Is Ink Used For Tattoos Poisonous?
Many tattoo inks may contain chemicals and metals that have the potential for harm. Inks vary greatly in composition; some include aluminium, cobalt, copper, iron, nickel, and zinc in different concentrations [1]. Thallium is included in some inks and is a metal that can accumulate in body organs to produce toxic effects mainly on the nervous, skeletal and circulatory systems [2].
Some tattoo ink colours are more toxic than others: red and green inks are more toxic, potentially due to azo compounds in these pigments [3]. Some inks suppress the production of human fibroblast proteins, which could affect cellular health [4].
Beyond the potential toxicity of the ink itself, there’s a risk to the skin from being injected, which can lead to allergic reactions, skin infections, and granulomas or keloids [5].
Nonetheless, the potential long-term consequences of tattoo ink and colourings after infection tissue degeneration or trauma are not well established, and much remains to be learnt about tattoo inks and their risks to human health [5, 6].
Side Effects of Tattoos
Despite their popularity, tattoos aren't always easy on the body, and sometimes, the side effects can be extremely severe. These effects can happen immediately or be delayed for many years after the tattoo is performed.
Skin infections are among the most common side effects and are most likely to occur within the first two weeks after getting the tattoo. During this time, one might experience redness, itching, oozing, and swelling, which can eventually become a chronic infection [7].
Allergic reactions are another possible complication, generally caused by the pigments used in the tattoo. Red, yellow, blue and green pigments are the most allergenic, with symptoms including red rash, hives, extreme itching, and swelling that can be triggered years after the tattoo was applied [7].
Tattoos can also cause scarring, especially if they don’t heal properly or have an infection or allergic reaction. In rare cases, keloid scars, raised bumps of old scar tissue, may form [7].
Tattoos can interfere with MRIs, causing abnormal side effects or discomfort at the tattoo's site, especially when made of low-quality pigment [7].
But getting a tattoo can also spread blood-borne infections such as HIV, hepatitis C and methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), especially if unsanitised needles are used [7].
Lastly, tattoos might also conceal skin-cancerous growths or other skin-related conditions, which may lead such cancers to go undetected [7].
Can Tattoos Cause Diseases?
Tattoos, a form of body art that involves introducing exogenous pigments into the dermis, have been associated with several medical risks, including the transmission of infectious diseases [8].
Acute local inflammation is the most frequent complication of tattoos. Infections, allergic contact dermatitis, and non-allergic inflammatory and/or immune responses might also present with an atypical rash [9]. Staphylococcus aureus and Streptococcus pyogenes lead to infections related to tattoos [9].
Tattoos are also associated with the spread of hepatitis B and C and syphilis [10]. A study revealed that the likelihood of hepatitis C virus (HCV), hepatitis B virus (HBV), and human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infections was higher in the tattooed population, at an odds ratio of 2.37, 1.55, and 3.55, respectively [11].
Localised viral infections include molluscum contagiosum virus (MCV), human papillomavirus (HPV), and herpes simplex virus (HSV) [12].
Allergic reactions to tattoo pigments can also develop in any tattoo, especially red ones. They can result in chronic reactions, including granulomatous and pseudolymphomatous phenomena, morphea-like lesions, and vasculitis [9].
In rare cases, tattoos can exacerbate preexisting conditions such as psoriasis, atopic dermatitis, and pyoderma gangrenosum [9].
Although there is no clear correlation between cancer and tattoos, two of the infectious disease blood-borne agents that can be spread by tattooing – hepatitis C and HIV/AIDS – are associated with elevated risk of different forms of cancer [13].
Can You Die From Tattoos?
The tradition of tattoos goes back more than 5,000 years, and permanent ink has now become one of the most widespread cosmetic practices in the world [9]. However, risks and complications may arise when breaking the skin with a tattoo.
The most serious consequence is death, which, fortunately, is extremely rare. There is one reported case of a 21-year-old man dying after a black-ink tattoo containing benzidine was removed with a phenol-based tattoo cream. Benzidine-containing tattoo inks are no longer legally manufactured or sold but can still be found on the market. The man suffered a cardiotoxic episode due to phenol [14].
A further study noted an average age of death of 39 years for tattooed participants, compared with 53 years for non-tattooed participants [15]. Most likely, this association does not imply that tattoos are directly causing early death but that there is an association between risk-taking behaviour and those who get tattoos and other related factors that could contribute to an earlier demise.
Conversely, one study found no association between the number of tattoos and early mortality or cause and manner of death [16].
Conclusion
In conclusion, while tattooing is not entirely risk-free, and tatters of deaths are reported every year - mostly related to allergies or infections - such a fatality is quite unusual, provided that a professional administers the tattoo on hygienic premises.