What are the general risks? There are a number of risks for anybody having a tattoo. These include skin infections, transmission of blood borne infections including tetanus, hepatitis B and C, and even HIV, allergic reaction to the inks, and long-term sensitivity.
Tattoos are done primarily by breaching the skin and inserting pigments into the skin's top layer by piercing the skin using needles. These needles puncture the skin with ink droplets and unsterile use of these needles and pigments can cause skin complications such as infections, allergic reactions, or scarring.
The tattoo ink once injected into the skin, triggers the body's immune response system. Almost like a military operation, the immune system leaps to defend the body against the wound and foreign ink invaders, our body's are kick ass like that. The immune system sends in fighter cells called macrophages and phagocytes.
Long-Term Effects: There is no substantial evidence suggesting that tattoos have long-term negative effects on the immune system. In fact, many people get tattoos without any adverse effects. In summary, while getting a tattoo can temporarily engage the immune system, it does not weaken it.
In 2011, in a study in The British Journal of Dermatology, investigators reported the discovery that nanoparticles are found in tattoo inks. Nanoparticles are ultramicroscopic, making them able to penetrate through skin layers into underlying blood vessels and then travel with the bloodstream.
People with multiple or large tattoos are at higher risk from contaminated ink, Katz said, because larger tattoos increase the likelihood of exposure to microorganisms. Applying permanent makeup can also raise the risk of infection, she said.
Therefore, potential systemic health effects of tattoos are not limited to the dermis but could include various types of lymphoma, as well as cancers of the kidney, bladder, and liver.
In conclusion, a growing body of evidence suggests a possible role of some tattoo ink compounds as triggers for the immune system, and the lack of extensive studies on different autoimmune diseases does not allow physicians to advise patients with consistent data.
Ink injected under the skin to create a tattoo contains several chemicals classified as carcinogenic (cancer causing). Pigment from tattoo ink can be found in enlarged lymph nodes within weeks of getting a tattoo.
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.
Tattoos: If the tattoo is in the area of interest and is less than six weeks old, reschedule the patient. Ice packs or padding should be used against any tattoo that is in contact with the bore of the scanner or the MRI coil.
Over the years, the FDA has received reports of people developing infections from contaminated tattoo inks, as well as allergic reactions to the inks themselves.
However, evidence does show that some tattoo inks contain carcinogens (cancer-causing substances) – chemicals that have been classified as known or possible carcinogens by the WHO's International Agency for Research on Cancer.
Visible tattoos can sometimes challenge traditional norms of professionalism, and it is essential for nurses to consider how these might be perceived by patients and colleagues. Body art that is deemed offensive or inappropriate can undermine the nurse's ability to establish trust and rapport with patients.
The ink that breaks down is processed through the liver, so it is important to discuss liver problems with your doctor before proceeding. Keep in mind that a healthy liver will have minimal to no issues, but a liver that is already struggling could end up with adverse effects.
Hepatitis B and HIV-AIDS (Acquired immune deficiency syndrome) can be transmitted from one person to another through tattooing. These diseases are spread through physical contacts. Chikungunya is transmitted to humans through infected mosquitoes mainly Aedes aegypti.
Apart from PAHs bound to carbon black pigments, all these substances are found in both the solvent portion and the pigment portion of the ink. These agents are associated with a higher risk of various types of cancer, such as cancers of the lung, kidney, liver, and bladder, depending on the substance.
So far, evidence suggests such deposits may cause enlargement of the lymph nodes and some blood clotting. But long-term studies in humans are needed to definitively link tattoo ink in lymph nodes to any harmful effect. The ingredients within tattoo ink itself also remain largely unknown and under-regulated.
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Now, you may be wondering why you have to wait three months in unregulated states to donate blood after getting a tattoo. It's because of concerns over transmitting Hepatitis.
A 21 percent increased risk of developing lymphoma
“After taking into account other relevant factors, such as smoking and age, we found that the risk of developing lymphoma was 21 percent higher among those who were tattooed.
Infection can occur after tattoos and even the most well-done and safe of plastic surgery procedures. If there is any chance one procedure will affect the other, your cosmetic surgeon will guide you to the best (and safest) direction.
As noted above, when you get a tattoo, the body's immune system immediately bolsters itself to fight off infection, but research has found that this happens not just at the “injured” tattoo site but throughout the entire body, and the response has shown to be cumulative.