43853 Case of Reactive Keratoacanthomas arising Eight Years After Multicolored Tattoo Placement

This case study reports on a 51-year-old male who developed reactive keratoacanthomas (KAs) eight years after receiving a multicolored tattoo, with lesions confined to the red ink area. The study highlights the potential link between red tattoo ink and the development of KAs, suggesting that the unregulated organic dyes and metallic salts in tattoo pigments may have carcinogenic properties. The lesions were successfully treated with intralesional 5-fluorouracil (5-FU), and all resolved after treatment. The case underscores the importance of continuous monitoring for KAs in red ink tattoos and suggests a need for increased scrutiny of tattoo ink components.