Mechanical penetration of the skin caused by gunpowder explosions can lead to permanent cosmetic disfigurement in the form of traumatic tattoos. Traditionally the removal of these tattoos was often incomplete and resulted in significant scarring and pigment changes. The development of the Q-switched lasers has improved the cosmetic outcome of traumatic tattoo treatment. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of the Q-switched Alexandrite laser (755nm) in treating gunpowder tattoos in the acute and remote setting. Six patients were treated by the Q-switched Alexandrite laser for gunpowder tattoos between April of 2000 and September of 2002 at the Shriner’s Burn Institute in Cincinnati. Improvement of the gunpowder tattooing was seen in all patients, with complete removal in five of six patients. Removal of tattoos required an average of 3.5 treatments at 7.5 joules. There were no permanent side effects such as scarring or pigmentation changes. The most satisfactory results were obtained in gunpowder tattoos that were treated acutely, prior to skin re-epithelialization. In conclusion, the Q-switched Alexandrite laser is a safe and effective method for removal of gunpowder tattoos, without permanent cosmetic disfigurement.