Beyond the Skin: Granulomatous Uveitis Linked to Active Tattoo Inflammation
Tattoo-associated granulomatous uveitis is an uncommon inflammatory reaction in which ocular findings accompany immune responses at tattoo sites. We report a young woman who presented with bilateral visual symptoms along with redness and scaling over longstanding black-ink tattoos. Infectious and systemic causes were excluded through comprehensive evaluation, and skin biopsy confirmed granulomatous inflammation with exogenous pigment. The patient improved with systemic and topical corticosteroids. This case highlights the importance of recognizing tattoo-related inflammatory responses as a potential cause of uveitis when no clear etiology is identified.
Authors
- Paulo C Fontana
- Rodrigo A Torres
- Poliana de Jesus Araujo
- Ricardo Danilo Chagas Oliveira
- Marlos Henrique Sousa de Oliveira Junior
Institutions
- Universidade Federal da Bahia (BR)
Publication Details
- Journal
- Cureus
- Published
- 2026-01-25
- DOI
- https://doi.org/10.7759/cureus.102255
- Primary Topic
- Tattoo and Body Piercing Complications
- Type
- article
- Field-Weighted Citation Impact
- 0.00