Tattoo linked to hair loss and loss of sweating in a Polish man

Doctors reported a Polish man developed widespread skin inflammation, total hair loss and permanent inability to sweat after receiving a red-ink tattoo; hair regrew and skin stabilized after complete ink removal, but sweat function did not recover.

A 36-year-old Polish man developed severe skin and systemic symptoms months after receiving a red-ink tattoo on his forearm in 2020. About four months after the procedure he experienced local itching and a spreading rash that evolved into erythroderma. Over time he lost hair across his scalp, face and body and developed reduced sweating that progressed to anhidrosis. Treating clinicians reported a likely immune reaction to the red tattoo ink and published the case in Clinics and Practice. Key facts: - The tattoo was done in 2020 and local irritation around the red ink began about four months later and then spread beyond the tattoo site. - The patient developed erythroderma and alopecia universalis (total hair loss), followed by progressive hypohidrosis that became anhidrosis (loss of sweat function). - Skin testing and the clinical report concluded an immune response likely triggered by components of the red ink; complete removal of the red ink was followed by hair regrowth and halted progression of vitiligo. - Clinicians found the patient’s sweat glands had been replaced by scar tissue and reported a very low likelihood of recovering sweat function. Summary: The reported case describes systemic effects that clinicians associated with a reaction to red tattoo ink and contributes to research on possible immune responses linked to some inks. The patient experienced partial recovery of hair and stabilization of skin disease after complete ink removal, while loss of sweating persisted. Undetermined at this time.