Decorative Tattoos Research Articles

Identification of the pigments used in permanent makeup and their ability to elicit allergic contact dermatitis

Decorative tattoos are known to contain ingredients that may elicit allergic contact dermatitis; it is less well-known if permanent makeup pigments carry the same risk. Identify pigments used in permanent makeup inks sold in the United States and review cases of allergic contact dermatitis to these pigments. Using internet searches, permanent makeup inks sold in the United States were identified. Safety data sheets were used to catalog pigments used in permanent makeup. A subsequent literature search was performed to identify cases of allergic contact dermatitis to these pigments. A total of 974 permanent makeup inks were reviewed, and 79 unique pigments were identified. The average product contained 4 pigments. Twenty of the pigments were inorganic metals, including carbon, iron, chromium, manganese, and molybdenum. Fifty-nine pigments were organic, of which most were azo, quinacridone, or anthraquinone dyes. A literature search revealed that 10 of the 79 pigments were associated with allergic contact dermatitis. Permanent makeup primarily uses organic pigments, although some metallic pigments are still used. Physicians should also be aware that some of these pigments-both organic and inorganic-are known causes of allergic contact dermatitis. Of note, patch testing to these ingredients can be negative.

Permanent Make Up-PMU Colorants and Regulations

Decorative tattoos is a popular way of expression in young people. Permanent Make Up (PMU), is gaining ground every day for facial characteristics correction. Colorants used for PMU applications dot not always follow the regula- tions of the European legislation and may contain harmful ingredients for the health. European countries are trying to create a common regulation followed by each country member to protect public health.

Cutaneous Adverse Reactions Associated with Tattoos and Permanent Makeup Pigments.

Tattooing is the procedure of implanting permanent pigment granules and additives into the dermal layer of the skin, serving various purposes such as decoration, medical identification, or accidental markings. There has been a significant rise in the popularity of decorative tattooing as a form of body art among both teenagers and young adults. Thus, the incidence of tattoos is increasing, with expanding applications such as permanent makeup, scar camouflage, nipple-areola, lips, and eyebrows tattooing, and utilization in oncological radiotherapy such as colon marking. However, there have been reported a broad range of adverse reactions linked to tattooing, encompassing allergic reactions, superficial and deep cutaneous infections, autoimmune disorders induced by the Koebner phenomenon, cutaneous tumors, and others. These reactions exhibit different onset times for symptoms, ranging from immediate manifestations after tattoo application to symptoms emerging several years later. Given the limited information on a tattoo's side effects, this review aims to elucidate the clinical spectrum of cutaneous complications of tattoos in different patients. The analysis will investigate both allergic and nonallergic clinical presentations of tattoo-related side effects, microscopic findings from skin biopsies, and therapeutic outcomes. This exploration is essential to improve our understanding of tattoo-related cutaneous complications and associated differential diagnoses and highlight the significance of patient awareness regarding potential risks before getting a tattoo.

What about Decorative Tattoos? The Human Body in Heaven

The issue of the exact shape and form of the resurrected human body has been highly controversial and has concerned Christian theology throughout the ages. However, although deliberate body modification practices, such as tattooing, have been playing an important role for civilizations since ancient years, their place in heavenly life has hardly been discussed. In addition, decorative tattooing has a very interesting and also ethically controversial background through time, as one could say that it is both an act of embellishment and an act of mutilation, moving between two contrasted parallels, beauty and deformity. Examining, therefore, the specific questions of whether the risen flesh of the blessed will be perfectly beautiful and freed of any earthly deformities as well as whether it will resemble the resurrected ‘wounded’ body of Christ or not, this paper deals with the issue of the preservation of decorative tattoos in the Kingdom of Heaven.

Sarcoid Granulomas and Systemic Sarcoidosis Triggered by Cosmetic Tattoos.

