Problems in the Diagnosis of Contact Dermatitis by Tattooing

Abstract

The knowledge of the chemical composition of the most commonly used pigments is necessary for the diagnosis of some cases of contact eczemas caused by tattoos. Several techniques of chemical analysis and characterization were used to study the materials involved in a permanent tattooing process such as pigments, solvents, needles and specially in the metals contained in them. A battery of patch tests is proposed that includes some substances characterized in the analysed pigments.