Tattoos Have Adverse Skin Reactions; Long-Term Medical Risks Likely: Dermatologists

Six percent of adult New Yorkers who got tattooed have experienced tattoo-related rash, severe itching or swelling that lasted for many years.

Recent study published online in the journal Contact Dermatitis reports that tattoos may leave you prone to some chronic complications that may require surgical intervention.

Researchers at New York University have found that 6% of adult New Yorkers who get tattooed have experienced some form of tattoo-related rash, severe itching or swelling that lasted longer than four months and, in some cases, for many years.

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"We were rather alarmed at the high rate of reported chronic complications tied to getting a tattoo," said Marie Leger, Dermatologist, Senior study investigator.

The data showed that most long-lasting complications occurred in skin regions injected with the two most common tattoo ink colors, red and black.

"Given the growing popularity of tattoos, physicians, public health officials, and consumers need to be aware of the risks involved," she added.

Tattoo Ink can Cause Severe Mycobacterium Infections
An outburst of bacterial infection was noted in people undergoing tattoo practice. The premixed bottle of gray ink in the tattoo parlors were seen to be infected with Mycobacterium chelenae.

Leger said some adverse skin reactions are treatable with anti-inflammatory steroid drugs, but others may require laser surgery.

For stronger reactions, surgery is sometimes necessary to remove tattooed areas of the skin or built-up scar tissue and granular skin lesions, which can rise several millimeters on the skin and cause considerable itching and emotional distress.

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Although laser has been successfully used in removing a tattoo, it does not ensure complete results. It is imperative for the practitioners to make the patients familiar with the laser tattoo removal.

"It is not yet known if the reactions being observed are due to chemicals in the ink itself or to other chemicals, such as preservatives or brighteners, added to them or to the chemicals’ breakdown over time. Some of the reactions appear to be an immune response, yet we do not know who is most likely to have an immune reaction to a tattoo," Leger said.

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Source-Medindia