Does the structure of the skin change after tattooing?

Tattoo or artificial violation of the skin integrity by the dye impregnation with a piercing (rarely cutting) instrument, originally used for cult purposes, has recently shifted from the criminal environment to the youth society, becoming a popular element of the subculture among the youth. Our previous study has evidenced that this phenomenon has complications caused by both traumas to the skin and side effects of tattoo dyes, about which tattoo parlor clients are not informed.

The aim of the study was to characterize morphological changes in the skin under tattoo exposure in experimental animals and humans.

Material and methods. The experimental study included 40 white nonlinear rats (30 experimental, 10 control). The animals of the experimental group were tattooed with black pigment. The animals were removed from the experiment in 7, 14, and 21 days. The clinical block of the study included 52 cases of patients with complaints of unsatisfactory tattoo appearance, skin itching, edema. Histological examination involved 52 skin fragments with tattoo.

Results. The results obtained demonstrated that in experimental tattoo staged changes in the macro- and microanatomical structure of the skin were observed: the inflammatory stage was replaced by a stage of incomplete phagocytosis with subsequent integration of a pigment into the reticular layer of the dermis. In clinical practice, the development of post-tattoo complications can occur at all stages: from the development of infectious-allergic reactions and granulomatous inflammation to the development of neoplastic processes.

Conclusion. In uncomplicated tattoo, this process should be considered latent, its duration depends on the individual features of a person. In adverse effects of endo- and exogenous factors, late post-tattoo complications may occur.

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