Tattoos may seem cool, but turning skin into a canvas for artwork, messages, and permanent cosmetic designs carries health risks, some of which can be serious. The tattooing process penetrates the outer and inner layers of the skin, paving the way for possible allergic skin reactions, local and systemic infections, rashes, inflammation, scarring and even a possible increased risk of some cancers.
A new tattoo is literally a traumatic injury to the skin, and as such activates the body's immune system, with white blood cells identifying and attacking the ink particles as foreign invaders. This reaction can lead to temporary pain and increased sensitivity in the tattooed area, skin inflammation and itching.
Even with proper “aftercare” of the tattoo, keloids – scar tissue – can develop at the tattoo site or granulomas, nodules that form around the ink particles, can appear.
Other possible health complications associated with tattoos include:
* Enlargement of lymph nodes with ink particles.
* Infections that can be aggressive or dangerous if not treated immediately
* Allergic reactions, such as swelling and rash
* Sarcoidosis, an inflammatory disease which primarily affects the lymph nodes and lungs
* Lichen planus, a chronic, inflammatory skin condition.
Individuals with pre-existing skin conditions such as psoriasis should be especially careful before applying a tattoo. In about 25 percent of psoriasis cases, a tattoo can cause the growth of psoriasis-like lesions on or around the site of the tattoo.
The widespread adoption of tattoos — even in the workplace — leaves scientists increasingly uneasy about potential long-term effects of tattoos, especially health complications potentially related to contaminants — such as titanium dioxide — common with tattoo pigments. Some of these pigments are also used in toners and car paints, and the toxins in them have been proven to be carcinogenic to animals, but not to humans.
Authors of a study last September are concerned about how nanoparticles of pigment toxins in the lymph nodes of tattooed people may behave in the body. These particles were less than 1 percent the width of a human hair. Previous research indicates that pigment nanoparticles pass the immediate tattoo site and are potentially toxic to nerves and brain.
Does this mean that tattoos should be avoided? Not necessarily, but before you get started you should carefully weigh the pros and cons of a tattoo. Choosing a reputable licensed tattoo artist and making sure the ink needles are properly sterilized are clear first recommendations. Equally important, however, is the follow-up attention a patient should give to a new tattoo to minimize complications.
Some care tips:
* Keep a new tattoo covered with sterile gauze or bandage for at least the first day.
* Clean the tattoo area daily with regular soap and water; moisten it several times a day for a few weeks after application.
* Do not expose a new tattoo to the sun until it has fully healed.
* Avoid swimming or immersion in pools and hot tubs to reduce the risk of minimize wound infections.
* Do not scratch an itchy tattoo and allow any scabs that form to heal on their own.
* If the tattoo site is red, swollen, itchy, consult a physician or remains painful after more than a week or 10 days of recovery time.
