Tattooing is an ancient art form widely practiced among Special Operations Forces (SOF) personnel. The ink injected into skin tissue during tattooing often contains various compounds, including impurities and contaminants, which can pose health risks. This article provides an overview of recent research to inform SOF medical personnel about the potential health implications of both new and older tattoos.

暂无摘要。

Background  The purpose of this study was to clarify fading, red, green, and blue values (RGB) change, and color reproducibility for nipple-areola complex (NAC) tattoos. Methods  NAC tattooing was performed on 60 sites in 59 Japanese patients prospectively. The evaluation was assessed using digital photo, Casmatch standardization, and RGB and luminance values preoperatively, immediately after, 1 week, 1, 3, 6, and 12 months after tattooing. RGB and luminance values changes over time, time-adjusted fading rate, and the rate of luminance at 12 months were calculated. In color reproducibility study ( n  = 34), RGB values after 12 months were compared with the color sample about dark/reddish and light/less reddish pigments. Results  RGB varied widely from immediately after to 1 month after tattooing. For RGB and luminance, significant differences were seen between pre and immediate after, 1 and 3 months, 3 and 6 months, and 6 and 12 months. In G values, significant differences were seen between all neighboring points. The fading rate tended to decrease as time progresses, but was not significant, that is, fading continued even between 6 and 12 months. Luminance was 9% brighter than contralateral NAC at 12 months. Color reproducibility tended to be higher with dark/reddish pigments, despite no significant differences. Conclusion  The fading rate of tattooed NACs tended to decrease as time progresses, but fading still occurs between 6 and 12 months. Luminance was 9% brighter than contralateral NAC at 12 months after.

BACKGROUND: Permanent tattooing is the invasive introduction of tattoo ink (pigments) into the dermis. The ink and aftercare cosmetics applied on pre-damaged skin may contain skin sensitisers.
OBJECTIVE: To identify patient characteristics and the pattern of sensitisation in tattooed patients patch tested within the Information Network of Departments of Dermatology (IVDK).
METHODS: Comparative analysis of patient characteristics and reaction frequencies to baseline series allergens in 1648 consecutive patients with and 8045 consecutive patients without permanent tattoos. Non-overlapping 95%-confidence intervals were considered as significant.
RESULTS: Having permanent tattoos was related with female sex, age <40 years, tobacco smoking, atopic dermatitis, (occupational) hand dermatitis and being employed in particular occupational groups (e.g., healthcare workers, mechanics, hairdressers). Sensitisation to nickel was increased in tattooed patients and associated with female sex (OR 4.23 [95%-CI, 3.48-5.18]), age ≥40 years (OR 1.26 [95%-CI, 1.08-1.49]), tobacco smoking (OR 1.19 [95%-CI, 1.01-1.40]) and having permanent tattoos (OR 1.27 [95%-CI, 1.05-1.53]).
CONCLUSIONS: The association between nickel sensitisation and permanent tattoos is probably confounded by past reactions to pierced costume jewellery. Socio-economic factors most probably contribute to the connection between tattoos, tobacco smoking, occupational or hand dermatitis, and being employed in particular occupational groups.

In breast cancer, Targeted Axillary Dissection (TAD) allows for the selective excision of the sentinel lymph node (SLN) during primary tumor surgery. TAD consists of the resection of labelled SLNs prior to neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NACT). Numerous clinical and preclinical studies have explored the use of carbon-based colloids for SLN tattooing prior to NACT. However, carbon vectors show varying degrees of inflammatory reactions and, in about one fifth of cases, carbon particles migrate via the lymphatic pathway to other nodes, causing the SLN to mismatch the tattooed node. To overcome these limitations, in this study, we explored the use of melanin as a staining endogenous pigment. We synthesized and characterized melanin-loaded polymeric nanoparticles (Mel-NPs) and used them to tattoo lymph nodes in pig animal models given the similarity in the size of the human and pig nodes. Mel-NPs tattooed lymph nodes showed high identification rates, reaching 83.3% positive identification 16 weeks after tattooing. We did not observe any reduction in the identification as time increased, implying that the colloid is stable in the lymph node tissue. In addition, we performed histological and ultrastructural studies to characterize the biological behavior of the tag. We observed foreign-body-like granulomatous inflammatory responses associated with Mel-NPs, characterized by the formation of multinucleated giant cells. In addition, electron microscopy studies showed that uptake is mainly performed by macrophages, and that macrophages undergo cellular damage associated with particle uptake.

