Red tattoo allergies after REACH regulation: a continuing problem

Despite new EU regulations, allergies to red ink tattoos remain an urgent public health problem. Red tattoo pigments continue to occur at a clinically relevant rate. This observation raises critical questions about the effectiveness, scope, and enforcement of the Registration, Evaluation, Authorization, and Restriction of Chemicals (REACH) regulation. We argue that current tattoo ink restrictions fail to sufficiently protect European consumers from known allergens and that regulatory revisions are urgently needed.