Abstract

CARNEIRO, Joana; CALAFATE, Ana  and  MENEZES, Ana. When the color is a problem: reaction to the red tattoo pigment (a case report). Rev Port Med Geral Fam [online]. 2017, vol.33, n.5, pp.362-368. ISSN 2182-5173.

The body art, including the tattoo, is a rising popular practice in the contemporary world. Though the growing interest in this practice, one should be aware of this technique's risks. This article reports a case of a 35 year old man, with no relevant prior diseases, who schedules an appointment with an exuberant pruritic inflammatory reaction in the anterior forearm of the left upper limb, 48h after tattooing the same area. At physical examination, there was a wide exudative erythematous surface restricted to the red pigment area of the tattoo and skin integrity on other colors areas. A scheme of antibiotic therapy and wound care was instituted, with infection resolution but with lichenified texture restricted to the red pigment color area. An oral and topical corticosteroid regimen was performed with improvement of the condition. Comment: there are various complications described in response to tattoos. The pigment reaction is one of the many. The evolution of the skin's reaction to the tattoo's ink can be variable and it can manifest in days, weeks or years. The red paint compounds are the most implicated in these kind of reactions. This case emphasizes the importance of general population/health professionals knowledge of the potential complications of this practice as well as the kind and origin of the ink pigments used to make it

Keywords : Tattoo; Tattoo's ink; Cutaneous reactions; Case report.

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