Tattoos have become increasingly popular in today’s culture. However, most people don’t know what ingredients are in tattoo ink, thereby increasing their chances for an allergic reaction. The introduction of a foreign chemical to the skin may cause some people to experience a nasty skin irritation. Reduce your risk for an unwanted chemical reaction by researching the active ingredients in tattoo ink before getting tattooed.
Mercury
Mercury sulfide is toxic and may cause allergic skin reactions such as oozing, swelling or itching. Rashes, granulomas and sometimes lichenoid reactions, a graft versus host response, can develop after receiving a tattoo. Mercury sulfide is primarily used in red pigments and may also go by the name cinnabar.
Azo-chemicals
Azo-chemicals are organic chemicals found in orange, brown, yellow and green pigments. According to the Mayo Clinic, azo-chemicals have been shown to cause nodular granulomas and pseudolymphomatous reactions (delayed hypersensitivity), as well as basal cell carcinoma.
Potential Irritants
Tattoo pigments can contain a variety of chemicals and harmful ingredients in order to attain the best surface color for a tattoo. Iron oxide (rust) is a common ingredient found in tattoo pigments. Other chemicals that could cause an irritation, allergic reaction or even an infection include lead (yellow, green, white), cadmium (red, yellow, orange), nickel (black), zinc (yellow, white), aluminum (green, violet), titanium (white), copper (blue, green), iron (brown, black, red), ferrocyanide (yellow, red, blue, green), naptha-derived chemicals (red) and carbon (soot or ash, used for black pigment).
About this Author
Brenda Stokes is a freelance writer, editor and researcher based in Southern California. She’s worked as a writer since 2004 and has a B.A. in English literature. Her work has appeared in numerous online and print publications, including ePregnancy, Cat Fancy and BabyZone.
