New study reveals potential health risk behind tattoos
Tattoos may cause lifelong changes in the body’s immunity as well as affect vaccine responses, according to a new study.
An international research team found that tattoo ink accumulates in lymph nodes and affects the body’s resistance to disease. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.
Although studies have previously investigated the toxicity of tattoo ink, scientists say this is the first time its effect on immune responses has been investigated.
Using tattoos made on mice, researchers found that the animals showed “acute and long-term” chronic inflammation in lymph nodes, death of macrophages (a type of white blood cell), and altered immune response to vaccines.
Stating that at least one in five people worldwide has a tattoo, the team said, “This study represents the most comprehensive study to date on the effect of tattoo ink on the immune response and leads to serious health problems related to the practice of tattooing.”
“Our study underscores the need for further research to inform public health policies and regulatory frameworks on the safety of tattoo inks.”
When scientists noticed inflammation in mice that had been tattooed for other experiments, they first became curious and decided to investigate further.
They used standard commercial inks in black, red and green to tattoo the skin on the mice’s hind legs. Using special imaging equipment, scientists realized that the ink travels along lymphatic vessels to nearby lymph nodes, where it accumulates, usually within minutes.
The researchers also noted that the ink affected vaccine response, with a decreased response to the Covid-19 vaccine and an increased response to the UV-inactivated flu vaccine, “reflecting differences in mechanisms of action between these vaccine classes.”
“One of the immediate concerns regarding the safety of tattoos relates to the redistribution of unretained ink from the tattoo site to organs other than the skin and the toxic effect that accumulation of these insoluble pigments may have at systemic levels,” the researchers concluded in their report.
More importantly, even if the tattoo is removed, the ink reportedly remains in the lymph nodes for life.
“Given the unstoppable trend of tattooing in the population, our results are crucial to inform toxicology programs, policymakers, and the general public about the potential risk of tattoo practice associated with altered immune response,” the study authors wrote.
Extensive recent research has linked tattoos to a type of cancer called lymphoma. A published study BMC Public Health It has been found that the risk of lymphoma in people with large tattoos may be three times higher than in those without.
