Tattoo-Associated Viral Infections: A Review

Tattoos: risks and complications, clinical and histopathological approach

BACKGROUND

Skin modification through tattoos is as old as humanity itself. However, this trend is on the rise, and with the use of different types of pigments and application practices, both cutaneous and systemic complications can arise. Adverse reactions can be grouped into five classes: inflammatory, infectious, neoplastic, aesthetic, and miscellaneous. On histopathology, inflammatory reactions can exhibit a lichenoid pattern or present as spongiotic dermatitis, granulomatous reactions, pseudolymphoma, pseudoepitheliomatous hyperplasia, or scleroderma/morphea-like changes. This article reviews tattoo complications, including their clinical and histopathological characteristics.

METHODS

An open search was conducted on PubMed using the terms "tattoo", "complications", and "skin". No limits were set for period, language, or publication type of the articles.

RESULTS

Reactions to tattoos are reported in up to 67% of people who get tattooed, with papulonodular and granulomatous reactions being the most common. Some neoplastic complications have been described, but their causality is still debated. Any pigment can cause adverse reactions, although red ink is more frequently associated with them. Patients with pre-existing dermatoses may experience exacerbation or complications of their diseases when getting tattoos; therefore, this procedure is not recommended for this patient group.

CONCLUSIONS

Dermatological consultation is recommended before getting a tattoo, as well as a histopathological examination in case of complications. In patients who develop cutaneous inflammatory reactions following tattooing, additional studies are recommended to investigate systemic diseases such as sarcoidosis, pyoderma gangrenosum, atopic dermatitis, and neoplasms. It is important for physicians to be trained in providing appropriate care in case of complications.

Ecotoxicity, Health Risks and Contact Allergy Due to p-Phenylenediamine in Hair Dyes and Tattoos: Female Students' Perspectives

While the financial advantages of hair coloring and tattooing are widely acknowledged, environmental hazards and health risks linked to this trend due to their p-phenylenediamine (PPD) content have received less attention. Health education on hair-dying products is warranted to enhance the public's awareness of hair-dying ingredients and their side effects.  A cross-sectional study was therefore conducted with 319 students to assess knowledge of ecotoxicity, health risks, and practices of hair dyeing and tattooing among undergraduate students. A random sample of 59 students was checked for any allergic morphology in the scalp and exposed areas of skin near the neck, ears, palms, and nails. Responses collected were used for data analyses using IBM SPSS Statistics for Windows, Version 17 (Released 2008; IBM Corp., Armonk, New York, United States). Use of hair dye was significantly high among study participants 58.5% (n=187; p<0.05). However, their knowledge regarding the presence of PPD in hair dyes and associated environmental toxicity (37.8%, n=121) was very limited. The majority of participants did not do any allergy tests before applying hair dye (88.9%, n=283). The study revealed that the main reason for hair coloring was as a fashion statement (93.7%, n=299). Regarding tattooing practices, 96.9% (n=309) of study participants had never practiced tattoos, and hence, the prevalence of tattooing was 3.9% (n=12). These data confirmed that the practice of hair dyeing as a style statement was high among students. However, the majority were unaware of their PPD contents and their potential ecotoxicity and health risks.

Compliance of blood donors in Germany with non-sexual deferral criteria

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES

In addition to mandatory testing of blood donations, the deferral of donors in the case of various sexual and non-sexual risk exposures ensures the safety of blood products in Germany. The study aimed to quantify non-disclosure of non-sexual risk exposures, as no data are available so far.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

We conducted an anonymous online survey among whole-blood donors with successful donations between January and March 2020. Data on travel to countries with endemic malaria, recent mild or febrile infections, tattoos or piercings and drug use were collected. We analysed non-compliance in relation to donor demographics by multivariable analyses.

RESULTS

Altogether, 5.4% of the donors were non-compliant. Non-disclosure was highest for mild infection with 3.3% of donors, followed by febrile infections (1.4%), travel to malaria endemic countries (0.7%) and body modifications (0.5%). Intravenous drug use was negligible in our study population. Age was a predictor for all investigated risks, with higher prevalence in younger age groups. Prevalence ratios for non-disclosure of body modifications and mild infection were higher in females than males. Donation in blood establishments with mobile services was associated with higher non-disclosure of mild infections.

CONCLUSION

The considerable degree of non-compliance in some donor groups reflects the prevalence of risk factors in the underlying population (e.g., body modification) as well as probable tendency to socially desirable responding. Donor education should not focus exclusively on sexual risk behaviour, as undisclosed non-sexual exposures may bear risks for recipients and donors.

