To the Editor.—
Successful removal of pigment from tattoos following superficial dermabrasion and salabrasion seems to follow a secondary inflammatory response leading to phagocytosed pigment being lost in the overlying crust.1-3Ithought the induction of an acute contact dermatitis with subsequent crusting-over of a tattoo might result in pigment being carried to the surface in a similar way.
Patients and Methods.—
Six patients who requested the removal of their tattoos entered this treatment trial. The tattoos were situated on the arm in five patients and on the dorsa of the fingers in one. Two tattoos had been applied by an amateur and four had been applied professionally. Each subject was sensitized with a single challenge, consisting of 0.1 mL of a 2% solution of dinitrochlorobenzene in acetone placed on the tattoo.4Two weeks later, following successful sensitization, the 2% dinitrochlorobenzene solution was carefully applied with a cotton wool-tipped