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Human Tattoo
Author(s) -
Lea P. J.,
Pawlowski A.
Publication year - 1987
Publication title -
international journal of dermatology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.677
H-Index - 93
eISSN - 1365-4632
pISSN - 0011-9059
DOI - 10.1111/j.1365-4362.1987.tb00590.x
Subject(s) - dermis , ultrastructure , necrosis , basement membrane , epidermis (zoology) , medicine , pathology , biopsy , human skin , electron microscope , anatomy , biology , genetics , physics , optics
Ultrathin serial sections of human biopsy specimens, taken at 24 hours, I month, and 1, 3, and 40 years post‐tattooing were examined under the electron microscope. The ink particles found in cells were measured and compared with control ink particles embedded in agar. Freshly tattooed skin showed an inflammatory reaction followed by ultrastructural necrosis. The time of healing, about I month from introduction of ink to complete healing, hits been divided into three phases: inflammatory reaction and necrosis, format/on of basement membrane, and normal epidermis and dermis. Once the skin showed normal ultrastructure, ink particles were found only in dermal fibroblasts.