Thinking About Getting Inked? Know the Health Risks First

Tattoos can be a fun and personal form of self-expression, remembrance, and more, but they can also come with their own potential hazards. Some people are at higher risk of serious health issues than others, but anyone can develop an allergy or infection. Some inks may even be toxic. Let's get fully informed before we take the plunge whether this is the first time or the twentieth.

Risk of Infection

The last thing most people expect when they sit down in that tattoo parlor chair is to leave with a potential infection, but it is a real risk. Infections can occur immediately following the tattooing, but they can also develop days, sometimes even months, afterward. One study revealed that even sealed, unopened ink jars have tested positive for potentially infectious bacteria. In a Tulane University study, 22% of recent tattoo customers reported itching over a month after the fact and 3% of all tattoos become infected.

That’s why it’s important to know when new ink isn’t healing correctly. All tattoos will start off looking irritated, and it’s normal for them to scab and peel. They may also get a little itchy for a bit. But an infected tattoo will remain inflamed and the skin redness will get darker or spread over time, rather than fading. Pain levels might also increase, and some will develop a fever or chills. Or they may also develop itchy bumps, open sores or pus in the infected areas.

And that’s under the most sterile and professional of circumstances. If you go somewhere unsanitary or have an acquaintance do it at home, where sterilization practices might be more lax and needles reused, you run the additional risk of catching HIV, syphilis or hepatitis B and C. Always do plenty of research before letting someone ink you.

Allergic Reactions

Some people experience allergic reactions to the ink itself, which can occur anytime after the tattooing, even decades later. Anyone can have an allergic reaction, but your risk is higher if you’ve had joint-replacement surgery or are an HIV patient beginning antiretroviral medications.

Signs of an ink allergy include redness, itching, bumps or blisters, scaly skin and a watery discharge. See a dermatologist sooner rather than later if you suspect a skin infection or an allergic reaction. And remember that yes, it can develop suddenly and many decades after you got the tattoo.

Heavy Metals and More

Tattoo ink can contain a wide range of heavy metals including chromium, manganese, cobalt and titanium oxide. The latter serves as a base for white and numerous color inks, and it may cause delayed healing in some people. Carbon black, also a common color base, comes from partially burned hydrocarbons. You can also find this jet-black soot in printer inks, some rubber products and carbon paper.

Researchers have found evidence that the body will try to detoxify what it can, with traces of numerous tattoo pigments being visible in nearby lymph nodes. The pigments also appear to travel to the liver via the bloodstream.

The right tattoo can complement just about anyone, and for some people, getting inked is a personal statement. If you’ve been on the fence about getting one, consider the potential health effects before you make your decision. Chances are, you won’t suffer any issues, but it’s best to go in knowing all the risks.

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