This case report describes a 22 year old man who was given LLLT to address his complaints of musculoskeletal pain.
Blistering of the skin was documented over the LLLT application site, a black tattoo.
The blisters, which formed after the LLLT treatment were most likely caused by the inadvertent and unexpected heating of the iron oxides and/or the metal salts in the tattoo's black pigment. PTs should exercise caution when applying LLLT in the presence of dark tattoos.