A new report published in The Lancet unveiled that not much is known about the long-term risks of getting tattoos. Long perceived as a form of self-expression in social groups, tattoos have left their maverick image behind and have become rather mainstream, particularly for young people. Many of those who ink “lasting tributes” generally know how to pick a reputable and hygienic tattoo parlor. One question few people may consider, however, is “What exactly is in that ink?”
Tattoo-taboo: getting inked
According to Reuters Health, the art of tattooing has existed for at least 5,000 years. However, the practice has turned into somewhat of a trend and as such, roughly 120 million people in the western hemisphere exhibit at least one tattoo. Despite the fact that the acute risks of tattoos are widely known, the senior author of the study, Dr. Andreas Luch of the German Federal Institute for Risk Assessment in Berlin, states that there is no proof that tattoo ink is safe when injected into the body.
In fact, in many countries today, tattoo ink is considered cosmetic and the long-term toxicology testing of the product is limited. In Luch’s opinion, however, they should be categorized under a completely separate product classification. Whereas skin provides a barrier to keep surface cosmetics out of the body, tattoo ink is injected into living tissue, containing blood vessels, nerves and immune cells.
“We need to assume that all of these ink ingredients, including preservatives, processing aids or whatever, will become systemically available in the body over time,” Luch said. “Regulation based on cosmetics is insufficient.”
This was made evident after researchers found that around 90% of tattoo ink actually disappeared from the bodies of the deceased who had tattoos for decades. Yet, what happened to the ink is unknown and similar questions still remain for laser tattoo removal.
Why do we love tattoos so much?
Tattoos are much more than just a manifestation of an inner rebellion against mom and dad or a way of improving our self-image. According to the Washington Post, even today, some cultures practice medicinal tattooing to cure certain ailments.
But there are downsides.
There are no international standards for tattoo ink mixtures and in-depth studies of the chemical composition of tattoo ink in regards to safety are not sufficient. This was illustrated in 2012, when the FDA reported an outbreak of skin infections associated with tattoos. Since then many more cases have been reported across the US. In fact, the FDA recently warned tattoo artists and consumers not to use certain types of tattoo inks after a case of bacterial contamination (Mycobacterium chelonae).
What do you think about the fact that there are no international standards for tattoo ink mixtures? Should something in the industry change? Share your tattoo experiences in the comments section below.
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Tattoo Ink: What Are You Injecting Into Your Skin?
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