Health Risks of Tattoos
The U.S. alone has an estimated amount of 21,000 tattoo parlors, with this number rising every year. In fact, Miami is considered the most heavily tattooed city as there are about 24 tattoo parlors for every 100,000 people. Tattoos are rising in popularity among millennials, and a survey conducted by Harris Poll, a business industry research firm, has found that about 47% of millennials today have at least one tattoo, 37% with at least two, and 15% with at least five. Yet, despite the increasing trend and popularity of tattoos, it is worthwhile to consider if there are any health risks to getting tattoos. Notably, the U.S Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has not approved of any pigments to be injected into the skin for cosmetic purposes, which includes tattoos. There is published research that shows that the pigments used for tattoos are the same ones used in printer toner or in car paint.
To first look into how tattoos may pose a risk to one’s health, not all parlors utilize hygienic practices and may use equipment that is not sterile or cleaned properly, increasing the risk of skin infection. Another way for skin infections to arise is from the ink itself-- contained ink from bacteria or mold is also possible. Ink contamination usually results when non-sterile water is used to dilute the pigments. It is impossible for a client to tell if the ink is safe and sterile, and even if the container is sealed, there is still a chance of contamination. Bloodborne diseases are also possible consequences of unhygienic practices, dirty equipment, or contaminated ink. These diseases include Hepatitis B, Hepatitis C, and Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus Aureus (MRSA). Aggressive infections can cause a high fever, the chills, shaking and sweating. A potential treatment is taking antibiotics, perhaps for months at a time, which has its own set of health risks.
Another possible side effect of getting tattoos are allergic reactions. In particular, the red, green, yellow and blue dyes are more prone to causing allergic reactions. However, this doesn't mean that black ink will not cause allergic reactions at all. For tattoos, allergies appear as itchy rashes, redness, or bumps at the site of the tattoo. Interestingly, allergic reactions can appear years after getting a tattoo. Because tattoos are permanent and so the ink stays on one’s skin, the allergic reaction will persist. It is also worth noting that some inks will contain p-phenylenediamine (PPD) and for this reason, one may also be allergic to hair dye products. Once again, it is impossible for clients to know if the ink contains PPD unless they ask, and so there are resulting externalities that may pose as health risks as well.
Although rare, tattoos may have a burning sensation or swell up after being exposed to an MRI. This should not last long and as mentioned, is rare, but is still a possibility. This is because the ink and pigments may interfere with the quality of the image produced from MRIs. For this very reason, it is important to let healthcare workers know if you are getting an MRI and have a tattoo.
The U.S FDA recommends that if one is to get a tattoo and develops an infection or allergic reaction, the first step is to contact one’s healthcare professional and seek medical help. Next, the tattoo artist and parlor should be informed so that the ink can be identified and hopefully not used on later clients. One should also ask the tattoo artist for the brand, color and lot number of the ink in case one decides to get another tattoo in the future. Lastly, any infections or allergic reactions should be reported to the FDA so that it can be used to produce updated safety information and guidelines for those interested in getting tattoos. It is important to keep in mind that while tattoos may be aesthetically pleasing and have significant meanings and memories, there are still many negative side effects to one’s health, some of which are still unknown.
References:
https://www.fda.gov/consumers/consumer-updates/think-you-ink-are-tattoos-safe
https://www.healthline.com/health/beauty-skin-care-tattoos-piercings
https://www.pennmedicine.org/updates/blogs/health-and-wellness/2018/july/tattoo-health-risks
http://www.historyoftattoos.net/tattoo-facts/tattoo-statistics/