Dr Maxwell Adeyemi
Tattoos have become a fashionable item among the young and the old, males and females across the globe, however little attention is paid to the fact that having a tattoo can carry significant health consequences.
The number of people getting tattoos has markedly increased starting more than 20 years ago. Roughly 38 per cent of people ages 18-29 now have at least one tattoo.
Most are unaware of the risks, from infection to exposure to heavy metals, to being unable to detect an early skin cancer. The inks used in tattoos contain pigments that are often derived from heavy metals. There is concern that these toxins could raise the risk of cancer, DNA damage, inflammation, oxidative stress, and weakening immune function.
Tattoos remain popular, but they are not without consequential health risks.
Toxic ink in tattoos
The moment a tattoo artist gets to work, risks arise. People can have allergic reactions to skin dyes or develop a skin infection from the wound.
Tattoo ink could be contaminated with microorganisms, which can cause infections and scarring. The long-term effects are potentially more serious. To make designs, a tattoo artist injects ink into the dermis, the second layer of skin.
Some of the pigments used may be derived from toxic heavy metals, including mercury, lead, nickel, and cadmium. Some of these have been classified as human carcinogens. Other pigments are similar to clothing and leather dyes called azo pigments. Many of these have been shown to be carcinogenic or genotoxic, causing damages to DNA These substances can eventually enter the bloodstream.
Spreading throughout the body
There are two main ways the potentially toxic ink from tattoos can be carried throughout the body:
The incisions made by the tattoo needle cause the immune system to send cells called macrophages to the area to help close the wound and destroy foreign invaders. These macrophages can transport larger ink particles to the lymph nodes, glands that filter harmful substances.
Tiny ink particles called nanoparticles can penetrate through the skin layers and enter the bloodstream. Carbon black, the most common ink used in tattoos, is most often associated with higher levels of nanoparticles.
An analysis found potentially toxic dyes and metals in the lymph nodes of deceased individuals who had tattoos, further suggesting the notion that toxic dyes used in tattoos affect the body negatively.
The lymph nodes are a vital part of the immune system. A build-up of toxic particles there may weaken immunity, hurting the body's ability to ward off infections and illnesses of all kinds.
Potential risk of cancer
Metal nanoparticles have the potential to cause DNA damage. A study of breast cancer cells in animal models showed that exposure to these nanoparticles led to accelerated tumor growth and a greatly increased ability for cancer to metastasize or spread. There has also been reported cases of tattoo-associated skin cancer in humans.
Increased inflammation
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