Inflammatory reactions from organic pigments in red tattoos.

Two different red pigments used for tattooing were found to give rise to inflammatory reactions in the skin. No inorganic component was found in the pigments. NMR and MS analyses elucidated the molecular structures of two different organic compounds. A bright red pigment was found to be an aromatic azo-derivative, and a red-violet pigment was found to be linear quinacridone. A strong exposure to UV-light was reported in most cases prior to the onset of the inflammation.