Editing Tattoo (section)

== Health risks ==
{{Main|Health effects of tattoos}}{{More medical citations needed|section|date=May 2025}}
The pain of tattooing can range from uncomfortable to excruciating, depending on the location of the tattooing the body. With the use of modern numbing creams, pain may be eliminated or reduced. Fainting can occur during tattoo procedures, but is not considered very likely.

Because it requires breaking the immunologic barrier formed by the skin, tattooing carries health risks, including infection and allergic reactions. Modern tattooists reduce health risks by following universal precautions working with single-use items and sterilizing their equipment after each use. Many jurisdictions require that tattooists have [[Blood-borne disease|blood-borne pathogen]] training such as that provided through the [[Red Cross]] and [[Occupational Safety and Health Administration|OSHA]]. As of 2024, the U.S. [[Centers for Disease Control and Prevention]] said there have been no known cases of HIV contracted from tattoos.<ref>{{Cite web |last= |date=2024-11-25 |title=How HIV Spreads |url=https://www.cdc.gov/hiv/causes/index.html |access-date=2025-05-18 |website=U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) |language=en-us}}</ref>

In amateur tattooing, such as the practice in prisons, there is an elevated risk of infection. Infections that can theoretically be transmitted by the use of unsterilized tattoo equipment or contaminated ink include surface infections of the skin, fungal infections, some forms of [[hepatitis]], [[herpes simplex virus]], [[HIV]], [[staph]], [[tetanus]], and [[tuberculosis]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/tattoos-and-piercings/MC00020 |title=Tattoos: Risks and precautions to know first |publisher=MayoClinic.com |date=20 March 2012 |access-date=5 April 2012}}</ref>

[[File:Tattoo keloid.JPG|thumb|left|[[Keloid]] formation at the site of a tattoo]]
Tattoo inks have been described as "remarkably nonreactive histologically".<ref name="kilmer" /> However, cases of allergic reactions to tattoo inks, particularly certain colors, have been medically documented. This is sometimes due to the presence of nickel in an ink pigment, which triggers a common metal allergy. Occasionally, when a [[blood vessel]] is punctured during the tattooing procedure, a [[bruise]]/[[hematoma]] may appear. At the same time, a number of tattoo inks may contain hazardous substances, and a proposal has been submitted by the [[European Chemicals Agency]] (ECHA) to restrict the intentional use or concentration limit of approximately 4000 substances when contained in tattoo inks.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://echa.europa.eu/-/proposal-to-restrict-hazardous-substances-in-tattoo-inks-and-permanent-make-up |title=Proposal to restrict hazardous substances in tattoo inks and permanent make-up – All news – ECHA |website=echa.europa.eu |language=en-GB |access-date=26 October 2018}}</ref> According to a study by the European Union Observatory for Nanomaterials (EUON), a number of modern-day tattoo inks contain nanomaterials.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://euon.echa.europa.eu/documents/23168237/24095696/070918_euon_nanopigments_literature_study_report_en.pdf/58977ab1-1059-4b41-f003-18ae9d7a157c |title=Literature study on the uses and risks of nanomaterials as pigments in the European Union |website=European Union Observatory for Nanomaterials (EUON)}}</ref> These engender significant [[Nanotoxicology|nanotoxicological]] concerns.

Certain colours – red or similar colours such as purple, pink, and orange – tend to cause more problems and damage compared to other colours.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://livsstil.tv2.dk/kropogsundhed/2014-03-26-gode-r%C3%A5d-om-tatoveringer-de-her-farver-skal-du-undg%C3%A5 |title=Gode råd om tatoveringer: De her farver skal du undgå |date=26 March 2014}}</ref>

In 2017, researchers from the [[European Synchrotron Radiation Facility]] in France found that some of the chemicals in tattoo ink accumulate in the [[lymph node]]s, obstructing their ability to fight infections.<ref>{{Cite journal |last1=Schreiver |first1=Ines |last2=Hesse |first2=Bernhard |last3=Seim |first3=Christian |last4=Castillo-Michel |first4=Hiram |last5=Villanova |first5=Julie |last6=Laux |first6=Peter |last7=Dreiack |first7=Nadine |last8=Penning |first8=Randolf |last9=Tucoulou |first9=Remi |last10=Cotte |first10=Marine |last11=Luch |first11=Andreas |date=2017-09-12 |title=Synchrotron-based ν-XRF mapping and μ-FTIR microscopy enable to look into the fate and effects of tattoo pigments in human skin |journal=Scientific Reports |language=en |volume=7 |issue=1 |page=11395 |doi=10.1038/s41598-017-11721-z |issn=2045-2322 |pmc=5595966 |pmid=28900193|bibcode=2017NatSR...711395S }}</ref> However, the authors noted that most tattooed individuals, including the donors analyzed, do not suffer from chronic inflammation.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Akst |first=Jef |date=2017-09-12 |title=Tattoo Ink Nanoparticles Persist in Lymph Nodes |url=https://www.the-scientist.com/tattoo-ink-nanoparticles-persist-in-lymph-nodes-30933 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.today/20240229115210/https://www.the-scientist.com/tattoo-ink-nanoparticles-persist-in-lymph-nodes-30933 |archive-date=2024-02-29 |access-date=2024-08-17 |website=The Scientist Magazine |language=en}}</ref>

