Tattoos: A review of tattoo practices and potential treatment options for removal

Current Opinion in Pediatrics

Volumn 18, Issue 4, 2006, Pages 391-395

  Sweeney, Susan M ^a,b  

^a UNIVERSITY OF MASSACHUSETTS MEDICAL SCHOOL   (United States)

^b UMMHC Hahnemann Campus ^*  (United States)

Author keywords

Lasers; Tattoo complications; Tattoo treatments; Tattoos

Indexed keywords

ANTIBIOTIC AGENT; AZO DYE; COSMETIC; DYE; HAIR DYE; HENNA; IMIQUIMOD; LIDOCAINE; LOCAL ANESTHETIC AGENT; PHENYLENEDIAMINE; S CAINE PEEL; SULFONAMIDE; TETRACAINE; UNCLASSIFIED DRUG;

ADOLESCENT; ALLERGIC REACTION; HIGH RISK PATIENT; HUMAN; HYPERPIGMENTATION; HYPOPIGMENTATION; INDIGO; INFECTION COMPLICATION; NEODYMIUM LASER; PAIN; PRIORITY JOURNAL; RELIABILITY; REVIEW; SAFETY; SKIN ALLERGY; SKIN DISEASE; TATTOO;

ADOLESCENT; CHILD; DERMATITIS, ALLERGIC CONTACT; FEMALE; HUMANS; MALE; RISK-TAKING; TATTOOING;

EID: 33747478177     PISSN: 10408703     EISSN: None     Source Type: Journal    
DOI: 10.1097/01.mop.0000236388.64333.cd     Document Type: Review

References (35)

