They're removing pigments Blue 15:3 and Green 7, which will destroy most artists' palettes. These two pigments make up almost 70% of tattoo and permanent makeup inks. It'll affect blues and greens, reds, purples, and yellows as well as skin tones and components for a white tattoo.
15 Feb 2023 --- The transitional restriction of blue 15:3 and green 7 pigments used in tattoo inks and permanent makeup, under the Registration, Evaluation, Authorisation and Restriction of Chemicals (REACH) chemicals regulation of the European Union (EU) is now over.
The European Union alone has banned over 4,000 ingredients used in the creation of tattoo ink pigments, with red being the most problematic of the colors. These inks have been shown to cause allergic reactions, such as rashes and itchiness, as well as other complications during the application of tattoos.
The legal concentration levels of 4,000 chemicals typically found in inks - such as isopropanol alcohol - has been lowered, while 25 pigments (including variations of red, orange, yellow…) have been completely banned due to “a potential risk to human health”.
To answer that question, it's important to take a look at exactly why these inks have been banned. The EU's Registration, Evaluation, Authorisation and Restriction of Chemicals (REACH) have found certain chemicals used in coloured tattoo inks can cause "cancer or genetic mutations".
Black remains safest. Blue and green inks with copper phthalocyanine pigments are safe too. Some parlous mix their own inks; it's generally safest to use branded inks that list their ingredients, says Dr Amit Karkhanis, laser and cosmetic physician.
Tattoo inks may include multiple colourants to achieve a certain colour, as well as other chemicals such as water, glycerol, isopropyl alcohol, witch hazel, preservatives, resins and contaminants.
The European Union (EU) has effectively outlawed the use of colored inks in tattoos from Tuesday citing health concerns. Officials say that around 4,000 chemicals used in the inks can cause “cancer or genetic mutations.” However, the decision is being opposed by tattoo artists and their customers.
In 2019, the FDA issued a safety alert about certain tattoo inks contaminated with microorganisms. In June 2023, the FDA issued a draft guidance to help tattoo ink manufacturers and distributors recognize situations in which tattoo ink may become contaminated with microorganisms, such as bacteria or mold.
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) does not currently regulate any tattoo inks, including UV inks. According to Tattoo Health, the only approved use for UV ink is within the agriculture and fishing industries. There have also been more reports of adverse skin reactions to UV ink than regular tattoo ink.
Avoid red pigments made from cadmium red, iron oxide, or cinnabar and ask for naphthol. Avoid neon or vividly colored pigments, which are more likely to be toxic than other pigments. Consider vegan tattoo inks. Numerous companies make pigments that are animal cruelty free.
Signs of an ink allergy: Most people develop an allergy to a specific color of ink. Red is often the culprit, but any color can cause an allergic reaction. When this happens, you may notice one or more of the following in only one color of ink: Redness and swelling.
Squires explains that it takes multiple passes to get white ink to show up under the skin — which is perhaps why white tattoos have a reputation for being more painful. White tattoos also fade quicker than regular tattoos and may yellow over time as the ink is broken down by the body.
Tattoo inks are typically made of a mixture of solid particles of pigment, molecular dyes and binders suspended in a water solution. The color comes from light either being reflected from or absorbed by the particles and dyes.
Is Blue Ink Toxic? Blue ink contains azo pigments, which can cause cancer when they're broken down (either by bacteria or laser removal). However, in its original state, the blue ink itself isn't considered too dangerous to use, which is why artists are trying to fight the ink bans currently happening in Europe.
When it comes to cancer, black ink can be especially dangerous because it contains a very high level of benzo(a)pyrene. Benzo(a)pyrene is currently listed as a carcinogen by the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC).
They also wondered if any restrictions for imaging might apply to tattooed patients. What they found might surprise you. The researchers found that the risk of experiencing tattoo-related side effects from MRI is very small. This means people with tattoos can safely undergo MRI without worry.
Q: Are tattoos bad for your liver? A: Tattoo ink may get accumulated in the liver and kidneys over a prolonged period of time but as such does not directly affect the liver. Indirectly, tattoos may cause severe liver damage due to hepatitis infection.
“It's the potential for metallic components in some tattoo pigments that cause the reaction during MRIs.” “It's basic physics,” explains Dr. Lim. “The MRI machine changes magnetic fields and causes an electric current to develop into any type of metal.
Tattoo Inks Used In Australia
These inks can be harmful due to the presence of unsafe chemicals which contain metals like arsenic and lead that can lead to health risks such as allergic reactions and even cancer.
According to Queensland Health, home tattooing is not illegal but it recommends people use licensed tattoo businesses rather than purchasing a kit over the internet. There are no restrictions on the sale of tattoo kits, making them freely available to minors.
Migration of tattoo pigment particles from the dermis to lymph nodes can mimic other disease processes at surgery and on imaging. Gross black appearance of a sentinel lymph node is highly suggestive of metastatic disease when lymph node dissection is performed for melanoma treatment.
All Solid Ink tattoo inks are non-toxic, non-hazardous, vegan friendly and animal cruelty-free.
While red causes the most problems, most other colors of standard tattoo ink are also derived from heavy metals (including lead, antimony, beryllium, chromium, cobalt nickel and arsenic) and can cause skin reactions in some people.
It's unknown exactly how long it takes for all of the ink particles to be removed from the body, but it is thought to be a process that could take years. In the meantime, the ink particles that do circulate through the body are believed to be harmless.