Tattoo artists frequently recommend sun protection of skin to prevent tattoos from fading and to preserve skin integrity to make future tattooing easier.<ref>{{Cite journal |date=18 September 2018 |title=Re: Cutaneous melanoma attributable to sunbed use: systematic review and meta-analysis |url=https://www.bmj.com/content/345/bmj.e4757/rr/615167 |journal=The BMJ |pages=e4757 |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite journal |last1=Rosenbaum |first1=Brooke E. |last2=Milam |first2=Emily C. |last3=Seo |first3=Lauren |last4=Leger |first4=Marie C. |date=2016 |title=Skin Care in the Tattoo Parlor: A Survey of Tattoo Artists in New York City |journal=Dermatology |language=en |volume=232 |issue=4 |pages=484–489 |doi=10.1159/000446345 |pmid=27287431 |issn=1018-8665 |doi-access=free}}</ref>

A clear relationship between tattoos and cancer has not been established,<ref>{{Cite journal |last1=Dodig |first1=Slavica |last2=Čepelak-Dodig |first2=Daniela |last3=Gretić |first3=Davor |last4=Čepelak |first4=Ivana |date=2024-12-29 |title=Tattooing: immediate and long-term adverse reactions and complications |journal=Archives of Industrial Hygiene and Toxicology |language=en |volume=75 |issue=4 |pages=219–227 |doi=10.2478/aiht-2024-75-3921|pmid=39718089 |pmc=11739707 }}</ref><ref>{{Cite journal |last1=Kluger |first1=Nicolas |last2=Koljonen |first2=Virve |date=April 2012 |title=Tattoos, inks, and cancer |url=https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/22469126/ |journal=The Lancet. Oncology |volume=13 |issue=4 |pages=e161–168 |doi=10.1016/S1470-2045(11)70340-0 |issn=1474-5488 |pmid=22469126}}</ref><ref>{{Cite journal |last1=Warner |first1=Freda M. |last2=Darvishian |first2=Maryam |last3=Boyle |first3=Terry |last4=Brooks-Wilson |first4=Angela R. |last5=Connors |first5=Joseph M. |last6=Lai |first6=Agnes S. |last7=Le |first7=Nhu D. |last8=Song |first8=Kevin |last9=Sutherland |first9=Heather |last10=Woods |first10=Ryan R. |last11=Bhatti |first11=Parveen |last12=Spinelli |first12=John J. |date=October 2020 |title=Tattoos and Hematologic Malignancies in British Columbia, Canada |url=https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/32699076/ |journal=Cancer Epidemiology, Biomarkers & Prevention |volume=29 |issue=10 |pages=2093–2095 |doi=10.1158/1055-9965.EPI-20-0515 |issn=1538-7755 |pmid=32699076}}</ref><ref>{{Cite journal |last=Kluger |first=Nicolas |date=2024-12-01 |title=A recent study on tattoos and lymphoma does not support a possible association |journal=Annales de Dermatologie et de Vénéréologie |volume=151 |issue=4 |pages=103320 |doi=10.1016/j.annder.2024.103320 |pmid=39413673 |issn=0151-9638|doi-access=free }}</ref> but a few studies found that tattoos may be associated with an increased risk of [[malignant lymphoma]] and [[skin cancer]].<ref>{{Cite journal |last1=Nielsen |first1=Christel |last2=Jerkeman |first2=Mats |last3=Jöud |first3=Anna Saxne |date=2024 |title=Tattoos as a risk factor for malignant lymphoma: a population-based case-control study |journal=eClinicalMedicine |volume=72 |pages=102649 |doi=10.1016/j.eclinm.2024.102649 |issn=2589-5370 |pmid=38827888|pmc=11141277 }}</ref><ref>{{Cite journal |last1=Clemmensen |first1=Signe Bedsted |last2=Mengel-From |first2=Jonas |last3=Kaprio |first3=Jaakko |last4=Frederiksen |first4=Henrik |last5=von Bornemann Hjelmborg |first5=Jacob |date=2025-01-15 |title=Tattoo ink exposure is associated with lymphoma and skin cancers – a Danish study of twins |journal=BMC Public Health |volume=25 |issue=1 |pages=170 |doi=10.1186/s12889-025-21413-3 |doi-access=free |issn=1471-2458 |pmc=11736920 |pmid=39819495}}</ref><ref>{{Cite journal |last1=McCarty |first1=Rachel D. |last2=Trabert |first2=Britton |last3=Kriebel |first3=David |last4=Millar |first4=Morgan M. |last5=Birmann |first5=Brenda M. |last6=Grieshober |first6=Laurie |last7=Barnard |first7=Mollie E. |last8=Collin |first8=Lindsay J. |last9=Lawson-Michod |first9=Katherine A. |last10=Gibson |first10=Brody |last11=Sawatzki |first11=Jenna |last12=Carter |first12=Marjorie |last13=Yoder |first13=Valerie |last14=Gilreath |first14=Jeffrey A. |last15=Shami |first15=Paul J. |date=October 2024 |title=Tattoos and Risk of Hematologic Cancer: A Population-Based Case-Control Study in Utah |journal=Cancer Medicine |volume=13 |issue=20 |pages=e70260 |doi=10.1002/cam4.70260 |issn=2045-7634 |pmid=39444249|pmc=11499570 }}</ref>