The rising global popularity of cosmetic and corrective tattoos has concurrently led to an increased demand for their removal. While in the past, methods like surgical excision, chemical destruction, and dermabrasion were employed, lasers have emerged as a reliable and effective tool for tattoo removal. Increasing technological options and combination treatment strategies have raised the importance of understanding the various approaches to laser tattoo removal along with their respective clinical impact. This CME aims to describe the multifaceted aspects of laser tattoo removal, including the method selection, application principles, and safety considerations. Furthermore, it addresses the factors considered when selecting the most suitable laser to achieve optimal treatment outcomes.

OBJECTIVE: Tattooing is one of the leading donor deferral reasons in Australia. Until September 2020, donors were deferred from all donation types for 4 months after a tattoo. At this time, our guideline changed such that donations of plasma for further manufacture were accepted immediately, provided the tattoo was administered in a licensed or regulated Australian establishment. We examined the effects of this change.
METHODS: Donors with a tattoo deferral in the 2 years before or after the guideline change were identified and followed up until 3 November 2022. Between the two periods, we compared blood-borne virus (BBV) incidence, donor return, and the number of donors and donations regained after deferral.
RESULTS: The incidence of BBV infection in donors after a tattoo deferral was zero in both periods. To exceed a residual risk of 1 in 1 million for hepatitis C virus, 190 donors would need to be infected yearly from a tattoo. Donors returned to donate significantly faster after the change (median return 85 days compared with 278 days). An extra 187 donations per 10,000 person-years of observation were gained, yielding a total of 44,674 additional plasma donations nationally 0-4 months after getting a tattoo.
CONCLUSIONS: Allowing plasma donations immediately post-tattoo resulted in a substantial donation gain with no adverse safety effect. Lifeblood subsequently reduced the deferral for transfusible component donations to 7 days for tattoos in Australian licensed/regulated establishments.

Permanent makeup (PMU) is a popular form of tattooing used to replace or enhance the use of daily makeup. The purpose of this literature review is to provide an overview of PMU, with a particular focus on its use, regulation, and potential complications reported in the literature. In the United States, there is significant variation in the regulation and training required to perform PMU. Adverse outcomes of PMU include infectious, allergic, and inflammatory complications. These complications may be more common if proper hygiene and aftercare practices are not followed. Cosmetically, PMU may shift or have an altered appearance if the underlying skin is treated with cosmetic fillers or local anesthetics. Given the popularity of PMU and its cosmetic uses, dermatologists should be aware of the PMU industry, potential complications, and how best to manage complications.

Dermal tattoo biosensors are promising platforms for real-time monitoring of biomarkers, with skin used as a diagnostic interface. Traditional tattoo sensors have utilized small molecules as biosensing elements. However, the rise of synthetic biology has enabled the potential employment of engineered bacteria as living analytical tools. Exploiting engineered bacterial sensors will allow for potentially more sensitive detection across a broad biomarker range, with advanced processing and sense/response functionalities using genetic circuits. Here, the interfacing of bacterial biosensors as living analytics in tattoos is shown. Engineered bacteria are encapsulated into micron-scale hydrogel beads prepared through scalable microfluidics. These biosensors can sense both biochemical cues (model biomarkers) and biophysical cues (temperature changes, using RNA thermometers), with fluorescent readouts. By tattooing beads into skin models and confirming sensor activity post-tattooing, our study establishes a foundation for integrating bacteria as living biosensing entities in tattoos.

BACKGROUND: Scalp micropigmentation (SMP) is becoming increasingly popular. Accordingly, complications of the procedure are on the rise. However, the results of improperly performed SMP are exceedingly challenging to rectify and ultimately lead to severe mental stress and feelings of inferiority in patients.
OBJECTIVE: This retrospective study aimed to explore various aspects of unsatisfactory SMP outcomes and examine corrective measures available after the procedure.
METHODS: A total of 120 patients who underwent corrective surgery or procedures due to unsatisfactory outcomes after SMP were enrolled in the study. Their photographs and medical charts were reviewed retrospectively.
RESULTS: Out of 120 participants, 76 were women and 43 men. In total, 107 patients (89.2%) had been treated at a tattooing or cosmetic facility at a beauty salon performing permanent makeup, 12 (10.0%) at another clinic, and one (0.8%) at an oriental medicine clinic. Of 120 patients, hair transplant surgery was performed on 74 patients (61.7%). Twenty-five (20.8%) underwent both hair transplant surgery and complementary SMP. Sixteen (13.3%) patients received laser tattoo removal and underwent SMP anew. Five patients (4.2%) had a previous tattoo removed without additional treatment. Patients\' subjective satisfaction scores averaged 4.5/5. The physician\'s objective satisfaction score was 4.6/5.
CONCLUSIONS: In cases where SMP is inadequately performed, satisfactory results can be achieved through appropriate revisions, such as tattoo removal, repeated SMP, or hair transplant surgery to conceal the tattoo by highly experienced medical professionals.
METHODS: IV.