Nuviderm Reviews – Tattoo Pigment Allergies

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January 26, 2010

Inflammatory reactions sometimes result from the tissue injury that is necessary for the formation of a tattoo when the pigment is injected into the selected location for the body art. The inflammation usually recedes without further incident within 2 – 3 weeks and is an expected reaction of your bodys’ immune system to the tattooing process.

Once the initial immune system response has settled down , the most frequent reaction observed is an allergic sensitivity to one of the pigments used in the formation of the tattoo. These reactions evolve in many different ways and include granulomas, which are a ball-like collection of immune cells which form when the immune system attempts to wall off substances that it perceives as foreign but is unable to eliminate. Spongiotic dermatitis which causes itching and redness on the skin. The cause is related to allergic reactions to pigments used in the tattoo. Another sign of allergic sensitivity is Lichen planus, an abnormal immune reaction provoked by a viral infection or sensitivity to a specific tattoo pigment. Inflammatory cells seem to mistake the skin cells as foreign and attack them.

Usually, allergic reactions to a tattoo pigment are contact dermatitis and photoallergic dermatitis, meaning a sensitivity to artificial and natural light, but most commonly to natural sunlight.

Allergic reactions to red tattoo pigments are the most common and may be caused by a variety of pigments, especially mercury sulfide. Alternative red vegetable dyes have been developed because of the problems associated with red tattoo pigment containing mercury; however, red tattoo reactions continue to be reported although with much less frequency.

Light sensitivity is commonly caused by yellow (cadmium sulfide) tattoo pigment. Swelling and redness may develop with exposure to sunlight. Although the reason is not clear, cadmium sulfide is the light-sensitive material used in photoelectric cells; therefore, the reaction is believed to be phototoxic. Red tattoos are sometimes associated with light sensitivity because of trace amounts of cadmium added to brighten the red pigment.

Pigments used to create green, blue, and black tattoos are much less common.

Blue tattoos that contain cobalt sometimes experience allergic reactions which can rarely develop into inflammation of the middle layer of the eye called uveitis. Uveitis is a condition that can be treated with steroid eye drops, tablets or injections.

So, aside from tattoo regret, whatever the cause, allergic reactions to tattoo pigment should be taken into consideration when getting a tattoo. Always ask about pigment ingredients and only use the services of clean, reputable tattoo shops and artists.

If you decide it’s time for a removal be sure to consider Nuviderm, the easy, effective and affordable alternative to laser tattoo removal.

By: Johnathan Scott

About the Author:

Jonathan Scott has been in the tattoo industry for over 20 years. He is an expert on the application of tattoos and serves as the in house expert on tattoo removal for

Nuviderm Tattoo Fade and Removal. and contributes to Nuviderm’s WordPress Blog and Nuviderm Blog

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