Tattoo-induced allergic contact dermatitis presents diagnostic challenge as a cellulitis mimic.
Am J Emerg Med
; 77: 234.e1-234.e3, 2024 03.
Article
em En
| MEDLINE
| ID: mdl-38184441
ABSTRACT
Allergic contact dermatitis (ACD) is a prevalent condition associated with numerous potential allergen exposures. Tattoo ink is variable and may contain allergens that can be overlooked in patient education and diagnosis. We present a 27-year-old female with ACD following a new tattoo. The patient was repeatedly misdiagnosed with cellulitis by three different clinicians and treated with multiple antibiotics without improvement. The correct diagnosis was eventually made in the emergency department (ED). Although the patient was aware of her allergies to nickel and cobalt from patch testing, she was not aware of the potential for tattoo ink to contain these allergens because prior tattoos had not provoked an allergic reaction. Consequently, the appropriate care was delayed by a month, resulting in significant morbidity. This case demonstrates the potential for ACD to present similarly to cellulitis in an ED setting and the need for clinical vigilance in diagnosis of ACD. It also highlights the importance of detailed patient education on potential allergen sources particularly in the context of tattooing, which is performed with unregulated and variable ink products.
Palavras-chave
Texto completo:
1
Base de dados:
MEDLINE
Assunto principal:
Tatuagem
/
Dermatite Alérgica de Contato
Tipo de estudo:
Diagnostic_studies
/
Etiology_studies
Limite:
Adult
/
Female
/
Humans
Idioma:
En
Revista:
Am J Emerg Med
Ano de publicação:
2024
Tipo de documento:
Article
País de afiliação:
Estados Unidos