TY - JOUR
T1 - Sequels to tattoo removal by caustic products
AU - Hutton Carlsen, K
AU - Serup, J
N1 - © 2018 John Wiley & Sons A/S. Published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.
PY - 2018/11
Y1 - 2018/11
N2 - BACKGROUND: Caustic products are used as affordable alternatives to laser removal of tattoos.OBJECTIVE: Describe a series of patients with sequels after tattoo removal by caustic products.METHODS: 11 patients with complications referred from 2013 to 2017 were studied. Objective findings, sequels, corrective treatments, cost and psychological aspects were obtained. Numeric Rating Scale (NRS, score 10 extremely dissatisfied) was used to describe patient satisfaction with tattoos before and after removal.RESULTS: Scarring and residual tattoo pigments were detected in all patients. Chronic itching (73%), redness (73%) and swelling (64%) were frequent. Patients were less satisfied with their tattoo after removal attempts; Average NRS prior to removal was 7.5 (range 5-10), and afterwards 8.9 (range 4.5-10), t test non-significant. Removal was performed by medical professionals (82%) and cosmetologists (18%), involving the marketed injection brands Tatt2Away and Rejuvi. Ten patients had corrections eg. laser, plastic surgery or cover-up tattoos. Private expense for corrections was mean 1.953 EUR, not including consultations provided by the Hospital.CONCLUSION: Tattoo removal by caustic products can cause severe and chronic sequels with dissatisfaction despite therapeutic interventions to correct disfiguring changes. Removal by caustic products is freely permitted. Products are obscured and liability and consumer protection is unacceptable; limitation is needed.
AB - BACKGROUND: Caustic products are used as affordable alternatives to laser removal of tattoos.OBJECTIVE: Describe a series of patients with sequels after tattoo removal by caustic products.METHODS: 11 patients with complications referred from 2013 to 2017 were studied. Objective findings, sequels, corrective treatments, cost and psychological aspects were obtained. Numeric Rating Scale (NRS, score 10 extremely dissatisfied) was used to describe patient satisfaction with tattoos before and after removal.RESULTS: Scarring and residual tattoo pigments were detected in all patients. Chronic itching (73%), redness (73%) and swelling (64%) were frequent. Patients were less satisfied with their tattoo after removal attempts; Average NRS prior to removal was 7.5 (range 5-10), and afterwards 8.9 (range 4.5-10), t test non-significant. Removal was performed by medical professionals (82%) and cosmetologists (18%), involving the marketed injection brands Tatt2Away and Rejuvi. Ten patients had corrections eg. laser, plastic surgery or cover-up tattoos. Private expense for corrections was mean 1.953 EUR, not including consultations provided by the Hospital.CONCLUSION: Tattoo removal by caustic products can cause severe and chronic sequels with dissatisfaction despite therapeutic interventions to correct disfiguring changes. Removal by caustic products is freely permitted. Products are obscured and liability and consumer protection is unacceptable; limitation is needed.
KW - Adult
KW - Caustics/adverse effects
KW - Cicatrix/chemically induced
KW - Consumer Product Safety
KW - Cosmetic Techniques/adverse effects
KW - Costs and Cost Analysis
KW - Denmark
KW - Erythema/chemically induced
KW - Female
KW - Humans
KW - Male
KW - Patient Satisfaction
KW - Pigmentation Disorders/chemically induced
KW - Pruritus/chemically induced
KW - Tattooing
KW - Young Adult
U2 - 10.1111/srt.12578
DO - 10.1111/srt.12578
M3 - Journal article
C2 - 29782050
SN - 0909-752X
VL - 24
SP - 636
EP - 641
JO - Skin research and technology : official journal of International Society for Bioengineering and the Skin (ISBS) [and] International Society for Digital Imaging of Skin (ISDIS) [and] International Society for Skin Imaging (ISSI)
JF - Skin research and technology : official journal of International Society for Bioengineering and the Skin (ISBS) [and] International Society for Digital Imaging of Skin (ISDIS) [and] International Society for Skin Imaging (ISSI)
IS - 4
ER -