Comparative study on the age-related incidence of seborrheic keratosis and verruca plana in patients with verruca plana-like lesions

Seborrheic keratosis (SK) is a common skin disease in the elderly. However, in cases where SK presenting as multiple skin-colored or clustered lesions can be easily misdiagnosed as verruca plana (VP), especially in the young population. This retrospective study investigated the prevalence of SK and VP in the lesions that appear clinically similar to VP according to age. We examined the pathology slides of the skin tissue and photographs of patients who were clinically suspected to have VP. A total of 503 patients were included in the study, out of which 174 patients were finally diagnosed with SK (34.6%) and 132 with VP (26.2%). The mean ages of the SK- and VP-diagnosed group were 39.3 and 35.4 years, respectively. SK had a higher prevalence among individuals older than 30 years, and relative frequency of SK should not be ignored in patients with a grouped distribution in their 20 s and 30 s. Therefore, our study suggests that multiple verrucous skin-colored to brownish plaques are also commonly diagnosed as SK in young people as well as VP, and the prevalence of SK and VP may not always depend solely on chronological aging, and the prevalence of SK among young people may be higher than commonly believed stereotypes suggest.

Complication after nipple-areolar complex tattooing performed by a non-medical person: A case report

BACKGROUND

Compared to earlier, there has been an increase in the tattoo procedures for cosmetic purposes; and there has also been an increase in the tattoo procedures performed by non-medical personnel. In South Korea, only tattoos performed by a doctor are considered legal; however, there is still some debate over whether tattoo procedures performed by non-healthcare providers should be considered legal.

CASE SUMMARY

A 28-year-old woman visited our hospital with pain in both nipples and heat sensation over the last 4 d. She had a history of a nipple tattoo performed by an unlicensed person. Pinpoint bleeding was noted in both areolar areas, and the exudate mixed with pus and orange color ink was discharged. Oral medication and tulle with foam dressing were performed under the impression of cellulitis and allergic reaction. After 4 wk, nipples remained dark brown in color, resulting in a color mismatch between the nipple and orange-colored areola. The size of the areola was also found to be distinctly asymmetrical after healing. This complication may have been caused by the use of illegal ink or unsanitary procedures, or a problem may have occurred in the post-tattoo management stage.

CONCLUSION

Doctors use approved ink, aseptic procedure and appropriate postoperative care, and appropriate management can be performed in case of complications.

Trends in Co-circulation of Oncogenic HPV Genotypes in Single and Multiple Infections among Unvaccinated Community

Cocirculation of multiple human papillomavirus (HPV) infections with low, probably high, and high‐risk genotypes are to be associated with various grades of infections and cancer progression. The oncogenic high‐risk HPVs are distributed and cocirculated throughout the world. This study was investigated to identify HPV genotypes related to genital disorders in unvaccinated women. The subjects were referred from clinics to a molecular lab for HPV testing in Iran as a low‐coverage vaccinated country. HPVs DNAs of cervical scrapping and genital tissue specimens of 1,133 un‐vaccinated women were genotyped using an in vitro diagnostic line probe (reverse hybridization) assay. In addition, phylogenetic trees were constructed on 100 MY09/MY11 polymerase chain reaction (PCR) amplicons of common genotypes of HPV L1 gene by Sanger sequencing. The mean age of the population study was 32.7 ± 8.0 and the mean age of HPV‐positive cases was 31.6 ± 7.8. HPV DNA was detected in 57.8% (655/1133) of women subjects and 42.2% (478/1133) of cases were undetected. Among 655 HPV‐positive cases, 639 subjects (56.4%) were related to defined genotypes and 16 subjects (1.4%) were untypeable. The highest prevalence rate of HPV genotypes was identified in the 25–34 years. The top 6 dominant HPVs in single and multiple genotypes were HPV6 (284/655 [43.4%]), HPV16 (111/655 [16.9%]), HPV31 (72/655 [11%]), HPV53 (67/655 [10.2%]), HPV11 (62/655 [9.5%]), and HPV52 (62/655 [9.5%]). Moreover, single, multiple and untypeable HPV genotypes were diagnosed as follows: 1 type (318/655 [48.5%]), 2 types (162/655 [24.8%]), 3 types (83/655 [12.7%]), 4 types (42/655 [6.5%]), more than 5 types (34/655 [5.3%]), and 1.4% un‐typeable subjects. The sequenced partial L1 gene of HPV genotypes (GenBank databases under the accession numbers: MH253467‐MH253566) confirmed and determined the cocirculated HPV genotypes' origins and addressed helpful insights into the future viral epidemiology investigations. Multiple HPV infections and cocirculation of various oncogenic HPV genotypes among the normal population (women and men) with asymptomatic forms are still challenging in unvaccinated communities. The preventive and organized surveillance programs for HPV screening are needed to be considered and compiled by health policy makers of low or unvaccinated countries.

