Tattoos breach the skin, which means that skin infections and other complications are possible, including: Allergic reactions. Tattoo dyes — especially red, green, yellow and blue dyes — can cause allergic skin reactions, such as an itchy rash at the tattoo site. This can occur even years after you get the tattoo.
Health risks of tattoos Complications can include: allergic reaction to tattoo dyes, which may develop years later (symptoms of an allergic reaction include a rash at the tattoo site) a skin infection, such as a staph infection or cutaneous tuberculosis. burning or swelling at the tattoo site.
An article in the Journal of Cutaneous and Aesthetic Surgery says tattoos can cause bacterial infections caused by Streptococcus pyogenes, which could lead to impetigo, erysipelas and septicaemia; Staphylococcus aureus can cause rare toxic shock syndrome; skin and soft tissue infections can be caused by community- ...
These reactions could be linked to the presence of harmful chemicals in most mainstream tattoo inks. Phthalates and benzo(a)pyrene are two of the most harmful chemicals present, both having been linked to cancer and endocrine disruption. They can also be found on the EPA's carcinogen list.
Dirty needles are the most common cause of infection. Infection is also possible if the technician is inexperienced and fails to wash their hands, put on sterilized gloves, or forgets to clean the skin carefully before the tattoo is applied. Aftercare is also important in the days after getting a tattoo.
Introducing ink, metal, or any other foreign material into your body affects your immune system and may expose you to harmful viruses. This can affect what's in your bloodstream, especially if you got your tattoo somewhere that isn't regulated or doesn't follow safe practices.
While tattoo allergies are quite rare, there is a possibility of serious health consequences. The reaction can be seen immediately in some cases but often does not present a reaction until 48 hours or even a few weeks after getting the tattoo. In rare cases, it could happen months later.
One long-term effect of getting inked: microscopic ink particles can seep past your skin and get into other parts of your body. A new study sounds the alarm. When you think about the health risks of getting a tattoo, problems that reveal themselves right away come to mind—like infections and allergic reactions.
The studies show that tattoo complaints dominated by itching and swelling are remarkably common and affect approximately 1/3 of tattooed individuals, with 1/5 of tattooed individuals having sun-related problems. Complaints were often reported in dark tattoos, which absorb more light.
Tattoo inks may be made from titanium dioxide, lead, chromium, nickel, iron oxides, ash, carbon black, and other ingredients. Some of the pigments are industrial grade and used as automobile paint.
The top chemicals of concern found in tattoo inks, according to the report, are polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), such as benzo[a]pyrene, which is listed as a human carcinogen by the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC). The report notes PAHs can migrate from the skin to lymph nodes.
We are not aware of a reported cancer case directly attributable to tattooing. However, evidence does show that some tattoo inks contain carcinogens (cancer-causing substances) – chemicals that have been classified as known or possible carcinogens by the WHO's International Agency for Research on Cancer.