Scholars from Lund University found that tattoos might represent a risk factor for developing skin cancer. This is the third study by the group investigating potential long-term outcomes of tattoo pigments entering the body: previously, researchers detected a possible link between tattoos and lymphoma, but found no such connection concerning squamous cell skin cancer. Now, they have focused on melanoma. The work is published in the journal European Journal of Epidemiology (EJE).
The investigators utilized data from the National Cancer Register and selected 2880 Swedish residents aged 20 to 60 who had been diagnosed with melanoma. For each patient, three healthy participants of the same gender and age were matched. Everyone was invited to complete a questionnaire detailing the presence of tattoos, sun exposure habits, use of tanning beds, and skin type. This made it possible to gauge the melanoma hazard among tattooed individuals, excluding the influence of primary accompanying factors.
When the researchers adjusted the findings considering all external exposures, they observed an increase in relative risk among persons with tattoos. Among participants with melanoma, 22% had tattoos, versus 20% in the control cohort. The divergence is minor, but statistically meaningful at the group level. The authors stress that concluding a direct causal connection is premature, yet the trend necessitates further investigation.
One explanation for the potential influence of tattoos on disease development could be the immune system’s response. Upon entering the skin, the inks are perceived by the body as foreign matter: immune cells capture pigment particles and convey them to the lymph nodes. Many dyes contain azopigments—organic compounds that, under the effect of sunlight, tanning devices, or lasers, can break down into potentially carcinogenic substances. The market for tattoo inks was virtually unregulated until recently: only starting in 2022 did the EU impose limitations on toxic component content, although inspections still reveal that violations occur.
The scientists emphasized that amidst the ongoing rise in tattoo popularity, safety concerns become particularly vital.
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