Cosmetic tattooing of eyebrow and lips has become very popular and is expected to be paralleled by more frequent complications. We present 4 cases of granulomas in cosmetic tattoos complicated by regional or systemic manifestations of sarcoidosis including affection of the lungs in 2 cases, the activity triggered by the tattoo. Three cases of traditional decorative tattoos on extremities serve as reference. It is noteworthy that cosmetic tattoos despite small size and thereby low relative dose of pigment injected in the skin can trigger fully developed systemic sarcoidosis. It is hypothesized that iron oxide pigments popular in cosmetic tattoo inks of red or brown color may be prone to elicit sarcoid reactions and thus carry a special risk of granuloma. In decorative tattoos, carbon black is the commonest trigger. It is emphasized that the finding of granulomas in tattoos shall be followed by search of other manifestations of sarcoidosis through patient history and diagnostic examinations to exclude pulmonary, ocular, and other organ manifestations. Patients with granulomas in tattoos shall be informed that active sarcoidosis, if not already present, can become manifest later with a latency of months or years and often with abrupt debut when the triggering tattoo may be overlooked by the doctor who is unfamiliar with this less common type of sarcoidosis.

Technical and Clinical Complications of Cosmetic Tattooing.

Cosmetic tattooing and medical tattooing of the face share basic principles and to some degree types and spectrum of technical and clinical complications known from decorative tattooing of other parts of the body. Cosmetic tattoos recently have grown exponentially in popularity in industrialized countries all over the world. The different complications and their clinical symptoms, pathophysiology, diagnosis, treatment, and prevention are analyzed versus culprit pigments and updated. Eyeliner tattooing is associated with special complications because of the subtle anatomy and the closeness to the eye, and the risk of meibomian gland damage. The spectrum of cosmetic tattoo complications includes early-onset complications (infections particularly with herpes simplex, healing issues, aesthetic and technical mistakes with regret), and late-onset complications (color fading and color shift, "blowout" pigment escape to surrounding skin, papules, nodules, granulomas associated with sarcoidosis, allergic reactions in lip tattoos with lichenoid dermatitis, eye irritation, and fibrosis and scaring especially after microblading); miscellaneous complications include severe burn sensation in tattoos during magnetic resonance imaging later in life. Corneal tattooing and subconjunctival/episcleral tattooing performed on medical indication by ophthalmologists, and for decoration by tattooists carry special risk of intraocular complications. It is recommended for the purpose of research harmonization that terms and diagnostic classification of tattoo adverse events follow the system introduced by the Tattoo Clinic of Copenhagen and already accepted in specialized tattoo clinics in other centers.

Melanoma on tattoos: a case study and review of the literature

Decorative tattooing is a very widespread and constantly increasing practice, especially among young people. Here, we report a case study of melanoma occurring on a tattoo on the left arm and provide an overview of all cases reported so far. A systematic literature search of publications was conducted from inception to September 2021 via Medline (PubMed), Scopus and Google Scholar, in order to identify all cases of primitive melanomas arising on tattoos. In total, 35 cases (32 males, three females) of melanoma arising on tattoos on skin were identified. Interestingly, most melanomas occurred on dark blue (10/35), black (12/35) or blue tattoos (3/35). Due to the low number of melanoma cases arising on tattoos, it is not possible to confirm whether tattoos play a cancerogenic role. However, tattooing may make it more difficult to detect and monitor pigmented lesions, potentially delaying the diagnosis of cutaneous malignancies. Patients at high risk of melanoma should be warned about the risks associated with such procedures.

Clinicodermoscopic and immunopathological profile of non-infectious non-eczematous inflammatory tattoo reactions: A retrospective study from a tertiary care centre of East India.

Introduction Tattoo-associated complications are on the rise due to the popularity of decorative tattoos in recent years. The exact pathogeneses of various tattoo reaction patterns are still unclear, and their dermoscopic details are sparsely reported. Aim We aimed to retrospectively study the clinical, dermoscopic and immunopathological details of patients with non-infectious, non-eczematous inflammatory tattoo reaction patterns in a tertiary care centre of East India. Method The clinical, dermoscopic and pathological details of all the patients who had non-infectious, non-eczematous inflammatory tattoo reactions were collected. In all the cases, immunohistochemistry was done for CD1a, CD3, CD4, CD8, FoxP3, CD20 and CD56. Results A total of five patients of skin phototypes IV and V and six tattoo reactions were analysed. Five lesions had reactions at the site of a black tattoo, and one at the site of red tattoo. Clinically, the patients presented with erythematous or blue-grey flat-topped to verrucous papules and plaques. Dermoscopic features were dominated by a central white to pink-white structureless area, a peripheral grey-white to bluish-white structureless area, white scales, comedo-like opening with keratotic plugging, milia-like cysts and shiny white structures. Pathologically, except for one lesion that only showed a lichenoid reaction pattern in the red tattoo, all had a combination of reaction patterns. Immunohistochemistry showed increased epidermal and dermal Langerhans cells, predominantly CD8 positive T cells in the epidermis and dermis, sparse dermal B cells and CD4 positive T cells, reduced T regulatory cells and a complete absence of CD56 positive NK cells. Limitations Small sample size was the limitation of the study. Conclusion The clinical morphology and dermoscopy may not differentiate between various types of non-infectious non-eczematous inflammatory tattoo reactions. The immunological profile supports a delayed hypersensitivity reaction due to contact sensitisation to tattoo pigment, and CD8 positive T cells play a central role in executing various pathological reaction patterns, both in the epidermis and dermis.

