title: Cutaneous and systemic complications associated with tattooing.
abstract: Tattooing can result in a wide variety of complications, whose prevalence and incidence remain still unclear. Hypersensitivity reactions (or allergies) to tattoo pigments are currently the most common complication on a tattoo, however they are not predictable. Infections are nowadays directly related to the lack of asepsis and hygiene during the tattooing procedure or during the healing phase. Patients with a known cutaneous disease should be warned of a potential risk of localization of their disease to the tattoo. A skin eruption restricted to a tattoo may reveal sarcoidosis. Patients with chronic conditions and/or impaired immunity should discuss with their physician about the possibility and when to have a tattoo.
authors.affiliation: University of Helsinki, Helsinki University Central Hospital, dermatology, allergology and venereology, Meilahdentie 2, P.O. Box 160, FI-00029 HUS, Finland. Electronic address: nicolas.kluger@hus.fi.
authors.forename: Nicolas
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Kluger
mesh_terms: D000208:Acute Disease; D006801:Humans; D012871:Skin Diseases / Q000209:etiology*; D012874:Skin Diseases, Infectious / Q000209:etiology; D012878:Skin Neoplasms / Q000209:etiology; D013653:Tattooing / Q000009:adverse effects*