Overview
When most people think of the dangers of tattoos, they imagine artists in seedy tattoo shops using contaminated needles in an unsanitary environment. While the dangers of HIV and other diseases does exist in the tattooing world, the inks used pose more widespread risks. Tattoo inks can have several effects on the skin and other areas of the body.
Regulation
According to TattooDesigns.org.uk, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has not approved many of the pigments used in tattoo inks for contact with the skin. Since there is little federal oversight of the products used in tattooing, the composition, quality and ingredients of tattoo inks can vary significantly.
The FDA also does not require tattoo ink manufacturers to disclose the ingredients used in their inks.
Contaminants
Since the FDA allows tattoo ink manufacturers to produce inks without disclosing ingredients, the spectrum of contaminants is unknown. TattooHealth.org references a study conducted by the Institute for Consumer Health and Protection that found that some tattoo inks contained sulphides, oxides, selenides and metallic salts. The study also noted that many chemicals appearing in tattoo inks were originally intended for use in printing and writing inks, as well as in automotive paints.
Short-Term Effects
The pigments, metals and chemicals in tattoo inks can promote skin infections, according to TattooHealth.org. Even under the most sanitary conditions, skin that has been recently tattooed can develop a serious infection.
Some people also experience allergic reactions after tattooing, as well as cosmetic scarring.
Long-Term Effects
Although there are few long-term risks, tattoo inks can complicate magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) tests years after a person is tattooed. The reaction of tattoo inks to MRI pulses can cause swelling or burning sensations in tattooed areas, according to TattooHealth.org.
Removal
The variety of possible chemicals present in tattoo inks makes tattoo removal a difficult task. Even laser removal, which is designed to break up pigments, might not be able to remove some inks. This means that a tattoo wearer might need to have a cover-up tattoo done to hide the resistant inks. Cover-up tattoos are usually much larger than the designs they cover because additional skin area is need to camouflage the old ink, according to Dreamland Creations.
About this Author
Owen Pearson is a copywriter who began writing professionally in 2001, and focuses on nutritional and health topics. He has been a vegetarian since 1995. Pearson obtained a bachelor’s degree in art from the University of Rio Grande in 1997.