In vivo visualisation of tattoo particles using multiphoton tomography and fluorescence lifetime imaging.

With increased popularity of decorative tattoos, awareness of tattoo-based dermatological complications has been raised. Health issues include a broad spectrum dominated by allergies and infections. To examine the etiopathology and prognose the outcome of an appropriate therapy, a non-invasive intravital diagnostic approach is indicated. The present pilot study introduces multiphoton tomography equipped with fluorescence lifetime imaging as a diagnostic technique to examine the morphological and metabolic status of tattooed human skin at patient's bedside. The distributing course of tattoo particles can be visualised over time. By providing optical biopsies, inflammation-based alterations in freshly tattooed skin and tattoo complications can be analysed. The study concludes that multiphoton tomography combined with fluorescence lifetime imaging is a suitable technique for in vivo visualisation of tattoo pigments as well as for the assessment of quantitative and qualitative skin changes after injection of tattoo ink into human skin.

Exploring tattoo artists’ understanding of decorative non-medical professional tattooing as a method of scar camouflage and decoration

ABSTRACT Research surrounding the use of decorative tattooing by non-medical professional tattooists as a form of scar camouflage or decoration is limited. This study provides critical and deepening insights into tattoo artists’ experiences of tattooing scars, to help inform a more in-depth understanding of its uses from a health and wellbeing perspective. Specifically, it aimed to explore qualitatively, the different methods and techniques used by non-medical tattoo professionals to cover up or decorate scars, which can have a psychological impact on those affected. Six tattoo artists from legitimate UK based studios were identified through snowballing and purposive sampling methods. Data collection involved semi-structured telephone interviews. The data was then transcribed, and thematic analysis was then performed. Five themes were identified: Personal Opinion of Scar Camouflage Tattooing, Tattooing Methods, Scars and Tattooing Risks, Positive Impact, and Understanding of Customer Experience. These themes were then broken down into more specific sub-themes. The discussion considers these findings in relation to theory and existing literature, for example, around understanding of role, and makes recommendations for future study in this field.

Clinical and Pathological Features of Persistent Decorative Tattoo Reactions.

Persistent, non-infectious medical complications arising from decorative tattoos have increased considerably. They are difficult to characterize clinically, and histopathology shows a wide variety of overlapping patterns, with lichenoid and granulomatous dermatitis being the most common findings. Both clinical and pathological findings are difficult to ascribe to particular ink colour. The findings in 30 biopsies from 28 patients with persistent reactions in decorative tattoos are reported, including immunohistochemical findings.

Complicaciones infecciosas de los tatuajes permanentes: la piel sin ley. Parte I

Puncturing the skin with a tattoo needle damages the immunological and physical barrier. This facilitates the entry of pathogenic microorganisms and the risk of suffering infectious complications. The circumstances around the procedure, sanitary conditions and biosecurity standards are determinants of this risk; however, it is a practice with surveillance and control challenges due to the existing regulatory gap. Because of the significant rise in decorative tattoos among contemporary society, there has been an increase in complications, some are mild and usually resolve on their own, but there are others that leave sequelae and put the health of tattooed patient at risk. This review article includes main local tattooing regulations and epidemiological aspects, as well as dermatological manifestations of infections, their etiological classification, diagnostic and therapeutic approach.

