title: Complications of decorative tattoo.
abstract: Decorative tattoo is a popular practice that is generally safe when performed in the professional setting but can be associated with a variety of inflammatory, infectious, and neoplastic complications, risks that may be increased with current trends in home tattooing. Modern tattoo inks contain azo dyes and are often of unknown composition and not currently regulated for content or purity. Biopsy of most (if not all) tattoo reactions presenting to the dermatologist is recommended, given recent clusters of nontuberculous mycobacterial infections occurring within tattoo, as well as associations between tattoo reactions and systemic diseases such as sarcoidosis.
authors.affiliation: Divisions of Dermatology and Dermatopathology, University of Washington School of Medicine, Seattle, Washington. Electronic address: mshinoha@uw.edu.
authors.forename: Michi M
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: Shinohara
mesh_terms: D001391:Azo Compounds / Q000009:adverse effects*; D004396:Coloring Agents / Q000009:adverse effects*; D017449:Dermatitis, Allergic Contact / Q000209:etiology / Q000628:therapy; D006099:Granuloma / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000628:therapy; D006801:Humans; D012874:Skin Diseases, Infectious / Q000209:etiology*; D012878:Skin Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis*; D013653:Tattooing / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000639:trends
chemical_list: D001391:Azo Compounds; D004396:Coloring Agents