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Short reports and correspondence| Volume 56, ISSUE 1, P73, January 2003

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Sensitisation to red tattoo pigment

      Sir,
      In reply to the recent letter by White and Rauf
      • White N.
      • Rauf G.
      Sensitisation to red tattoo pigment.
      we report our experience of a case of sensitisation to red tattoo pigment. Our patient presented several months after getting his first tattoo, the emblem of his favourite football club, over his left biceps. On examination, he had developed a marked hypertrophic reaction to the red pigment exclusively (Fig. 1) . This is gradually responding to silicone pressure therapy.
      Figure thumbnail gr1
      Figure 1Marked hypertrophic reaction confined to the red pigment.
      Although sensitivity to mercuric sulphide (cinnabar) is well described,
      • McGrouther D.A.
      • Downie P.A.
      • Thompson W.D.
      Reactions to red tattoos.
      this compound has been removed from most of the commercially available pigments.
      • Timko A.L.
      • Miller C.H.
      • Johnson F.B.
      • Ross E.
      In vitro quantitative chemical analysis of tattoo pigments.
      However, various other inorganic and organic compounds in red tattoo pigment may provoke cutaneous reactions.
      • Waldmann I.
      • Vakilzadeh F.
      Delayed type allergic reaction to red azo dye in tattooing.
      • Sowden J.M.
      • Byrne J.P.
      • Smith A.G.
      • et al.
      Red tattoo reactions: X-ray microanalysis and patch-test studies.
      • Bendsoe N.
      • Hansson C.
      • Sterner O.
      Inflammatory reactions from organic pigments in red tattoos.
      In one study, red-tattoo reactions associated with organic pigments were also strongly associated with UV exposure.
      • Bendsoe N.
      • Hansson C.
      • Sterner O.
      Inflammatory reactions from organic pigments in red tattoos.
      Our patient's reaction was not photo-aggravated and, unfortunately, the dye used is unknown.
      Yours faithfully,

      References

        • White N.
        • Rauf G.
        Sensitisation to red tattoo pigment.
        Br J Plast Surg. 2002; 55: 365
        • McGrouther D.A.
        • Downie P.A.
        • Thompson W.D.
        Reactions to red tattoos.
        Br J Plast Surg. 1977; 30: 84-85
        • Timko A.L.
        • Miller C.H.
        • Johnson F.B.
        • Ross E.
        In vitro quantitative chemical analysis of tattoo pigments.
        Arch Dermatol. 2001; 137: 143-147
        • Waldmann I.
        • Vakilzadeh F.
        Delayed type allergic reaction to red azo dye in tattooing.
        Hautarzt. 1997; 48 (In German): 666-670
        • Sowden J.M.
        • Byrne J.P.
        • Smith A.G.
        • et al.
        Red tattoo reactions: X-ray microanalysis and patch-test studies.
        Br J Dermatol. 1991; 124: 576-580
        • Bendsoe N.
        • Hansson C.
        • Sterner O.
        Inflammatory reactions from organic pigments in red tattoos.
        Acta Derm Venereol. 1991; 71: 70-73