Introduction
Tattoos have gained popularity over the years. Unfortunately, there are people getting tattoos all over their bodies for fashion without having accurate information about the chemicals used, which can have a toxic reaction later on. It has been found that most tattoo inks are organic compounds but also contain some heavy metal contaminants like nickel, chromium, and cobalt. These toxic substances can lead to chronic skin reactions, cancer, and endocrine disorders. Some studies also show that there are no regulations on the manufacturing of the ink used in tattoos; therefore, consumers and tattoo artists must choose the products, keeping in mind the utmost safety and health.
How Are Tattoos Done?
Tattoo artists make permanent or temporary designs on the bodies with colored pigments loaded in a hand-held machine with needles. These needles continuously prick the upper skin layer and insert pigment droplets into the skin. Then, the artist covers the area for 24 hours to protect the tattoo from bacterial infection.
What Are the Chemicals Used in Tattoo Inks?
Tattoo ink is mainly composed of Phthalates and Benzo(a)pyrene, which are considered the most harmful constituents.
Some standard pigments used in tattoo inks are:
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Red-skin- Skin reactions are a common side effect of this pigment because it contains cadmium, mercury, or iron oxide. Red ink containing naphthol is a better alternative.
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Yellow - Turmeric and Arylide are best for yellow ink pigment.
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Blue and Green - Copper phthalocyanine is the best option for these colors. Use Monoazo for green pigment and sodium for blue to get better results.
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Black - Use black ink pigment extracted from logwood and magnetite crystals instead of the one obtained from animals, also known as “India ink.”
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Purple - Use Carbazole and Dioxane for purple pigment and restrain from using manganese violet for this color.
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Brown - Avoid using iron oxide for brown pigment.
What Are the Common Effects of Tattoos?
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Skin Allergic Reactions - Pigments used in tattoos can cause skin allergies to occur immediately after getting the tattoo done or can develop over the years. These rashes can be red in color and itchy.
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Skin Infections - Lack of hygiene, ink contamination, or poor equipment handling in tattoo studios can cause severe infections like red bumps and lesions on the skin with fever, pus, and swelling.
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MRI Complications - Tattoos can lead to poor MRI (magnetic resonance imaging) quality and cause swelling and irritation due to MRI exposure in that area.
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Bloodborne Diseases- Infected equipment in the tattoo studios can cause bloodborne diseases such as Hepatitis B, Hepatitis C, HIV, etc. Therefore, getting a hepatitis and tetanus vaccine is advisable before the tattoo.
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Carcinogenic Effect - No evidence is shown related to cancer; however, some toxic elements are present in the pigments, and inks used for tattoo making have carcinogenic properties.
How To Prevent the Risks of Tattoo Toxicology?
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Choose a Tattoo Studio Carefully - A renowned tattoo artist professional must be chosen who has good experience and license to work.
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Self-Check Equipment - The sterile equipment should be used, not the infected one.
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Stay in Touch With the Tattoo Artist - If any allergy or reaction occurs, one must reach out to the tattoo artist, but if the condition worsens, contact the doctor immediately.
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Consult Dermatologist - Take advice from a dermatologist before getting inked to rule out any complications.
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Skin Area Must Be Chosen With Caution - Never choose an area with a scar, birthmark, or mole.
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Wash or Sanitize the Hands - Fresh tattoos must not be touched without hand sanitization to avoid infections and cover the area for at least 24 hours.
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Restrain From Scratching - Avoid doing that as it leads to bacterial entry into the skin, which is still healing.
How to Take Care of Tattoos?
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Sun exposure after tattooing must be avoided for at least a few weeks
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The area must be moisturized regularly to prevent skin dryness.
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Keep the area clean with soap and water, and avoid hot, steamy water on the tattoo area.
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Leave the area for healing for a few weeks.
What Are the Tattoo Removal Options Available?
People usually opt for tattoo removal if they do not like the design after getting it done, if it is fading away with time, or if they get bored of the same tattoo after a few years.
There are usually three techniques used to obliterate the tattoo:
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Surgical Removal - This procedure is done under local anesthesia. The doctor uses a scalpel to remove the tattoo and stitches the skin area back to promote healing. In addition, antibacterial ointment is prescribed for wound healing. This procedure is effective but leaves a scar after surgery. Thus, it can be mainly used for small tattoos.
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Laser Surgery - This procedure is done under local anesthesia with a special laser called Q-switched Nd: YAG, used on dark skin areas. Colorful tattoos can be removed with different wavelengths, requiring multiple laser settings to remove the ink. Swelling, blisters, and bleeding are common after treatment.
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Dermabrasion - In this technique, the tattooed area is made numb, and then the high-speed rotary device with coarse-grained brushes is rolled over it to remove the tattoo ink from the skin. Since the results of this treatment are not always desirable, the other two treatment options are the most preferred choices.
What Is Tattoo Toxicology?
Tattoos inside the skin surface unintentionally introduce a large number of unknown ingredients, such as heavy metals, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, and primary aromatic amines, and these could pose toxicological risks to human health when present beyond permissible limits.
Does Tattoo Removal Cause Toxicity?
One of the standard options for removing tattoos is Q-switched lasers. However, toxicity can occur during the removal of tattoos, as when the laser is delivered to the skin, the energy that is absorbed by the pigment is converted to heat, which is the photothermal effect. There is also a photochemical effect as there is a breakage of chemical bonds inside the pigment. Due to photoacoustic effects, pigments are mechanically destroyed. Metals may be present in some of the tattoo pigments, which could theoretically break down into toxic chemicals in the body when they are exposed to light.
Conclusion
Tattoo toxicity is a matter of concern for people who unknowingly get themselves inked, especially young generations. Therefore, accurate information and knowledge are necessary before getting a tattoo. The risk of the chemical pigments used in the process becomes the mode of infection and allergies, thus causing severe skin damage in the long term. Also, the carcinogenic effect of these pigments creates serious health problems. Furthermore, tattooing gives toxic marks deep under the skin; though they can be treated by medical intervention, there is also a potential risk of health hazards.
