Review article
Possible complications of tattooing
Slavica Dodig
orcid.org/0000-0002-3419-5171
; Faculty of Pharmacy and Biochemistry, University of Zagreb
*
Daniela Čepelak-Dodig
; Dept. of toxicology, Croatian Institute of Public Health
Davor Gretić
; Dept. of toxicology, Croatian Institute of Public Health
Ivana Čepelak
; Faculty of Pharmacy and Biochemistry, University of Zagreb
* Corresponding author.
Abstract
Tattooing is a painful process of introducing pigment into the dermis layer with the intention of permanently decorating the body. In order to draw tattoos, it is necessary to have the appropriate basic equipment – a tattoo machine and tattoo ink. Tattoo inks contain solvents, dispersants, colored pigments, and preservatives. Thanks to macrophages, the injected pigments remain in the regional lymph nodes for life and can also be found in many organs. Numerous acute (irritation, infection, skin inflammation), delayed (allergic reactions), and permanent (skin carcinomas, lymphomas) complications of tattooing have been described, as well as contraindications. Of greatest interest is the connection between various tattoo inks and the occurrence of malignant diseases. In order to minimize complications, it is important to set clear criteria that will ensure the safety of people undergoing tattooing. The harmful effects of tattooing are being investigated using in vivo, in vitro, ex vivo, and, more recently, in silico methods (i.e., computer simulation and analysis of large amounts of collected data). Case reports and insufficiently rigorous epidemiological studies have not yet reliably proven a cause-and-effect relationship between tattoo ink components and the occurrence of autoimmune and malignant diseases.
Keywords
tattooing; tattoo ink; complications; risk; safety
Hrčak ID:
330285
URI
Publication date:
22.4.2025.
Visits: 350 *