According to recent studies, some tattoo inks may contain harmful substances. Before you start to worry if you have tattoos, you should be aware of these facts.
To find out what’s actually in tattoo inks, Researchers from Binghamton University examined over 100 different types of ink. ICYDK, tattoos are unregulated in the U.S. inks were utilized A team lead by John Swierk, Ph.D. used a number of approaches to find microscopic particles that could potentially injure cells as well as substances in inks that weren’t included on the labels.
Swierk in a press release stated, “I was first interested in what occurs when laser light is used to remove tattoos, which is how the idea for this project came about. We began researching well-known brands after I realized how little was truly known about the makeup of tattoo inks.
A little scientific lesson According to the press release, tattoo inks are composed of a pigment (such the color blue) and a carrier solution that carries the pigment to the middle layer of skin. Swierk and his team examined the molecular make-up and particle size of tattoo pigments for their study. They discovered, among other things, that certain tattoo inks contained ethanol that wasn’t indicated on the package.
Additionally, their research indicates that 23 of the 56 inks examined included dye that contained azo (a type of pigment). This is concerning because, according to the Joint Research Centre , azo pigments can transform into a possible carcinogen (something capable of causing cancer) when exposed to bacteria or UV radiation (also known as light from the sun), but not posing any health risks when chemically intact.
Last but not least, Swierk’s team discovered that around half of the 16 inks they examined included particles smaller than 100 nanometers, or one billionth of a meter. According to Swierk in the news release, the small size raises concerns since “particles of this size can sneak past the cell membrane and potentially cause injury.”
The European Union enacted a ban on thousands of hazardous chemicals found in tattoo inks and permanent makeup in January 2022, which is when this research was made public. The restriction is the consequence of a program called REACH, which discovered substances in some colored tattoo inks, such pigments Blue 15:3 and Green 7, could result in cancer or genetic abnormalities. There is currently no such prohibition in effect in the United States.
Although some tattoo ink colours may be dangerous, according to recent studies, no evidence to support a direct link between cancer and tattoos has been the subject of years’ worth of research. According to board-certified dermatologist Arash Akhavan, M.D., F.A.A.D. , founder and director of The Dermatology and Laser Group, “Putting permanent ink in your skin comes with hazards of sure, but there is not enough study on this topic for people to be concerned.” Only a small percentage of the millions of tattoo owners—usually caused by a particular color of ink—experience reactions.
Skin infections and allergic reactions are the most frequent risks of getting a tattoo . However, it is best to consult your doctor if you have any worries. And if you do decide to get a new tattoo, make sure to go for a shop with sanitary procedures in place to prevent infections.
