Colourants in transferable picture tattoos for the skin

Transferable picture tattoos for the skin are popular among children. There is however very little knowledge about the colourants that may be present in the picture tattoos and thus of the risk of contact allergic reactions. In the present investigation, 36 picture tattoos were analysed for the content of 129 organic colourants listed in the Cosmetic Directive, to which these products should comply as they are used on the skin. Only 11 of the cosmetic colourants could be identified in the analysed samples. Allergenic potential of 7 of these colourants (CI 15850, CI 11920, CI 45220, CI 75300, CI 13015, CI 45100 and CI 15525, maximum concentration 35-4479 p.p.m.) was evaluated on the basis of published scientific data. Only scarce information regarding contact allergy to these substances was found in the available literature. Most information in the literature regarding contact allergy has concerned CI 75300, curcumin, which is reported to have caused a few cases of contact allergy as a colourant in food or in disinfectants used prior to surgery. In no case, allergic reactions to any of the colourants have been verified from transferable picture tattoos. On the basis of this investigation, the risk of allergic reactions from the colourants in the transferable picture tattoos seems to be limited.