Allergic Reaction to Red Tattoo Ink: A Case Report of an Anime-Inspired Tattoo in an Immunocompromised Patient

Tattoos have become a form of artistic expression throughout human life. They have also been used in the medical field in various subspecialties for diagnostic and therapeutic purposes. The rise in this activity has been accompanied by increased cutaneous and systemic complications associated with various pigments and application techniques. Some cutaneous complications related to tattooing may include inflammatory, infectious, and proliferative forms. It is well-known that there are relative contraindications for patients with systemic or skin conditions, which pose a higher risk for complications following tattoo application. One relative contraindication may be immunosuppression caused by a chronic degenerative disease or medications that compromise immunity. This immunosuppression can be either temporary or permanent. We present an atypical case of a patient who experienced a complication secondary to red tattoo ink within the context of immunosuppression due to treatment for his underlying disease.