Viral Infections Confined to Tattoos-A Narrative Review

Since ancient times, people have tattooed their skin for various reasons. In the past, tattoos were associated with low social status; nowadays, tattoos are very popular and are considered a form of art. However, tattoos are associated with various clinical problems, including immune reactions, inflammatory disorders, infections, and even skin cancer. Epidemiological and clinical data of infections on tattoos are scarce. Tattoo-related infections are mostly bacterial; only a few localized viral infections have been reported so far and are caused by molluscum contagiosum virus (MCV), human papillomavirus (HPV), and herpes simplex virus (HSV). In most cases, the lesions were strictly confined to the area of the tattoo. In this review, we have analysed reported cases of viral infections localized on tattoos and discussed the possible mechanisms involved in the occurrence of these infections.

Tinea and Tattoo: A Man Who Developed Tattoo-Associated Tinea Corporis and a Review of Dermatophyte and Systemic Fungal Infections Occurring Within a Tattoo

Fungal infections may occur within tattoos. These include not only dermatophyte infections (tattoo-associated tinea) but also systemic mycoses (tattoo-associated systemic fungal infections). The PubMed search engine, accessing the MEDLINE database, was used to search for all papers with the terms: (1) tinea and tattoo, and (2) systemic fungal infection and tattoo. Tattoo-associated tinea corporis has been observed in 12 individuals with 13 tattoos; this includes the 18-year-old man who developed a dermatophyte infection, restricted to the black ink, less than one-month after tattoo inoculation on his left arm described in this report.

Tattoo-associated tinea typically occurred on an extremity in the black ink. The diagnosis was established either by skin biopsy, fungal culture, and/or potassium hydroxide preparation. The cultured dermatophytes included Trichophyton rubrum, Epidermophyton floccosum, Microsporum canis, Microsporum gypseum, and Trichophyton tonsurans. Several sources for the tinea were documented: autoinfection (two patients), anthrophilic (tinea capitis from the patient’s son), and zoophilic (either the patient’s cat or dog). Three patients presented with tinea incognito resulting from prior corticosteroid treatment. Tinea appeared either early (within one month or less after inoculation during tattoo healing) in six patients or later (more than two months post-inoculation in a healed tattoo) in six patients.

Injury to the skin from the tattoo needle, or use of non-sterile instruments, or contaminated ink, and/or contact with a human or animal dermatophyte source are possible causes of early tinea infection. Tattoo ink-related phenomenon (presence of nanoparticles, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, and cytokine-enhancement) and/or the creation of an immunocompromised cutaneous district are potential causes of late tinea infection. Treatment with topical and/or oral antifungal agents provided complete resolution of the dermatophyte for all the patients with tattoo-associated tinea.

Tattoo-associated systemic fungal infection has been reported in six patients: five men and one patient whose age, sex, immune status, and some tattoo features (duration, color, and treatment) were not reported. The onset of infection after tattoo inoculation was either within less than one month (two men), three months (two men), or 69 months (one man). The tattoo was dark (either black or blue) and often presented as papules (three men) or nodules (two men) that were either individual or multiple and intact or ulcerated. The lesion was asymptomatic (one man), non-tender (one man), or painful (one man). The systemic fungal organisms included Acremonium species, Aspergillus fumigatus, Purpureocillium lilacinum, Saksenaea vasiformis, and Sporothrix schenckii. Contaminated tattoo ink was a confirmed cause of the systemic fungal infection in one patient; other postulated sources included non-professional tattoo inoculation, infected tattooing tool and/or ink in an immunosuppression host, and contaminated ritual tattooing instruments and dye. Complete resolution of the tattoo-associated systemic fungal infection occurred following systemic antifungal drug therapy.

In conclusion, several researchers favor that tattoo inoculation can be implicated as a causative factor in the development of tattoo-associated tinea; however, in some of the men, tattoo-associated systemic fungal infection may have merely been coincidental.

What about Your Body Ornament? Experiences of Tattoo and Piercing among Italian Youths

BACKGROUND

tattooing and piercing are increasingly common, especially among youths. However, several health complications may be associated with these practices if basic hygiene rules are not respected. This multicenter study was aimed at exploring tattoo and piercing experiences reported by a large sample of Italian undergraduate students through a public health perspective.

METHODS

tattooed and/or pierced students attending 12 Italian universities were asked to complete a web-based questionnaire regarding their body art experience.

RESULTS

out of 1472 respondents, 833 (56.6%) were tattooed and 1009 (68.5%) were pierced. The greatest proportion of tattooed students (93.9%) got her/his first tattoo in a tattoo studio, while most of the pierced were serviced in a jewelry store (48.0%). The pierced ones were less informed on health issues related to the procedure (56.0% versus 77.8% of tattooed p < 0.001), and tattooists were reportedly more attentive to hygiene rules (instrument sterilization 91.5% versus 79.1% of piercers, p < 0.001; use of disposable gloves 98.2% versus 71% of piercers, p < 0.001).

CONCLUSIONS

educational interventions for both professionals and communities are needed to improve the awareness and the control of health risks related to body art throughout the Italian territory.