A Clinical and Histopathological Study of Tattoos: I. A Clinical Study

Kim, Jin Wou; Cho, Baik Kee; Houh, Won

Abstract

128 individuals with tattoos, who were seen during physical examination for conscription from February to May, 1985, were taken for a clinical study of tattoos. The results were as follows: 1. The color of the tattoos were blue-black or light blue. The materials most commonly employed were Chinese ink stick and others were Chinese ink, black ink, blue ink, and smokeless coal powder. 2. The tattoos were made by tattooed themselves or by their friends and sewing needles were punctured to introduce particles of pigment into the skin in all cases. 3. As to the sites of tattoos, left forearm was the favorite(42.4%) and others were left upper arm(28. l%), right forearm(5. 5%), right upper arm(5 1%) etc. 4. Among 271 tattoos of 100 kinds, a rose was most frequently seen(5. 9%) and others were a symbol of love(4. 8%), a butterfly(4.l%), - I (one mind) (3.7%), patience (3. 7%) etc. 5. The complications of tattooing were found in 8. 6p, of the tattooed and they were pyoderma, hypertrophic scar, keloid, lymphadenopathy, post-inflammatory ]yper-and hypopigmentation, and scar formation about tattoos. 6. The removd of tatoos were tried all by tattooed themselves. The most frequent method used was scratching up with a knife and others were cigarette burn, attatchment of bean-curd, rubbing with salt, and chemical burns with hydrochloric acid. etc.