An unusual pattern of tattooing in the form of body designing: A case report

Abstract Tattoos are the designs imprinted on the body surface which may be either temporary or permanent in nature. This may sometimes be associated with personality and behavioral disorders. Literature regarding tattooing and its associated disorders are not documented largely and had very limited references either in western or South-Asian countries like India. In the present case the patient was brought to our hospital for eliciting consumption of alcohol and any other injuries over the body. The person examined had decorated his left arm and forearm by fine designs by a blue ball point pen. He also had multiple fresh incised cuts on the forearms and wrist. Such a presentation with a somewhat risk taking, masochistic behavior and the chronic nature of drawing designs over the body by a ball point pen was very rare and not noted as per best of our knowledge.