Clinical observation of a professional tattooing procedure and evolutionary study of the skin damage provoked

Abstract Objective: A clinical observation of a professional tattooing procedure and the skin damage caused by the tattooing technique and the healing process of the lesions. Materials and methods: Three tattoos were performed using black, red and white ink, together with a fourth “tattoo” with the same characteristics and an identical procedure, but using no ink. The evolution of the lesions was observed over a period of 6 months using photographs and biopsies. Results: The tattoos evolved with no complications. At 72 h, full destruction of the epidermis and de-structuring of the papillary dermis were confirmed. At 3 months, an almost ad integrum restoration of the skin structure was observed with a settling of the inks on the reticular dermis. With regard to the inkless tattoo, a wound with self-limiting capillary bleeding was observed which gradually healed, leaving only a sclerotic and hyperpigmented residual lesion by month 6. Conclusion: An awareness of the tattooing procedure would lead to a better understanding of potential complications, which might arise. This study contains the description and evolution of the lesions and provides the first images of skin damage caused by contemporary professional tattooing techniques, without the masking factor of the ink.