About one-third of U.S. adults now have tattoos, a significant rise over the past two decades. People get tattoos for various reasons, including personal identity, commemorating memories, or embracing self-transformation. A recent study indicates a possible connection between tattoos and a higher risk of developing malignant lymphoma, a type of blood cancer impacting the lymphatic system.
Tattoo ink, which contains toxic chemicals classified as carcinogenic, is injected into the skin to create tattoos. A large amount of this ink is carried away from the skin by the immune system, which recognizes it as a foreign material. Immune cells in the skin can respond to these chemicals, migrating to nearby lymph nodes and potentially triggering a systemic immune reaction throughout the body. The ongoing presence of tattoo ink in lymphatic tissue may lead to irregular immune responses, potentially elevating the risk of cancers like lymphoma and skin cancer.
This study did not find any correlation between the size of a tattoo and a greater risk of lymphoma. However, a previous study suggested that the larger the tattoo, the greater risk due to a larger area of ink exposure.
Tattoos carry other risks such as allergic reactions and infections that can be challenging to manage. Individuals with tattoos should watch for skin health warning signs, including ongoing redness, itching, bumps, new pigmented spots, changes in color, ulcers, or bleeding.
Furthermore, if an individual is thinking about having a tattoo removed with laser treatment, the incidence of lymphoma was found to be 30% higher compared to those who did not. These results are consistent with experimental research indicating that laser treatment degrades the chemicals used in tattoo pigments, into potentially toxic, carcinogenic substances. This degradation may introduce more harmful chemicals into the body, increasing the risk further.
Individuals thinking about getting a tattoo should carefully consider all available information before deciding, as the choice is deeply personal. The study suggests that future research may need a larger sample size to draw more definitive conclusions.
To view the original scientific study click below:
Tattoos as a risk factor for malignant lymphoma: a population-based case–control study
