Tattoos dangerous to health! They harm the lymph nodes and can cause serious infections

One of the last, published in the journal Scientific Reports, showed that the toxic compounds in tattoo inks can be deposited in the lymph nodes and impair the functioning of the immune system. And that’s not the only risk associated with decorating the skin with “tears”. Here’s how tattoos can endanger your health.

A team of researchers at Regensburg University Hospital examined samples of skin and lymph nodes from deceased organ donors. In the tissues of people whose bodies were decorated with tattoos, scientists found elevated concentrations of metals, including aluminum, chromium, iron, nickel and copper, as well as cadmium and mercury – substances with high toxicity. The researchers concluded that this type of contamination can lead to chronic enlargement of lymph nodes and lifetime exposure of the body to these harmful compounds. As stated by one of the authors of the study, the pigments contained in tattoo inks are often manufactured for industrial applications and are not tested for safety for human health. A previous study in Scientific American in 2016 also found that people who get a tattoo drop in levels of immunoglobulin A, the antibody responsible for fighting infection.

In 2013, prof. Jorgen Serup from the University Hospital of Bispebjerg in Denmark conducted a study on the toxin content of tattoo paints. They found that 13 out of 21 inks commonly used in Europe contain carcinogenic compounds. Disturbing reports also came from the University of Bradford. Scientists from this university discovered that the nanoparticles contained in the ink can penetrate into the bloodstream and accumulate in internal organs. In the long run, this leads to impairment of the efficiency of these organs, and may also contribute to the development of neoplasms. The director of the university’s skin cancer center, Desmond Tobin, said there was no doubt about the toxic nature of these substances.

It may seem that this is a small thing in the context of more serious diseases to which tattoos expose us. Nothing could be more wrong. Allergic reactions caused by the introduction of chemicals contained in inks under the skin can be very severe and disfiguring. Bright and bright pigments such as yellow, red, green and blue can do the most damage. Worse still, allergic reactions can occur many years after getting a tattoo. It is so dangerous that a person who has treated himself to a single “decoration” may soon try to get another one – and thus increase the risk of unpleasant consequences. Especially if he finds that the tattoo has no visible side effects. Meanwhile, a skin reaction may appear at the time of weakening the body or a long-term decrease in immunity, e.g. caused by stress.

In professional tattoo parlors, such a risk is negligible. In less professional ones – bigger. It is worth remembering all the more that tattoos are becoming a popular “holiday souvenir”. And abroad, hygiene and safety standards may be slightly lower than in Poland. Studies show that HBV and HCV, i.e. hepatitis B and C, can remain contagious in blood droplets outside the body for up to six weeks. Moreover, boiling the needles or heating them in a flame is not a guarantee of getting rid of the virus. The only sure way to neutralize the pathogen is to autoclave the needles. So it’s worth making sure that the tattoo studio has such equipment before deciding on a risky ornament.

People who have decided to get a tattoo should be careful not only before getting it, e.g. when choosing the right salon, but also after the procedure. A few months ago, the British Medical Journal Case Reports reported the case of a 31-year-old man who, after having had a tattoo, decided to bathe in the sea. He did so against the advice of the tattoo artist, who advised to wait two weeks before plunging into the waves. The “insubordination” ended with an infection with the carnivorous Vibrio vulnificus strain. The effects did not take long to come. First there was chills and a fever, then a rash in the area of ​​ u24b uXNUMXbthe tattoo, and septic shock within XNUMX hours of admission to the hospital. Unfortunately, the man died after two months of hospitalization. The incident took place in Mexico, but the bacteria Vibrio vulnificus, normally found in tropical waters, have also appeared in the Baltic Sea for several years.

Tetanus is a serious infectious disease caused by the tetanus rod. It is characterized by a high mortality rate of 30%. for all people and as much as 80 percent. in the case of infants. Bacteria penetrate tissues when cut and produce toxins that damage nerve cells. Although tetanus vaccination is mandatory for children and adolescents, most people are not aware that it does not give life-long immunity – it should be repeated every ten years. The likelihood of tetanus infection while getting a tattoo is relatively low. However, if the tattoo artist “forgot” to sterilize the needle or carried it out in an unprofessional manner, this risk exists.

Tattoos can lead to a variety of skin problems. Medical journals even record cases of psoriasis caused by the body’s reaction to substances in the ink. This chronic disease develops when the body treats its own skin cells as an enemy and begins to fight them. Tattoos can also contribute to the development of granulomas. These are inflammatory conditions in the form of lumpy lumps appearing on the skin. They are the result of the accumulation of a large number of macrophages and other cells of the immune system on a small area of ​​the body. These cells are designed to stop foreign substances from penetrating into the body. If they are very “determined” to do their job conscientiously – the lumps become a disfiguring problem.