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Background: Tattooing has become very popular in recent years. In this context, socio-demographic information and health orientation is important., Objectives: The objective of this study was to evaluate the development of the prevalence of tattoos over the last thirteen years and the social and economic background of people with tattoos. Three national representative surveys were compared for this purpose; men and women residing in Germany were included. Additionally, the purpose of the study was to assess socio-demographic information and the health orientation of respondents with tattoos., Materials and Methods: Three national, representative surveys were conducted on German participants (2016: n = 2510, 2009: n = 2512, 2003: n = 2043). The number of tattoos and socio-demographic information were investigated. The Health Regulatory Focus Scale (HRFS) assessing the individual's health orientation was used in 2016., Results: Currently, one out of five Germans (≥14 years) has at least one tattoo. In Germany, tattoos are most prevalent among younger adults of both sexes aged 25 to 34 years. People with all levels of education have tattoos, although there were weak correlations with a lower education level and unemployment. Only men with several tattoos showed a significantly lower health orientation than non-tattooed ones., Conclusion: The fact that nearly one fifth of the German population has tattoos suggests that this permanent body art is becoming more and more accepted in German society. As a result, a need for better health risk information on the topic for both tattooists and the people getting tattoos appears evident because of the high prevalence of tattoos in younger generations as well as the lower health orientation in men with several tattoos.

Background: Tattoos are regarded as body jewelry and have become widespread in all parts of society. Despite introduction of the tattooing agents' regulation (Tätowiermittelverordnung) in Germany in 2009, consumer protection is incomplete., Objectives: Prevalence of tattoos and their legal basis, ingredients of tattooing agents, clinical findings of adverse reactions, pathogenesis and therapy., Methods: The work is based on a selective literature search in PubMed and on the clinical experience of the authors., Results: Adverse reactions by tattooing are a particular problem, because the causing substances are not biodegradable within the tissue. In addition to an agonizing pruritus, the clinical picture is characterized by erythematous plaques. Histopathology reveals different patterns of inflammation, including pseudolymphomatous reactions. Treatment is problematic. In many cases, extensive surgical excision is necessary, which is associated with cosmetic consequences., Conclusion: A regulation to assess the safety of tattooing does not exist.

Allergic contact eczema in children is frequent. If clinically suspected, a patch test should be performed. In the present study, data obtained from 116,742 patients who had undergone a patch test from 2005-2014 were analysed. The children group (range 0-12 years) included 925 patients. If at least 700 tested individuals were considered, the most frequent sensitizations in this group were nickel sulfate (8.5 %), fragrance mix I (5.5 %), and colophony (3.4 %), whereby sensitisation in adults was higher for nickel sulfate (15.5 %) and fragrance mix 1 (8.4 %), while being similar for colophony (3.7 %). In adolescents with and without a profession, nickel sulfate (11.1 and 13.6 %, respectively) and cobalt (II) chloride (3.9 and 3.4 %, respectively) were the most frequent positively tested contact allergens. Sensitisations toward fragrance mix I was low (3.9 and 3.4 %, respectively) in comparison to the adult group (8.4 %). In both children and adolescents, toluene diamine and paraphenylenediamine sensitizations were not infrequent, but it must be considered that these allergens were only tested if suspected. The data show that the sensitisation profile among children and adolescents display patterns similar to those in adults. Sensitisations in childhood and adolescence towards dyes like paraphenylendiamine may be associated with increased use of tattooing in these groups.

At present tattoos and piercings can no longer be regarded as destructive acts of self mutilation practized by fringe groups. Body modifications (BMs) are found in virtually all preindustrial cultures and have their roots in ancient myths and magical rituals. The prevalence of tattoos and piercings in the German population is 8.5% and 6.8%, respectively. Unemployed young men and young women who do not live in a firm partnership show particularly high prevalences. The incidence of BMs correlates positively with the personality trait "sensation seeking", particularly in young women. BMs often serve to express individuality and identity, and they also reflect changed attitude towards the human body and body art as well as following fashion trends. However, BMs can also provide valuable diagnostic indications for identity search and risk taking behaviour.

Objective: To obtain representative data on incidence and psychological background of tattooing and body piercing., Method: Prevalence of tattooing and body piercing is derived from a representative survey (N = 2043, age 14-93 years). Data are evaluated with respect to mental health (GHQ), Beck Depression Inventory (BDI) and sensation-seeking (AISS)., Results: The total prevalence of tattoo and piercing is 8.5 % and 6.8 %, respectively. In the age 14-44 15 % are tattooed and 14 % are pierced. Unemployment and lack of partnership correlate positively with body modifications. Tattooing correlates with the perception of reduced mental health and both, tattooing and body piercing correlate highly with increased "Sensation-Seeking" behaviour., Discussion: Gender specific investigations show a differentiated picture background for body modifications.