A new study published in August 2022 found that some ingredients in tattoo inks may be harmful. The results showed that tattoo inks may be considered carcinogenic under the right circumstances.
Is tattoo ink dangerous?
Following the recent UK tattoo ink ban, the US and Canada have begun to take a closer look at what ingredients are in tattoo ink and whether it is actually safe for human skin.
Contrary to popular belief, there is no ink made specifically for tattoos. While there are popular “tattoo ink” sellers (such as Solid Ink, Intenze Ink, and Eternal Ink) that provide tattoo artists with a sterile product to prevent infection, the actual pigments used in these inks are the same as those used in many paints and fabrics.
Many of these pigments are known to contain heavy metals and other substances that you don’t want in your body, although the trace amounts of these substances in the inks have not been proven to cause cancer (or any other disease).
According to the study’s lead scientist, Dr. John Swierk, what should be of most concern to us about whether tattoo ink causes cancer is actually the laser removal process and the size of the ink particles.
Treating certain inks with a laser may produce carcinogens
Tattoo ink does contain trace amounts of dangerous substances, but as long as it remains intact and stable, it doesn’t pose much of a threat. The real problem is when the ink particles start to break down in the presence of certain bacteria or through the laser removal process.
When inks containing azo pigments (the same pigments that are subject to the UK ink ban) are broken down by bacteria and ultraviolet light, they release nitrogen-based compounds that can cause cancer.
The most dangerous ink colors
Azo pigments are found in almost all colors of tattoo ink. Black and red inks typically do not contain azo pigments. However, this does not mean that black and red inks are free of harmful substances. One study found that 83% of black inks tested contained polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), which are known carcinogens.
Tiny ink particles may cause cancer
Swierk’s team also studied the size of the ink particles in tattoos, which are typically large. This is important because the body’s natural defense system can’t effectively break down those larger particles, causing the tattoo to remain intact with minimal fading.
However, if tattoo ink particles are too small, they can penetrate cell membranes and damage cells. These damaged cells can then, under the right conditions, cause cancer.
Ink particles may collect in lymph nodes
Your body sees tattoo ink particles as “foreign invaders” that must be destroyed. It’s very difficult for your body to break down such large particles, so your body tries to do just that by flushing the material out using your body’s natural “drainage” system, the lymphatic system.
Because the body has no way to effectively drain ink particles from the lymph nodes, small amounts of ink can build up in these areas, potentially exposing other tissues in the body to substances that can cause cancer.
Tattoo ink and skin cancer
In addition to recent research, there have been concerns for some time about whether tattoos cause skin cancer.
Although tattoo ink is known to contain carcinogens (like many foods, cosmetics, and household cleaners), there is no conclusive evidence that simply getting a tattoo will cause skin cancer. However, getting a tattoo over a mole without your doctor’s permission may put you at risk for skin cancer.
Dermatologists use mole growth as an indicator of skin cancer risk, and prevention becomes more difficult when moles are no longer visible.
As mentioned above, the UK recently banned the use of many ink colours containing azo pigments, giving artists a one-year grace period to find alternatives, and it is expected that the US will follow suit with a similar ban in the near future.
This crackdown on ink ingredients has prompted many tattoo ink sellers to reformulate their inks with safer materials and make their labels more transparent. (In an August 2022 study, Swierk’s team found that tattoo inks contained ethanol, though the ethanol was not listed on the labels.)
However, improved safety has led to higher prices, as many of the safer materials are more expensive to produce.
What does this mean for tattoo artists?
Swierk’s team’s findings are still undergoing peer review, and no action has been taken by the FDA at the time of writing. Tattoo artists in the U.S. and Canada can still use any tattoo ink they see fit. But this new information may cause both tattoo artists and customers to reevaluate which inks they use during the tattooing process.
Swierk’s findings will be added to whatsinmyink.com as a resource for artists (and their customers) to check the ingredients in their inks.
As scientific research into tattoo inks progresses (and the tattoo industry improves accordingly), tattooing will likely become a more medically safe art form, but safer, more expensive inks may translate into higher costs for tattoo artists, who often operate as self-employed professionals. So while tattoo artists can look forward to safer, more legible inks that their customers can trust, they can also expect prices to rise in the coming years to compensate for the increased costs.
