly used lasers, providing the capability to remove tattoos across a spectrum of colors.  

The DESCRIBE® PFD Patch is a single-use, perfluorodecalin-infused gel-based skin barrier and optical clearing device accessory for use during laser treatment of tattoos. Additionally, as certain wavelengths are more effective at removing specific pigment colors, when using the correct wavelength, the Patch can be used to aid in removal of colored tattoos.