Tattoos and skin barrier function: Measurements of TEWL, stratum corneum conductance and capacitance, pH, and filaggrin

Abstract

Background Initially after tattooing, the skin barrier function is broken. However, the long‐term impact of clinically healed tattoos on this has never been studied. The aim was to investigate the long‐term effect on the skin barrier function in normal tattoos and examples of tattoos with chronic inflammatory complication. Methods Participants were recruited from the “Tattoo clinic” of the Dermatological Department on Bispebjerg Hospital in Denmark, where patients with complicated tattoo reactions are treated. Transepidermal water loss (TEWL), conductance, capacitance, and pH were measured in tattooed skin with regional control measurements in normal non‐tattooed skin. Natural moisturizing factor (NMF) was measured in collected tape strips. Results Twenty six individuals with 28 tattoos were included, that is, 23 normal tattoos without any pathologic reaction and 5 tattoos with chronic inflammatory complications. No significant differences were found in tattooed versus non‐tattooed skin with respect to TEWL (median values 6.6 vs 7.2 g/m2/h), conductance (76 vs 78 a.u.), pH (5.94 vs 5.79), and NMF (0.58 vs 0.59 mmol/g protein). Capacitance (64 vs 57 a.u.) was higher in tattooed skin compared to non‐tattooed skin (P = 0.006). Similar results were found in tattoos with inflammatory reactions. Conclusion Overall, skin tattoos do not affect the long‐term skin barrier function markedly. The skin capacitance was, however, affected in tattooed skin areas compared to non‐tattooed skin areas.

Epidermal Barrier Function and Skin Homeostasis in Skin with Permanent and Adhesive Tattoos: A Cross-Sectional Study

“…Norrelet et al found no differences in TEWL and pH values between non-tattooed and tattooed skin in 28 tattoos. Similarly, they found higher capacitance on tattooed skin [ 17 ], in agreement with the higher SCH values on tattooed skin observed in our study. Skin barrier disruption is observed after needle injury micro-traumatisms, which is shown by the slight increases in TEWL observed in our report.…”

“…To the best of our knowledge, only one previous study has compared skin homeostasis parameters between permanent tattoos and non-tattooed skin [ 17 ]. Norrelet et al found no differences in TEWL and pH values between non-tattooed and tattooed skin in 28 tattoos.…”

“…It has been noted that tattoos decrease the sweat rate and increase sweat sodium concentration [ 6 ]. Furthermore, it has been observed that skin capacitance is higher in tattooed skin compared to non-tattooed skin [ 17 ]. Due to the increase in the number of people with tattoos and the lack of awareness about the repercussions of tattooing, research on the effect of tattoos on the skin is increasingly relevant.…”

“Normal” TEWL‐how can it be defined? A systematic review

“…46 Only measurements after the twentieth intervention showed significantly higher TEWL values for the scratched versus the friction forearm. 46 Norreslet et al 47 studied how a permanent skin alteration, (i.e., a tattoo), affected local TEWL values. Twenty-six subjects were included that had a total of 28 tattoos at least 1 year of age; subjects had to have a clear area of skin on the contralateral portion of the body to be used as a control for inclusion in the study.…”

Skin barrier damage after tape‐stripping and early‐stage repair: the role of KRT/LCE genes and the IL‐17/TNF signaling pathways

“…In this study, we performed the RNA‐sequencing (RNA‐seq) method to explore the transcriptional changes of key genes and pathways involved in skin barrier recovery using the biopsies treated after adhesive tape‐stripping (ATS). The detailed methods are shown in the Data 3–5 …”