Motorcycling can be dangerous: verrucous lichenoid reaction to a tattoo

Area of Science:

• Dermatology
• Toxicology

Background:

• Body tattooing is a widespread practice globally.
• Tattooing carries inherent health risks, including adverse skin reactions.

Observation:

• A case study of a patient with a passion for motorcycles who self-tattooed.
• The patient developed an exuberant lichenoid reaction characterized by verrucous lesions.
• The reaction was specifically linked to the red pigment used in the tattoo.

Findings:

• The patient presented with a significant and unusual skin reaction to tattoo pigment.
• The verrucous lesions indicated a severe inflammatory response.
• Standard treatments were ineffective in resolving the reaction.

Implications:

• Red tattoo pigments can trigger severe dermatological reactions, such as lichenoid eruptions.
• Self-tattooing may increase risks due to factors like pigment quality and sterile technique.
• Despite the adverse outcome, the patient expressed willingness to tattoo again, indicating a complex relationship with body modification.