Treatment of traumatic facial tattoos caused by black gunpowder.

Injuries and tattooing caused by gunpowder explosions may lead to permanent cosmetic disfigurement when they are not treated properly. One must distinguish between early and late treatment and recognize that early correct treatment prevents the development of many problems for both the doctor and the patient. It is essential to emphasize the importance of adequate dermabrasion of the tattooing, preferably within the first 6 h after injury or at the absolute maximum 72 h. When the injury is too old or the tattoos are too deep the minipunch technique has worked well.