Tattoos & Cancer
-
Prevalence
-
A 2003 Harris Poll reported that 16% of U.S. adults have at least one tattoo. Tattooing is a common practice in other countries as well. Teenage girls in particular are increasingly interested in tattoos, causing concern about possible complications from tattoos in young people.
Skin Cancer
-
Skin cancer is an abnormal growth of the cells of the skin, and it can appear as a skin irregularity such as a mole, lesion, or waxy bump. Usually skin cancer develops on skin exposed to sunlight, however it can also occur in areas that rarely see the sun. Exposure to ultraviolet light, from sunlight or tanning beds, can increase risk of skin cancer, as can exposure to some toxic materials.
Tattoos and Cancer
-
There have been several case studies of cancer developing in tattoos. A review of literature about tattoos, published in "Melanoma Research" came up with 10 cases of tattoos being related to skin cancer. Further study is necessary to determine whether cases like these are caused by tattoos. Another risk of tattoos is that any discoloration or decoration of skin can make it difficult to spot cancer, making early detection unlikely.
Heavy Metals
-
Some tattoo inks use heavy metals such at titanium and aluminum, as well as trace amounts of toxic metals such as lead. The Food and Drug Administration does not regulate the ingredients in tattoo inks, so it is difficult to know exactly what is in each color of ink. The lack of studies on long-term exposure to these materials makes it difficult to know the risks involved in tattooing.
Considerations
-
Further studies are necessary to determine whether tattoos play a causal role in skin cancers. However, tattoos can cause other complications such as allergic reactions or spreading infectious diseases through use of unhygienic needles.
People with tattoos should check themselves regularly and thoroughly to detect any cancer-like skin abnormalities.
-