Ce qu'ici nous sommes par Jean-Marie Blas de Roblès

Reviewed by: Ce qu'ici nous sommes par Jean-Marie Blas de Roblès Alain Ranwez Blas de Roblès, Jean-Marie. Ce qu'ici nous sommes. Zulma, 2020. ISBN 978-2-84304-971-2. Pp. 288. Invited to spend several weeks at a luxurious clinic on the shore of majestic Lake Calafquén, Chile, Augustin Harbour relates the extraordinary voyage he had experienced in the desert of southern Libya forty years earlier. His psychiatrist and host hopes that recounting this sojourn will enable Augustin to put some meaning in the most chaotic and fantastic images he had retained from that experience. This unique novel recounts in the first person a detailed adventure that might have been [End Page 226] invented or imagined, however, since so many of the particulars recalled often do not truly exist. Consequently, Augustin's depiction could be an "Histoire mensongère" (11) and/or a phantasmagoric adventure. After six days in a storm-ridden desert the explorer/adventurer Augustin comes across an unknown oasis inside of which he discovers a village called Zindān. Now protected from the heat and sun and accepted by the village, Augustin begins to explore. The village is divided in four semi-independent tribes: "Ceux du jujubier […] Les Amazones […] Les Mangeurs de crevettes […] Trayeurs de chiennes" (23–24). It is led by one god, Haij Hassan but Haij, however, cannot be consulted through prayer: "L'invoquer pour corriger nos misères humaines, c'est insulter sa propre nature" (89). As Augustin's ethnographical descriptions of Zindān's people, traditions, animals, and objects unfold, the narrative becomes a new literary experience in that it involves reinterpreted traditional and mythological references, incongruous inventions, unconnected memories, unusual sexual and culinary practices, and numerous other activities that guide the reader into an incongruent world of imagination or perhaps the subconscious. In order to better enlighten the reader, Blas de Roblès offers original drawings in the margins throughout the novel. Many of the chapters are also divided into two parts, one being the narration itself and the other entitled "Ricordi," which present discussions Augustin has with the other guests at the Chilean villa consequently keeping the reader in check between two questionable realities. The novel offers an acute originality, which might reside within the confines of Augustin's folly. The novel also represents a sort of encyclopedia conjugated by perhaps a madman and thereby cautioning the reader not to believe everything. The novel, however, contains much humor and tongue in cheek references to our modernity. Obscure apparitions appear throughout the novel: talking hyenas, the use of weight of books as currency instead of content, the absence of telling time creating a sort of perpetual moment, the use of a toilet as a royal throne, the levitation of cheeses, giants named Gog and Magog, and decorative tattoos used as the jocose "signes parleurs" among many other references and illustrations. To enjoy this novel the reader must accept the disquieting aspect of the presentation and the unique virtuosity of the author's esoteric erudition; ergo this mesmerizing novel is not perhaps for everyone. Alain Ranwez Metropolitan State University of Denver, emeritus Copyright © 2021 American Association of Teachers of French

Safety and Efficacy of Tattoo Removal Using a Dual-Wavelength 1064/532-nm Picosecond Laser in Patients With Fitzpatrick Skin Type III and IV.

To investigate the safety and efficacy of a dual-wavelength 1064/532-nm picosecond-domain laser for tattoo removal in Vietnamese patients. This prospective clinical study enrolled 30 subjects with 52 decorative tattoos treated with up to six treatments of laser removal at intervals of 6-8 weeks. Safety and efficacy were assessed at each treatment session and at 4 weeks after the final session. A "good" response was defined as at least 75% clearance of tattoo pigments. A significant reduction of tattoo appearance was achieved in all subjects. 88.5% of tattoos exhibited a "good" response to treatment by the end of the six sessions and more than 36% of tattoos exhibited better than "good" responses. Adverse events were common in the early period after treatment but did not persist in most patients. Only one case of prolonged hypopigmentation was reported. Treatment using a 1064/532-nm picosecond laser is an effective approach for removal of decorative tattoos, which poses a minimal risk of long-term adverse events in patients with Fitzpatrick skin type III or IV. Lasers Surg. Med. © 2020 Wiley Periodicals LLC.

The First Commercial 730 nm Picosecond-Domain Laser is Safe and Effective for Treating Multicolor Tattoos.

