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Updated: Sep 29, 2025

Skin Tattooing As A Novel Approach For DNA Vaccine Delivery
Published on: October 18, 2012
Viral Infections Confined to Tattoos-A Narrative Review
Mircea Tampa1,2, Madalina Irina Mitran3,4, Cristina Iulia Mitran3,4
1Department of Dermatology, 'Carol Davila' University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 020021 Bucharest, Romania.
Abstract:
Since ancient times, people have tattooed their skin for various reasons. In the past, tattoos were associated with low social status; nowadays, tattoos are very popular and are considered a form of art. However, tattoos are associated with various clinical problems, including immune reactions, inflammatory disorders, infections, and even skin cancer. Epidemiological and clinical data of infections on tattoos are scarce. Tattoo-related infections are mostly bacterial; only a few localized viral infections have been reported so far and are caused by molluscum contagiosum virus (MCV), human papillomavirus (HPV), and herpes simplex virus (HSV). In most cases, the lesions were strictly confined to the area of the tattoo. In this review, we have analysed reported cases of viral infections localized on tattoos and discussed the possible mechanisms involved in the occurrence of these infections.
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