Tattoos aren't inherently "good" for health; they carry risks like infections, allergic reactions, scarring, and potential long-term issues such as skin cancer or immune responses from ink particles migrating to lymph nodes, though choosing a reputable artist and sterile practices significantly reduce immediate dangers, but uncertainties remain about inks' long-term effects. While some studies suggest potential minor immune system benefits like reduced stress hormones, these are outweighed by known risks, making tattoos a complex choice balancing self-expression with health considerations.
Tattoos reduce stress
Cortisol is a stress hormone. It was tested in the study because cortisol is an immune response suppressant. Multiple tattoos were found to reduce cortisol levels, improving the immune system benefits of tattoos, but also helping with stress reduction.
Research has found that certain substances in tattoo ink can be identified by immune cells and carried to the lymph nodes, where they can accumulate over time. A recent study published in the medical journal Immunity & Inflammation found that this process can “induce a prominent and long-term inflammatory response.”
Research on tattoos older than 40 years shows that ink particles remain in the deep dermis and local lymph nodes. According to the WHO data from animal experiments, black and red tattoo ink particles reach the liver, and titanium dioxide (white pigment) reaches the liver, spleen, and lung (4).
You probably know that tattoos come with health risks like infections and allergic reactions. But recent studies have connected tattoos and cancers, including skin cancers, lymphoma, and leukemia. The research is early, and many unknowns remain – including the reason for the potential link.
Yes, you can donate blood if you have tattoos
The same rules also apply to ear and body piercings.
Gen Z is regretting tattoos due to impulsive decisions driven by social media trends (like fine-line or patchwork styles), getting inked during emotional highs or lows, a lack of personal meaning, and changing aesthetics (e.g., moving from WFH casual to needing to cover up for office jobs). The visibility of this regret on platforms like TikTok, combined with evolving personal identities and the desire to fit new trends, highlights a growing disillusionment with tattoos that once felt significant but now feel dated or embarrassing.
Light microscopy showed dense pigment in the skin and in lymph nodes but not in internal organs. Conclusion: The study demonstrated black and red tattoo pigment deposits in the liver; thus, tattoo pigment distributed from the tattooed skin via the blood stream to this important organ of detoxification.
If equipment used to create a tattoo has infected blood on it, you can get diseases that are spread through blood. Examples include methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus, hepatitis B and hepatitis C. To lower your risk, get vaccinated for hepatitis B before you get a tattoo. Skin reactions to an MRI.
“Tattoo ink can technically move through the body, but it does not usually travel very far,” explains Ploch. When ink does move, it's because the immune system has broken the pigment down to a size where it can be fed into our lymphatic system, which drains into lymph nodes.
For some, getting a tattoo can be stressful and a little painful. Stress from anxiety or pain may raise your heart rate and blood pressure. For people with certain types of heart disease, this can be dangerous. It's important to understand how your heart condition might react to this increased stress.
The application process of a tattoo damages the skin, causing blood clots to form around the broken blood vessels, creating a bruise. This damage to the skin makes taking care of the tattooed area of skin immediately after getting a tattoo imperative in order to prevent infections.
Long-Term Effects on the Immune System
Some studies have suggested that tattoos might lead to subtle changes in immune function, such as an increase in certain types of white blood cells.
The tattoo experience: Pain as the point
But this pain activates the body's natural release of endorphins, the same chemicals responsible for the high experienced by runners. This flood of endorphins can turn the pain into a euphoric sensation, explaining why so many people become addicted to getting tattoos.
Organic tattoo ink refers to ink that is made from natural mineral or plant-based ingredients, avoiding the use of harmful chemicals and additives. Unlike traditional tattoo inks that may contain heavy metals or other toxins, organic tattoo ink offers a safer and healthier option for both tattoo artists and clients.
Reports of allergic reactions and infections have been cited, but there's been no link found between tattoo pigments and skin cancer. “The key takeaway here is to be aware of your skin and have it checked regularly by a dermatologist,” Dr. Herman said.
24% of tattooed Americans regret at least one tattoo (Pew Research Center, 2023). Regret rates increased from 14% in 2012 to 24% in 2023. 32% of American adults (approximately 88.5 million people) now have at least one tattoo.
In animal studies, tattoo pigments have been found in the kidney, the liver, and the spleen. Therefore, although this has never been studied in humans, exposure to hazardous ingredients of tattoo inks and even subsequent cancer development should not be ruled out.
But some of the inks tattoo artists use are derived from toxic heavy metals and dyes. These substances have been found to damage DNA and to be carcinogenic. Tiny nanoparticles from the ink can enter the bloodstream and spread to the lymphatic system and the liver.
A recent review found that the number of skin cancers in tattooed skin was low, and therefore seems coincidental, however a number of carcinogens that have been found in tattoo inks have been associated with cancers elsewhere in the body, such as the liver or bladder.
The three worst things for your liver are excessive alcohol, a diet high in added sugars, unhealthy fats, and salt (processed/fast foods), and overuse of certain medications (like acetaminophen/paracetamol), all leading to fat buildup (fatty liver), inflammation, and potential severe damage like cirrhosis, though lifestyle changes can often reverse early stages.
Tattoos. Some tattoo ink contains traces of metal, but most tattoos are safe in an MRI scanner. Tell the radiographer immediately if you feel any discomfort or heat in your tattoo during the scan.
A $2000 tattoo can range from a large, detailed half-sleeve or thigh piece to a significant portion of a full sleeve or back piece, depending heavily on artist skill, location, color, and detail, often requiring multiple sessions for complex designs. It's usually a large, custom design (like 12+ inches or covering a significant limb area) that takes several hours or more, rather than just a small or simple tattoo, as shown in this example of a $2000 tattoo.
With tattoo removal becoming an increasingly popular option for those looking to get rid of their ink, nearly 1 in 4 (23%) Americans plan to have tattoos removed in the future. In fact, 51% plan to have one tattoo removed. Nearly 3 in 4 (73%) Americans like tattoos and 39% proudly bear their own ink.