Background and ObjectivesLaser‐pumped lasers enable driving a secondary wavelength through pumping with a primary device. Here we investigate the first 730 nm laser‐pumped laser for efficacy in tattoo removal.Study Design/Materials and MethodsFifteen subjects with 20 tattoos were enrolled to investigate the effect of a new 730 nm, titanium‐sapphire laser‐pumped laser at removing decorative tattoos. A total of four treatments were administered and photographic improvement of pre‐ and post‐treatment cross‐polarized digital images was evaluated by four blinded physician observers using an 11‐point scale.ResultsBlinded assessment of pre‐ and post‐treatment images found 70%, 77%, 83%, 83%, 26%, and 8% clearance from baseline images for black, green, blue, purple, red and yellow pigments, respectively. Side effects were limited to pinpoint bleeding and erythema immediately after treatment and some crusting and scale up to 1–2 weeks following treatment, and a localized allergic reaction in a single subject. There was no scarring or pigmentary alteration visible in any follow‐up images.ConclusionThe new 730 nm, picosecond‐domain, titanium‐sapphire, laser‐pumped laser is safe and effective for removing multicolored tattoos. Green, blue, and purple pigments cleared the most as expected, but black ink cleared more completely than was predicted. Lasers Surg. Med. © 2020 The Authors. Lasers in Surgery and Medicine published by Wiley Periodicals LLC

An update on cutaneous complications of permanent tattooing

ABSTRACTIntroduction: Decorative tattooing involves the introduction of exogenous pigments and/or dyes into the dermis to produce a permanent design.Areas covered: This review provides an overview of the current aspects of cutaneous complications associated with permanent tattooing and permanent make-up based on the previous reviews of interest, case series, and case reports of interest. References for this review were found through a search of PubMed by use of the terms ‘tattoo’, ‘tattoos’, or ‘tattooing’.Expert opinion: Complications include primarily infections, allergy to tattoo pigments, benign, and sometimes malignant tumors arising on tattoos and the localization of various dermatoses to tattoos. Immunocompromised patients and individuals with chronic conditions should be able to discuss with their physician and ask advice before getting tattooed. Tattoo color allergy still remains an unsolved issue. The identification of current culprit failed. It is most likely a byproduct that appears in situ in the skin during the life of the tattooed bearer. Studies involving expert centers are warranted to establish the best treatments for tattoo allergy. The risk of tattoo associated cancers appears to this author as largely overstated. However, case controls studies on large on cohorts of individuals with or without tattoos could help to evaluate whether tattoos have a possible in role in cancers.

Laser assisted tattoo removal - state of the art and new developments.

Decorative tattoos including permanent make-up are very popular world-wide. However, some people regret tattooing and seek tattoo removal. Tattooed skin contains numerous solid particles of tattoo pigments. A major mechanism of tattoo removal is laser assisted fragmentation of these particles, which are then transported away from the skin. For many years, Q-switched lasers with nanosecond pulse durations at high light intensities have been applied to cause such fragmentation via rapid heating up while sparing the adjacent tissue. Despite the long-lasting use of such laser treatment, the exact mechanisms of laser assisted fragmentation are hardly investigated. Due to short and intense laser pulses applied, non-linear effects of light (e.g. photoacoustic and optical breakdown) and nonlinear thermal properties in tattoo particles may play a crucial role. In the past few years, lasers with even shorter pulse duration in the sub-nanosecond range were launched for tattoo removal. Theoretical considerations assumed that pulse durations shorter than nanoseconds allow even more effective fragmentation of tattoo particles. A couple of initial studies affirm the effectiveness of picosecond pulses in tattoo treatment, especially in clearing black tattoos. Furthermore, treatment with picosecond lasers seems to be less painful. Consequently, picosecond technology may be a new strategy for more effective removal of tattoo pigments at a lower rate of side effects. But there is an urgent need for more well-designed and randomized controlled trials to compare this treatment modality to the traditional nanosecond technology regarding efficacy and adverse reactions.

Response to comment on report of two cases of cutaneous Mycobacterium abscessus infection complicating professional decorative tattoo

Response to comment on report of two cases of cutaneous Mycobacterium abscessus infection complicating professional decorative tattoo

Comment on report of two cases of cutaneous Mycobacterium abscessus infection complicating professional decorative tattoo

Comment on report of two cases of cutaneous Mycobacterium abscessus infection complicating professional decorative tattoo

Disguising Scars With Decorative Tattooing

Disguising Scars With Decorative Tattooing