|
Color |
Base |
Reaction |
|
|
|
|
| Red |
Red pigments are derived
from mercury, also listed as mercury sulfide,
cinnabar, vermillion and red cinnabar. The metal
cadmium red may is also be used.
Non-metallic red pigments that can be used for
tattoos include carmine and scarlet lake or
sandalwood and brazil wood, which are organic red
pigments. |
Mercury pigments are most commonly associated
with skin reactions. These reactions may occur years
after you get your tattoo. Often the metal alone
doesn’t cause a problem, but it is when the pigment
is exposed to cross reactants that a reaction can
occur. Chemicals like the preservative thimerasol
(used as a preservative in contact lens solutions
and eye drops), mercurochrome, and some vaccines,
may cause a reaction in your tattoo. If you think
you have a thimerasol allergy, you may want to
explore non-metallic pigments. Also, some organic
compounds have been known to cause phototoxic
reactions when exposed to sunlight. |
| Black |
Black and grey pigments are
usually carbon products. Other sources include black
ink and logwood. |
Sensitivity to carbon pigment is rare, since it
is not derived from a metal. However, black henna
tattoos have been known to cause allergic reactions
due to contaminants in the black henna. |
| Yellow |
Yellow pigment is most
often derived from cadmium sulfide. |
Yellow is known to be a common cause of skin
reactions. Usually eczematous, these reactions are
localized to the tattoo, but sometimes generalized
reactions occur. Cadmium may also be associated with
phototoxic reactions when exposed to light. |
| Blue |
Both deep and light blue
dyes are derived from a variety of cobalt salts.
|
Blue pigments commonly cause granulomatous
reactions as well as allergic skin reactions
localized to the tattoo. In some cases, eye
inflammation has been reported. |
| Green |
Green dyes are derived from
chromium and chromium oxide. They are listed under a
variety of names such as chrome green, casalic green
and guignet’s green.
Chromium sesquioxide, or veridan, another type of
chromium salt, and copper salt derivatives are often
used to make shades such as emerald green. |
Chromium is a common cause of eczematous skin
reactions, both localized to the tattoo, as well as
on other parts of the body. Most allergic reactions
do not appear immediately; rather they occur several
years after the tattooing. Intense itching may be
the first sign of a reaction. |
| Purple/Violet |
Purple pigment is obtained
from the metal manganese |
Manganese may cause the formation of
granulomatous reactions in skin. |
| Brown |
Brown dyes are created
using venetian Red, a ferric oxide derivative, or
from cadmium salts. |
Both brown dye derivatives have been known to
cause phototoxic reactions when exposed to sunlight.
|
| White |
White pigments are made
from titanium or zinc oxide or from the use of lead
carbonates. |
Mild skin reactions may occur from the metallic
derivatives. |
| Other |
Colors such as neon or
"hot" colors often contain flourescene and metal
compounds. |
Many people are allergic to fluoroscene. |