1. Roberts TA, Ryan SA. Tattooing and high risk behavior in adolescents. Pediatrics 2002; 110:1058-1062.
2. Cui Y, Churchwell MI, Couch LH, et al. Metabolism of pigment yellow 74 by rat and human microsomal proteins. Drug Metab Dispos 2005; 33:1459-1465. This paper investigates the safety of a specific ink pigment used in tattooing.
3. Gopee NV, Cui Y, Olson G, et al. Response of mouse skin to tattooing: use of SKH-1 mice as a surrogate model for human tattooing. Toxicol Appl Pharmacol 2005; 209:145-158. This paper investigates the response of mouse skin to tattooing in an attempt to further understand the human skin response to the tattoo process.
4. Wang L, Yan J, Hardy W, et al. Light-induced mutagenicity in Salmonella TA102 and genotoxicity/cytotoxicity in human T-cells by 3,3′- dechlorobenzidine: a chemical used in the manufacture of dyes and pigments and in tattoo inks. Toxicology 2005; 207:411-418. These researchers studied potential toxic effects of a specific pigment used in tattoos.
5. Jolly M. Discoid lupus erythematosus after tattoo: Koebner phenomenon. Arthritis Rheum 2005; 53:627. This report describes an unusual but known type of tattoo-associated dermatosis.
6. Wong H, Tay Y, Sim C. Papular eruption on a tattoo: a case of primary inoculation tuberculosis. Australasian J Dermatol 2005; 46:84-87. This report describes another potential infectious complication of tattooing.
7. Brajac I, Loncarek K, Stojnic-Sosa L, Grubert F. Delayed onset of warts over tattoo mark provoked by sunburn. J Eur Acad Dermatol Venereol 2005; 19:247-248. This paper describes a delayed tattoo complication triggered by sunburn.
8. Jacob CI. Tattoo-associated dermatoses: a case report and review of the literature. Dermatol Surg 2002; 28:962-965.
9. Jack CM, Adwani A, Krishnan H. Tattoo pigment in an axillary lymph node simulating metastatic malignant melanoma. Int Semin Surg Oncol 2005; 2:28. Sentinel lymph node biopsy is becoming more common in melanoma and breast cancer. A history of tattoos or tattoo removal should be elicited as lymphadenopathy may persist for years.
10. Chikkamuniyappa S, Sjuve-Scott R, Lancaster-Weiss K, et al. Tattoo pigment in sentinel lymph nodes: a mimicker of metastatic malignant melanoma. Dermatol Online J 2005; 1:14. This paper stresses the importance of eliciting a history of tattoo placement or tattoo removal in patients undergoing sentinel lymph node biopsy. In addition, it emphasizes the importance of obtaining a histopathologic diagnosis of these nodes.
11. Slonim AB, Roberto AJ, Downing CR, et al. Adolescents' knowledge, beliefs, and behaviors regarding hepatitis B: insights and implication for programs targeting vaccine-preventable diseases. J Adol Health 2005; 36:178-186. This paper outlines some interesting findings regarding adolescents' perceptions of tattoos and potential infectious complications of the tattooing process.
12. Roberts TA, Ryan SA. Tattooing and high-risk behavior in adolescents. Pediatrics 2002; 110:1058-1063.
13. Deschesnes M, Fines P, Demers S. Are tattooing and body piercing indicators of risk-taking behaviors among high school students? J Adolesc 2005 Aug 13; [Epub ahead of print]. These researchers investigated the association of risk-taking behaviors and tattoos/body piercing among high school students.
14. Seiter JS, Hatch S. Effect of tattoos on perceptions of credibility and attractiveness. Psychol Rep 2005; 96:1113-1120.
15. Borrego L, Hernandez-Machin B, Gonzalez O, Hernandez B. Sensitization to para-phenylenediamine in a streetside temporary tattoo artisan. Contact Dermatitis 2005; 52:288-289. This case report describes a patient that developed PPD sensitization from applying temporary tattoos on other people.
16. Eager RP. Atopy to henna tattoos in children. Eur J Emerg Med 2005; 12:189-190. This paper supports the growing body of evidence that many young people are developing allergic contact dermatitis from temporary henna tattoos.
17. Bukhari IA. Cutaneous hyperpigmentation following nonpermanent henna tattoo. Saudi Med J 2005; 26:142-144.
18. Matulich J, Sullivan J. A temporary henna tattoo causing hair and clothing dye allergy. Contact Dermatitis 2005; 53:33-36. This is another case report of PPD sensitization from a temporary henna tattoo.
19. Martin JA, Hughes TM, Stone NM. 'Black henna' tattoos: an occult source of natural rubber latex allergy? Contact Dermatitis 2005; 52:145-146. This is another paper that describes a patient developing an allergy to a temporary tattoo as well as cross-sensitization to other related compounds.
20. Van den Keybus C, Morren MA, Goossens A. Walking difficulties due to an allergic reaction to a temporary tattoo. Contact Dermatitis 2005; 53:180-181. This case report describes a severe allergic reaction to a temporary henna tattoo.
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22. Rastogi SC, Johansen JD. Colourants in transferable picture tattoos for the skin. Contact Dermatitis 2005; 53:207-210. These researchers identified some of the colorants within transferable tattoos yet could not find any significant toxicities associated with these tattoos upon review of the literature.
23. Suchin KR, Greenbaum SS. Successful treatment of a cosmetic tattoo using a combination of lasers. Dermatol Surg 2004; 30:105-107.
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25. Antonovich DD, Callen JP. Development of sarcoidosis in cosmetic tattoos. Arch Dermatol 2005; 141:869-872. These authors describe an unusual cosmetic tattoo-associated complication. They suggest that this particular histopathological finding may be a sign of occult systemic disease.
26. El Sayed F, Ammoury A, Dhaybi R. Treatment of fireworks tattoos with the Q-switched ruby laser. Dermatol Surg 2005; 31:706-708. This case report adds to the somewhat sparse compilation of papers on this particular subject.
27. Tanzi EL, Lupton JR, Alster TS. Lasers in dermatology: four decades of progress. J Am Acad Dermatol 2003; 49:1-31.
28. Cheng W. Chemical extraction technique for tattoo removal. Br J Dermatol 2004; 151:1282-1283.
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30. McNichols RJ, Fox MA, Gowda A, et al. Temporary dermal scatter reduction: quantitative assessment and implications for improved laser tattoo removal. Lasers Surg Med 2005; 36:289-296. This paper describes a new technique that is being studied to enhance the efficacy of laser tattoo removal.
31. Stumpp OF, Welch AJ, Milner, et al. Enhancement of transepidermal skin clearing agent delivery using a 980 nm diode laser. Lasers Surg Med 2005; 37:278-285. These authors describe a study designed to test the efficacy of a diode laser in enhancing transepidermal skin clearing of inks.
32. Chen JZS, Jacobson LG, Bakus AD, et al. Evaluation of the S-Caine Peel for induction of local anesthesia for laser-assisted tattoo removal: randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, multicenter study. Dermatol Surg 2005; 31:281-286. This study examined the efficacy of a novel topical anesthetic in preventing pain associated with laser tattoo removal.
33. Solis RR, Diven DG, Colome-Grimmer MI, et al. Experimental nonsurgical tattoo removal in a guinea pig model with topical imiquimod and tretinoin. Dermatol Surg 2002; 28:83-87.
34. Kalbermatten DF, Wettstein R, Haug M, et al. Effective treatment of permanent tattoos with combustible particles due to blast injuries with a V-shaped device. Br J Plast Surg 2005; Dec 20 [Epub ahead of print]. This paper describes a novel surgical approach to tattoo removal.
35. Fusade T, Toubel G, Grognard C, Mazer JM. Treatment of gunpowder traumatic tattoo by Q-switched Nd:YAG laser: an unusual adverse effect. Dermatol Surg 2000; 26:1057-1059.