Peer Reviewed
Dermatology clinic
An itchy tattoo
Abstract
Tattoos may develop a range of hypersensitivity reactions, including vesicular dermatitis, lichenoid dermatitis, photosensitive dermatitis, and granulomatous reactions that may be sarcoidal.
Key Points
A 59-year-old man had a temporary blue–black tattoo on his right upper arm which he had acquired while holidaying in Thailand. Within a week, the tattoo pigment had faded, but he developed a persistent, intensely itchy, red rash that was restricted to the site of the tattoo (Figure 1). A skin biopsy showed a marked lymphocytic reaction at the epidermal junction and around the underlying vessels (Figure 2).
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