People often put a lot of thought into getting a tattoo. But there’s one thing most people forget to consider—what influence the tattoo might have on their health in the long run. What happens to the ink once it’s in your skin? Does it all stay in the skin where it’s visible, or does it travel further into the body?
With the increased popularity of tattoos, the question of whether tattoos may be linked to an increased risk of cancer has garnered significant attention in recent years, particularly as tattoo popularity has risen among younger populations.
Information from the Danish Twin Tattoo Cohort, which has data from over 5,900 Danish twins, showed that those with tattoos had a greater incidence of skin and lymphoma malignancies than people without tattoos.
A collaborative study by researchers from the University of Southern Denmark’s Department of Public Health and Department of Clinical Research, along with the University of Helsinki, examined the possible health effects of this ink migration.
The research, published in the journal BMC Public Health, which also analysed tattoo patterns alongside cancer diagnoses, suggested that some tattoo ink does not just remain where it is injected. Particles from the ink can migrate to the lymph nodes, where they accumulate.
They suspect that the absorbed ink may trigger chronic inflammation in the lymph nodes, which over time could lead to abnormal cell growth and an increased risk of cancer.
The lymph nodes are a crucial part of the immune system, helping to fight infections and filter harmful substances from the body.
Lymphoma is a blood cancer that affects the lymphatic system, which is part of the immune system. It occurs when white blood cells called lymphocytes grow abnormally. Its symptoms include swollen lymph nodes, unexplained fever, night sweats, fatigue, weight loss, rash, bone pain and itching.
According to the study, individuals with tattoos that are considered large (as in, bigger than the average human palm) had nearly three times higher rates of lymphoma than people without tattoos when accounting for age, when the individuals got tattooed and how long researchers studied them.
Studying this link is challenging because cancer can take years to develop since exposure in youth may not lead to illness until decades later, making it difficult to measure a direct effect.
The study’s lead investigator at the University of Southern Denmark, Signe Bedsted Clemmensen, declared that with the increased popularity of tattoos, safety regarding tattooing and exposure to tattoo ink becomes increasingly relevant; the lack of studies based on population epidemiologic data to assess carcinogenicity is of particular concern.
Researchers hypothesised that individuals who had tattoos could expose themselves to the sun more frequently in order to flaunt them. They might, however, also be less likely to reveal their tattoos in an effort to slow photodecomposition.
Additionally, tattoo ink and skin cancer may be connected because abnormalities on the skin are detected later due to being concealed by the ink.
The group also raised the possibility that a tattoo can be a sign of riskier lifestyle choices, such as smoking and consuming alcohol, which may raise the chance of developing some cancers.
Dr Peter Ogundeji, a consultant haematologist at the University College Hospital (UCH), Ibadan, in a reaction, said the exact causes of cancer are not known, but many things have been suspected to predispose individuals to developing cancer.
He, however, declared that when there is chronic inflammation in the body due to exposure to some things over a long period of time, this can lead body cells to develop malignant transformation.
“Tattoo is one of such things; the body can react against the tattoo ink. It can stimulate some of the body’s cells to develop cancer in a way. So we need to be careful about what we do to our bodies. We may not know the complete outcome of what this thing can cause in our bodies.
“Every action we take can have an impact on our bodies, especially when we start consuming certain substances.” It’s possible that some of the chemicals used to make tattoo ink in Nigeria haven’t even been tested for safety, or that people are getting tattoos in inappropriate places to save money. Nobody knows what ingredients they are combining to create the tattoo.
Previous research has suggested that certain pigments in tattoo ink may be more problematic than others. For example, red ink is suggested to often cause allergic reactions.
Unfortunately, many people believe tattoos are safe, according to a new representative poll by the German Federal Institute for Risk Assessment (BfR). Almost 90 percent of people who already have a tattoo believe this to be the case.
Many of them were also unaware that tattoos can lead to infections, allergies, serious infections, and reactions that can be mistaken for skin cancer and that tattooing can pose a risk, especially during pregnancy.
Due to non-sterile tattooing procedures, syphilis, hepatitis B and C, and localised bacterial infections are among the common illnesses associated with tattooing and tainted tattoo ink.
While medical complications aren’t common, young people need to understand and consider all potential risks associated with body modifications like tattoos.
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