Chemical Tattoo Treatment Leading to Systemic Cobalt Hypersensitivity

Skinmed. 2017 Jun 1;15(3):221-222. eCollection 2017.

Abstract

An otherwise healthy 36-year-old Caucasian woman, without prior history of atopic dermatitis or eczema, presented to an outside dermatologist with a generalized, severely pruritic eruption involving the entire body except the face. One month previously, she had used a 50% trichloroacetic acid tattoo removal solution on a blue-colored tattoo on the medial aspect of the left ankle. The patient's eruption persisted for 7 months, and after several attempts to slowly taper her prednisone dose, she presented to our institution. On physical examination, there was a 3-cm erythematous, lichenified plaque surrounding the tattoo (Figure). On the trunk and upper regions of the arms, there were scattered, 1- to 2-cm, nummular patches and plaques. Biopsy of a truncal lesion revealed spongiotic pustules with a mixed dermal infiltrate and scattered eosinophils, consistent with subacute spongiotic dermatitis.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Caustics / therapeutic use
  • Chronic Disease
  • Cobalt / adverse effects*
  • Cobalt / immunology
  • Dermatitis / etiology*
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Hypersensitivity / etiology*
  • Ink
  • Pruritus / etiology*
  • Tattooing / adverse effects*
  • Trichloroacetic Acid / therapeutic use

Substances

  • Caustics
  • Cobalt
  • Trichloroacetic Acid