The Practice of Tattooing May be Dangerous to Your Health

The Practice of Tattooing May be Dangerous to Your Health

By Dr. Rafael R. Pedraja

The painting of tattoos on the human skin has become very popular in the United States during the last few years. It has spread like an epidemic misfortune. Some people, both men and women, receive tattoos on practically their entire body including hands, arms, legs, feet, neck, chest, back, buttocks, face and event the top of the head. They think that it is ‘cool’ or ‘cute’ to have such defacing procedure. Maybe they want to be different or more appealing or attractive. Whatever the reason, I still cannot comprehend it. It has developed into a fancy of major proportions. In my opinion, it is not only retrograde and distasteful but also unhealthy.

The practice of tattooing was originated in ancient Egypt and among early tribal cultures of Oceania. They practiced it as part of their rituals and renditions to their primitive Gods and idols, as well as for tribal membership identification. Later, it was adapted by sailors travelling to the Pacific shores and it became popular and persisted among seamen. Consider that the skin is the largest organ in a person’s body and shall be protected like any other organ. It should not be used as merely a canvas to inscribe all kinds of stupid renditions. A parallel could be made of the practice of smoking. We all know that smoking causes cancer, particularly of the lungs, although it may affect other organs. The carcinogenic effects of smoking have been well documented and submitted to extensive medical research as well as numerous statistical studies. I had many friends and even members of the family that unfortunately died at a relatively young age because of their smoking habits. They all had one thing in common: they refused to accept the facts and advice to quit smoking before it was too late.

Tattooing is similarly bad for the health of individuals, however, I have yet to see a research study or simply an article regarding the danger to one’s health caused by tattoos. Unfortunately, tattooing has spread, particularly among the young population because of ignorance on its detrimental effects.

Tattoo inks contain dangerous and poisonous chemicals. The skin cells gradually absorb the chemicals during a slow process of deeper penetration into the subcutaneous layers of tissues. The skin tissues transfer the chemicals by absorption into the lymphatic system and the blood vessels. Lymph fluid containing the harmful chemicals circulate into the lymphatic vessels and nodules and into the bloodstream which continues to distribute these substances to the various parts of the body, reaching practically every organ, thus creating havoc by the gradual destruction or metastasis of the organ cells, thus causing potentially cancerous tumors.

My question at this point: why is it that the medical and scientific community has not given much thought to this cultural phenomenon? I have to confess that as a scientist I never thought of it before, but seeing the near epidemic use of this insane practice I am bringing it to the forefront with the hope that it will resonate. We all must do our best – government, health protection institutions, the medical and scientific community, and the press to alert the public about the hazardous substances in tattooing ink.