2024-01-11 18:00:00
18% of French people say they are tattooed or have already had a tattoo, a slightly lower proportion than the 21% of Britons and especially the 31% of Americans.
However, this is almost 10 points more than in 2010, for a total of around 13 million people with tattoos. Those under 35 are the most numerous, 29% of them, to have a tattoo.
Despite this enthusiasm, the risk of developing an allergy following a tattoo session is not zero.
Common consultations with dermatologists
“Allergies are the most common reason for consultation in dermatology following tattoos,” estimates Dr. Nicolas Kluger, dermatologist at Bichat Hospital (Paris) and Helsinki University Hospital (Finland), specialist in tattoos within the French Society of Dermatology.
The specialist opened the first “tattoo” consultation at Bichat hospital. “The allergic reason concerns around a third of ‘tattoo’ consultations at Bichat Hospital,” he estimates.
Tattoos, authorized for those allergic to nickel
Allergies mainly occur with red inks and derived shades such as pink or orange, and can sometimes occur even several years following the tattoo.
“It is likely that it is an allergic reaction to a degradation product of the tattoo ink, which then appears gradually,” explains the dermatologist.
Although nickel, present in trace amounts in all inks, can be the cause of certain allergies, nothing has yet been clearly demonstrated. And at this stage, tattooing is not contraindicated in people allergic to nickel.
An unavoidable impurity in colored inks, nickel is therefore found in all inks, but in accordance with regulations.
European legislation regulates the composition of inks quite strictly. These very often come from the United States which respect the specifications defined in Europe. Modifications to these rules to make them even stricter are also in progress.
The needles pointing
If nickel contamination of iron pigments is suspected of being responsible for tattoo allergies, a study published in 2019 identified another source of entry of this metal into the skin and lymph nodes.
This might come from wear of the tattoo needles. The impact on tattoo allergies remains to be evaluated.
Surgery sometimes necessary in case of allergy
In the event of an allergy following getting a tattoo, the skin reacts with swelling, itching and inflammation. Corticosteroid creams are generally effective. If this is not sufficient, it is possible to do corticosteroid infiltrations.
If, despite these strategies, the allergy does not disappear, laser tattoo removal is possible. And, in the worst case, surgical excision of the tattooed skin can be carried out. But it will definitely leave a scar.
Please note, when an allergic reaction to a color occurs, this constitutes a permanent contraindication to the use of this color, including another brand of ink.
Report any adverse reactions
People with tattoos are encouraged to report any adverse reactions they suspect to be linked to their tattoo, to a healthcare professional or via the official portal www.signalement-sante.gouv.fr.
The National Agency for the Safety of Medicines and Health Products (ANSM) is responsible for receiving and recording these reports.
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