To date, many studies on the possibility of cancer have shown: there is no evidence that tattoos can cause cancer.
In recent years, tattooing is a trend that many people love, but there are many concerns that tattoos can cause cancer. Is this true or not?
Tattooing is a form of creating and saving long-term body drawings by applying colored inks under the skin and mucous membranes.
The tattoo needle will penetrate the surface of the skin to bring the tattoo ink into the dermis layer of the skin, then the ink will be retained and last for a long time.
In fact, the substances used in tattoo ink such as: azo pigments (anisidine, nitro-o-toluidine, chloro-o-toluidine, 3,3′- dichlorobenzidine), cadmium, mercury, copper-phthalocyanine, cobalt and cobalt salts, chromium, titanium dioxide are carcinogens or potentially carcinogenic to humans according to the classification of the World Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC). In there:
- Azo pigments (anisidine, nitro-o-toluidine, chloro-o-toluidine, 3,3′-dichlorobenzidine) and cadmium are in group 1 – the group of human carcinogens;
- Mercury, cobalt sulfate, and other soluble cobalt salts belong to group 2B – a group of substances capable of causing cancer in humans.
Therefore, there is doubt about the risk of causing skin cancer as well as other organs when tattooing.
However, until now, many studies on the possibility of skin cancer as well as other organ cancers of tattoo ink have concluded: there is no evidence that tattoos increase the risk of skin cancer as well as skin cancer. other organ cancers. A meta-study of 50 tattooed skin cancer cases spanning 40 years found that the occurrence of skin cancer was random, not related to tattooing.
However, some countries in Europe have made recommendations to remove some substances belonging to the group of carcinogens (belonging to group 1 according to the IARC classification) such as azo pigments which are aromatic amines from the composition of tattoo ink and tattoo ink. Ask the manufacturer to specify the tattoo ink ingredients to ensure the safety of users.
Some other issues to keep in mind when getting a tattoo
- Risk of infection: the creation of lesions on the skin increases the risk of infection and infection of hepatitis B, C, HIV after tattooing. These risks often come from the manipulation process, tattoo tools are not hygienic.
- Risk of tattoo ink allergy: the use of colored inks put into the skin is considered to introduce foreign elements into the body, which can cause allergic reactions. Manifestations of tattoo ink allergy include: Itching, red rash, peeling, thickening of the skin, acute or persistent ulceration that persists after tattooing.
- Tattooing on the site of previous pigmented lesions such as moles, pigment spots,… is thought to increase the risk of skin cancer occurrence or hinder and make it difficult to monitor progress. of these injuries.
- Lymph node reaction: tattoo ink is like a foreign element in the skin, so the body will produce a response to capture and move these foreign elements (tattoo ink) to nearby lymph nodes, causing changes to the lymph nodes. discolored and possibly enlarged lymph nodes.
- Impact on cancer treatment: the determination of lymph node metastasis is also more difficult in tattooed patients because regional lymph nodes have been discolored by tattoo ink.
TIPS FOR SAFETY TEXTILES
- Knowledge of tattoos and possible risks;
- Choose a tattoo establishment that ensures sterile manipulations during the tattooing process;
- Tattoo ink must be of clear origin, licensed ingredients and have an expiration date;
- Avoid tattooing on locations with previous pigmented lesions such as: pigment spots, moles,… to minimize the risk of skin cancer;
- Consideration should be given to those who are allergic to the tattoo ink’s ingredients, have a history of allergies or chronic skin diseases;
- Self-examination and monitoring of pigmented lesions periodically every 6 months to 1 year for early detection of skin cancer lesions.
