Adverse reactions to permanent eyeliner tattoo.
OBJECTIVE
To report the potential for serious adverse reactions associated with permanent eyeliner tattoos.


METHODS
An observational case series was conducted on 4 patients who presented with inflammatory eyelid reactions after receiving permanent eyeliner tattoo.


RESULTS
Clinically, the tattoo-associated lesions were typically firm, raised masses underlying the areas of pigmentation. Histopathologic analysis of tissue from all 4 patients demonstrated a granulomatous inflammatory response with negative cultures for any organisms. Treatment approaches varied between a combination of topical steroid creams, local steroid injections, local resection, intramuscular steroid injection, and systemic oral steroids. These treatments were successful in all 4 cases.


CONCLUSIONS
An allergic granulomatous reaction is one of the adverse reactions seen after permanent eyeliner tattoo. Treatment can be challenging and may ultimately require excision of tattoo pigment to remove the inciting factor. Systemic steroids may aid in controlling the inflammation associated with reaction to the tattoo pigment.
Vagefi
M Reza
MR
Ophthalmic Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Department of Ophthalmology, University of California, San Francisco, 94110, USA.
Dragan
Laryssa
L
Hughes
Susan M
SM
Klippenstein
Kimberly A
KA
Seiff
Stuart R
SR
Woog
John J
JJ
D000328:Adult; D001706:Biopsy; D004396:Coloring Agents / Q000009:adverse effects; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D004333:Drug Administration Routes; D005141:Eyelid Diseases / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000209:etiology* / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D005938:Glucocorticoids / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use; D015745:Granuloma, Foreign-Body / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000209:etiology* / Q000473:pathology; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D013653:Tattooing / Q000009:adverse effects*
D004396:Coloring Agents; D005938:Glucocorticoids