06 jul 2022 om 21:35
Every week we ask a health question to a medical expert. This week: my tattoo is itching. What could that be? Dermatologist Norbert Ipenburg: “We’ve been seeing a lot of chronic tattoo complaints lately. Take it to the dermatologist, it can prevent serious consequences.”
By: Dorien DijkhuisAre tattoo complaints common?
–
“Relatively many people suffer from their tattoo. It is estimated that 20 percent of people worldwide have one or more tattoos. In the Netherlands, the number is between 20 and 30 percent. 6 to 8 percent of tattoo wearers suffer from it chronically.”
–
What kind of complaints can tattoos cause?
–
“We see many different complications. In the short term, right after getting a tattoo, you can get infections. Usually such a tattoo is not done by a tattoo artist, but by an amateur.”
–
“We now regularly see that people develop a contact allergy to ink. This allergy is most commonly seen on red ink, but can also occur with blue, green and yellow ink, among other things. Ink is actually not intended to be injected into the body, but to spray cars, for example.”
–
Does it only happen with colored ink?
–
“A foreign body reaction can also occur with black ink, sometimes even many years after setting. This reaction works the same as with a splinter: the body wants to get rid of the intruder that does not belong there and does so with an inflammatory reaction of the skin. then gets bumps and the tattoo becomes a bit raised, like a 3D tattoo.”
–
It may be that a skin disease comes to light through the tattoo, but it is also possible that the tattoo fuels or causes the disease.
“In people who have multiple tattoos with black ink, we sometimes also see the so-called rush phenomenon, where flaky bumps suddenly appear in all tattoos. And we also see many skin diseases in people with tattoos.”
–
Skin diseases? Are they caused by the tattoo?
–
“We don’t know exactly yet. It could be that such a disease comes to light through the tattoo, but it could also be that the tattoo fuels or causes the disease. More research needs to be done.”
–
What are the diseases?
–
“For skin diseases that like to get into tattoos: psoriasis, lupus, lichen planus, but also sarcoidosis. In the black parts of the tattoo you get all kinds of black bumps. That can even happen fifteen years after putting it on. Go with it immediately to the doctor.”
–
Why? Is sarcoidosis serious?
–
“Yes. The disease can also affect the lungs and eyes. When I screen patients who have sarcoidosis in their tattoo, other problems often come to light. Really call as soon as possible. It can prevent worse complaints. “
–
How is it possible that you see so many tattoo complaints now?
–
“It probably does not occur more often than in the past, but we suddenly see these complaints a lot because there is more attention to them. Previously there were no places where patients could go. Now there is, among other things, the tattoo clinic in Amsterdam UMC.”
–
