THINK BEFORE YOU INK : ARE TATTOOS SAFE?

As the popularity of tattoos continues to grow, so does the concern about potential risks. Some risks, such as the spread of infections through the use of unsterilized needles, have long been known. But what isn't clear is the safety of tattoo inks.
Permanent tattoos are made by using needles to inject colored ink below the skin's surface. Permanent make-up is considered a permanent tattoo that mimics the results of cosmetic products such
as an eyebrow pencil, lip liner, eyeliner, or blush.

FDA has received reports of bad reactions to tattoo inks right after tattooing or even years later. Some people report itchy or inflamed skin around their tattoos when they've been out in the sun. Recent reports associated with permanent make-up inks have prompted us to study tattoo ink safety.

 

What are the Risks

• Infection – Dirty needles can pass infections, like hepatitis and HIV, from one person to another.
• Allergies – Allergies to various ink pigments in both permanent and temporary tattoos have been reported and can cause problems.
• Scarring – Unwanted scar tissue may form when getting or removing a tattoo.
• Granulomas – These small knots or bumps may form around material that the body perceives as foreign, such as particles of tattoo pigment.
• MRI complications – People may have swelling or burning in the tattoo when they have magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). This happens rarely and does not last long.

Research is currently on-going in research institutes in the country to find out

the chemical composition of the inks and how they break down (metabolize) in the body;

the short-term and long-term safety of pigments used in tattoo inks;

how the body responds to the interaction of light with the inks

Research has also shown that some pigment migrates from the tattoo site to the body's lymph nodes, . Lymph nodes are part of the lymphatic system, a collection of fluid-carrying vessels in the body that filter out disease-causing organisms. Whether the migration of tattoo ink has health consequences or not is still unknown. National Center for Toxicological Research is doing further research to answer this and other questions about the safety of tattoo inks