History: Many reactions can occur in tattoos but one commonly sees reactions to pigments.Red pigment is the commonest causing a reaction but in this case it was to the blue black pigment.Cinnabar (mercuric sulfide) is the red colour.Cadmium sulfide causes a yellow colour and may be the source of local photosensitivity reactions.Discoid lupus erythematosus has been associatedwith the red portions of tattoos and sarcoidal nodules have also been seen.