[Tattooing in drug addicts. Symbolic barriers or a handicap to rehabilitation?]

Occasionally dermatologists are consulted by previously addicted young people who want to have tattoos removed to help them achieve social integration. Most of these tattoos have been done on exposed parts of the body (hands, forearms, chest) by the patients themselves. The area of the tattoo and how obvious it is must influence the decision on whether to agree to such requests, since unrealistic expectations with regard to the cosmetic result and ignorance about the number of operations required are quite common. To give the right support, it is useful to know something about the background of such tattoos and to the desire of be rid of them.