Old Tattoos Causes Illness for Woman 15 Years After She Got It
In today’s day and age, it’s rare to
meet someone who doesn’t have a tattoo. In the past tattoos were seen
as taboo, making it difficult for people to get a decent job. That
mindset has radically shifted in recent years, and now it’s not only
rebellious youngsters that are jumping on the tattoo bandwagon. Tattoos
are now seen as a form of self-expression and identification; however
researchers are beginning to believe that the longer that
self-expression stays on your skin, the more damage that it does to your
body.
The Pew Research Center states that four-in-ten millennials have
tattoos, with half of that number having more than one[1]. With the rise
in tattoo popularity, it raises the question: do we know enough about
the long-term effects of injecting ink into the body?
Old Tattoos Can Cause Problems Mistaken for Cancer
In Australia, a 30-year old woman (whose name has not been released)
went to doctor with small lumps under her arms that had been there for
two weeks. A body scan showed that there were similar enlarged lymph
nodes in her chest.
“Ninety-nine times out of 100, (this) will be lymphoma,” said her
doctor, Dr. Christian Bryant, a hematologist at the Royal Prince Alfred
Hospital in Sydney[2].
An otherwise healthy woman, she was experiencing no other symptoms of
lymphoma. She did, however, have a large, 15-year old black ink tattoo
covering her back, and a more recent tattoo on her left shoulder.
In this woman’s case, her inflamed lymph nodes were not caused by
cancer, but from a reaction to the old ink in her body. Once her immune
cells found the tattoo pigment – a foreign substance – they ingested it
and travelled from the skin to the lymph nodes over a period of years.
“The pigment is too large for these cells to eat and digest,”
Stebbins said. “That’s why they’re still there many years later.”[2]
Why the woman had a reaction 15 years later is a mystery to the
doctors. But, while this woman’s ordeal seems to be a rare occurrence,
it’s still important to understand the risks involved with the tattoo
industry.
What Is Inside Tattoo Ink?
Injecting ink into the body is not
the most natural of processes. Many people will agree to a tattoo
without understanding what it is that they are putting into their body,
and that what they’re putting in can be hazardous.
In the production of tattoo ink, more than 100 colorants and 100
additives are used [5]. These products have been found to contain
hazardous chemicals, and many do not comply with international health
and safety standards.
Even more shocking, the Food and Drug Administration has found that
“Many pigments used in tattoo inks are industrial-grade colors suitable
for printers’ ink or automobile paint.”[6]
Side-Effects of Tattoo Ink
With these kinds of ingredients, it’s not surprising that many people
display symptoms after getting a tattoo. However, most people report
nothing more than mild irritation in the form of a rash, redness or
bumps around the area of the tattoo shortly after getting inked.
Some people may experience an
infection, which may cause high fever, shaking, chills, and sweats.
Treatment of these infections may require antibiotics, or even
hospitalization and/or surgery. An allergic reaction may appear in the
form of a rash, and because the ink is permanent the reaction may
persist.
Scar tissue may form when you get a
tattoo. Small bumps may form around the material that the body sees as
foreign, which could make your tattoo less pretty than you perhaps
intended[4].
While most people report minimal
symptoms, there are also people who experience more severe reactions.
Bacterial infections and acute allergic reactions may occur, as well as a
skin pigmentation disorder[5]. The risk of cancer from tattoo procedures has been neither proven nor excluded.
Despite the risks, many people are
adamant on expressing themselves through the art that they tattoo on
their body. If this is the route you’re taking, be sure to protect
yourself to minimize risk and to keep yourself safe.
Protect Yourself from Tattoo Mistakes
If you’re planning on getting a tattoo, there are a few things to
consider in order to make the process safer and more enjoyable for
everyone.
Go to a reputable tattoo artist
Choosing a tattoo artist is perhaps the most important part of the
tattoo process. You want to choose someone who has a good reputation.
Check the artist’s client references to make sure that past clients were
satisfied with the service. If possible, try to meet the artist and
visit the parlor beforehand.
Choose a good-quality parlor
The second most important part of getting a tattoo is to make sure
that the parlor is up to your standard. Make sure that both the artist
and the parlor comply with state and local laws. Visit the parlor before
booking your appointment to make sure that it is clean, and that they
are using disposable needles and unopened ink to prevent infection.
Education is key
Knowing what you are putting in your body is always important. Learn
about the side-effects that you may experience, and what you need to do
should you experience any of them, and you will better be able to take
care of yourself in the event of an emergency.
Organizations like European Society of Tattoo and Pigment Research
have spent a great deal of time learning about the art of tattooing in
order to offer knowledge and guidance to the public. Take advantage of
these resources to learn as much as you can before investing in a
tattoo.
When it comes to self-expression, tattoos are becoming an
increasingly important part of our modern day society. Before you or
your loved ones jump on the tattoo-train, make sure that you know as
much as possible, so that you can make an educated decision. If you
already have a few old tattoos, be aware that problems can arise years
down the road. Knowledge is the most important aspect when choosing to
do anything that’s permanent. Learn as much as you can about your body
so that you can keep yourself safe and happy.
SOURCES:
[1] http://www.pewsocialtrends.org/2010/02/24/millennials-confident-connected-open-to-change/
https://www.thesun.co.uk/.../how-getting-a-tattoo-could-cause-cancer-as-ink-travels-thro...
Sep 14, 2017 - Researchers from the European Synchrotron Radiation Facility in France say the chemicals in tattoo ink can travel in the bloodstream and accumulate in the lymph nodes.
www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-4875892/Why-tattoos-cancer.html
Sep 12, 2017 - Why tattoos could give you cancer:
Toxins in inkings stay in your bloodstream for LIFE and accumulate in
lymph nodes. Lymph nodes may become swollen and therefore less able to
fight off infections; Titanium dioxide is added to ink to create colours
but also dyes lymph nodes; The controversial chemical ...
edition.cnn.com/2017/10/02/health/tattoo-ink-lymphoma-study/index.html
Oct 2, 2017 - Doctors in Australia were stunned when they put a woman's suspected tumor under a microscope and instead found black tattoo pigment from 15 years ago.
https://thetruthaboutcancer.com › Cancer Causes
Jun 27, 2016 - Tattoos are common place nowadays, but have you ever thought about what tattoo ink may be doing to your body? Read about the possible risks here.
www.skincancer.org › Skin Cancer Information › Ask the Experts
Q.“I had melanoma (the deadliest form of skin cancer) about a year ago. The tumor was removed, and I was treated for a year more. I want to get a tattoo, but I'm concerned. Is there any chance I could develop skin cancer from the inks? Should people with melanoma avoid tattoos? Are there any other skin risks associated ...
https://www.sciencealert.com/tattoo-mimics-cancer-of-the-lymph-nodes-15-years-later
Oct 3, 2017 - Well, we can add this to the list of weird things tattoos can do to your body: apparently they can mimic the symptoms of cancer,
many years after the fact. More precisely, lymphoma, as the case of a
30-year-old woman attests. She went to a clinic at Sydney's Royal Prince
Alfred Hospital because she'd ...
https://www.forbes.com/sites/brucelee/.../suspected-cancer-turns-out-to-be-tattoo-ink/
Oct 3, 2017 - The case of a 30-year-old woman shows why discussing your tattoo history with your doctor may make a difference.
