I don't have any tattoos. I don't actually like tattoos; I don't find them cool or attractive. But they are ubiquitous these days, as much among soccer moms and college students as among gang members and criminals. And it turns out they ate not risk-free.
Setting aside the risk of infection inherent in any procedure that involves piecing the skin, which can be largely mitigated by using a reputable and licensed tattoo parlour, tattoo pigments can interact with the body's immune system in ways we are only beginning to understand.
Tattoo inks are not biologically inert - some inks can contain heavy metals like nickel, chromium, cobalt, even lead, as well as organic compounds like azo dyes and polycyclic hydrocarbons aromatic. They remain in the body for decades, interacting with the sun and breaking down into other chemicals, potentially triggering allergic reactions, immune sensitivities, genetic damage and cancers. They can also reduce the effectiveness of certain vaccines.
Tattoo ink does not stay just under the skin; it can migrate through the lymphatic system and accumulate in the lymph nodes, structures that help coordinate immune responses. There is evidence from animals studies (but, as yet, not human studies) suggesting that tattoo inks can cause carcinogenic by-products as they degrade over time or from exposure to ultraviolet light or laser removal. Cancers can take decades to develop in humans, so definitive research is difficult.
So, it's not absolutely certain that tattoos are dangerous (except for the immuno-compromised). But the odds are pretty strong. I won't be getting a tattoo any time soon, although not necessarily for that reason.
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