TY - JOUR
T1 - Permanent tattoos
T2 - Evidence of pseudolymphoma in three patients and metal composition of the dyes
AU - Cristaudo, Antonio
AU - Forte, Giovanni
AU - Bocca, Beatrice
AU - Petrucci, Francesco
AU - Muscardin, Luca
AU - Trento, Elisabetta
AU - Di Carlo, Aldo
PY - 2012/12
Y1 - 2012/12
N2 - Tattoo-induced pseudolymphoma is a cutaneous inflammatory response, the pathogenesis of which is still unknown. The objective of the present work was to find a possible causal relationship between pseudolymphomatous reactions on the red areas of tattoos and the metals contained in tattoo pigments and skin biopsies. Three individuals with cutaneous lesions on the red areas of tattoos were observed. Clinical and immunohistochemical examinations of the lesions were performed, and the concentrations of Cd, Co, Cr, Hg, Ni and Pb were measured in pigments and biopsy samples. Pseudolymphomas in the red areas were diagnosed in all three cases; one showed the prevalence of B-lymphocytes, whereas the other two showed a prevalence of T cells with a lichenoid pattern. Patch tests were negative. Corticosteroid therapy was ineffective. Cadmium, Co, Hg and Pb in the pigments were probably present as impurities, whereas Cr and Ni were the main components. Chromium and Ni had the highest concentrations, also in the biopsy samples. Permanent tattoos appear to be unsafe, considering the increasing number of diagnosed pseudolymphomas. It can be excluded that Hg was responsible for the reactions, given that the concentration in the red dyes and biopsies was very low. Significant levels of Cr and Ni should be considered as the causes of possible dermal reactions.
AB - Tattoo-induced pseudolymphoma is a cutaneous inflammatory response, the pathogenesis of which is still unknown. The objective of the present work was to find a possible causal relationship between pseudolymphomatous reactions on the red areas of tattoos and the metals contained in tattoo pigments and skin biopsies. Three individuals with cutaneous lesions on the red areas of tattoos were observed. Clinical and immunohistochemical examinations of the lesions were performed, and the concentrations of Cd, Co, Cr, Hg, Ni and Pb were measured in pigments and biopsy samples. Pseudolymphomas in the red areas were diagnosed in all three cases; one showed the prevalence of B-lymphocytes, whereas the other two showed a prevalence of T cells with a lichenoid pattern. Patch tests were negative. Corticosteroid therapy was ineffective. Cadmium, Co, Hg and Pb in the pigments were probably present as impurities, whereas Cr and Ni were the main components. Chromium and Ni had the highest concentrations, also in the biopsy samples. Permanent tattoos appear to be unsafe, considering the increasing number of diagnosed pseudolymphomas. It can be excluded that Hg was responsible for the reactions, given that the concentration in the red dyes and biopsies was very low. Significant levels of Cr and Ni should be considered as the causes of possible dermal reactions.
KW - Inks
KW - Metals
KW - Pseudolymphoma
KW - Tattoo
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=84877082503&partnerID=8YFLogxK
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=84877082503&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1684/ejd.2012.1844
DO - 10.1684/ejd.2012.1844
M3 - Article
C2 - 23114101
AN - SCOPUS:84877082503
VL - 22
SP - 776
EP - 780
JO - European Journal of Dermatology
JF - European Journal of Dermatology
SN - 1167-1122
IS - 6
ER -