At Delete, the slogan “Think before you ink” means more than just that. We like to think that we have seen it all, from magnificent tattoos to amateur ones and that the only tattoo we genuinely detest causes you ill. According to the P.E.W. Research Center (2010), 23% of Americans, or millions of people, have at least one tattoo. This raises several concerns about the potential health effects of tattoo ink. Many clients at Delete – Tattoo Removal & Laser Salon in Phoenix have numerous tattoos, want to get more, and have previously reported sensitivity to the ink after getting tattoos. Check out the “Good Evening Arizona” video by the Delete. Is Your Ink Safe?
Your skin may have a role.
Since our skin is the largest organ and the body’s first line of defence against toxins, anything we put on it (like lotion) or put in it will be absorbed by it (like tattoo ink). Even though tattoo ink penetrates the skin and remains there permanently, it can deteriorate over time if exposed to sunlight or absorbed by the body. White blood cells gather the ink that the body gradually absorbs over time and carry it into the bloodstream, where the liver processes it. Laser Tattoo Removal relies on this built-in mechanism to remove tattoos.
Tattoo ink is a foreign substance to anyone’s body, according to the Medical Director of Delete. Red, yellow, and some purple inks have caused quite clear allergic reactions in patients, in my experience (where red ink may be mixed in). The worst scenario is when a patient has an infection after just one removal procedure. Due to the danger, I was unable to continue treating this patient. Therefore I recommended that she have the growth removed by a plastic surgeon (cut out). Like many others I meet with reactions to their ink, this patient will complain that a portion of their tattoo took longer to heal when they received it, is irritated by the sun, or is really itchy most of the time.
Additionally, I observe that the body develops lymphogranuloma—a hardened sore that can take months to heal—when I use my laser to break down some red and yellow inks. Additionally, I’ve had patients come to me after having red ink so severely scar their skin that even after treatment, they may never be the same. As breaking up these colours with a laser just irritates the area and can result in the patient having a negative reaction, I am usually very cautious when treating patients who have these colours.
Intolerance of Tattoo Ink
The chemicals frequently found in tattoo ink are what create sensitivity to it. While the F.D.A. may regulate particular tattoo ink chemicals, steps to safeguard customers won’t be made until enough safety concerns about the inks are documented. Linda Katz, M.D., M.P.H., Director of the F.D.A.’s Office of Cosmetics and Colors in the Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition, states that “our hope is to get a better understanding of the body’s response to tattoos and their impact on human health, and to identify products at greatest risk” (U.S. Food and Drug Administration, 2009). Consider Your Options: Are Tattoos Safe?).
A dirty needle infection from a bloodborne pathogen, such as H.I.V. or hepatitis, small bumps or granulomas formed by the body’s reaction to ink particles, swelling/burning associated with an M.R.I., scarring from the tattoo artist, general allergic reactions from the ingredients found in ink, and dirty needle scarring is currently listed as tattoo risks by the F.D.A. The dangers of getting a tattoo using the components of tattoo ink have not received enough attention. This has caused several dangerous ink chemicals to be used without restriction. Tattoo inks may contain lead, cadmium, chromium, nickel, titanium, and other heavy metals. Our “White Hot Trend Alert? The blog entry “Rethinking White Ink Tattoos” discusses the peril posed by titanium dioxide, a component of white ink. These ingredients may cause various health problems, including heavy metal toxicity, chronic fatigue syndrome, brain fog, memory loss, early ageing, and autoimmune diseases like lupus, celiac disease, hypothyroidism, and hyperthyroidism. Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), found in some black ink, may be connected to some cases of skin cancer. The potential outcomes and side effects of getting a tattoo with poisonous ink are nearly difficult to foresee because the F.D.A. does not oversee the ink industry.
Fortunately, some potentially harmful chemicals in ink have relatively short half-lives, meaning they do not linger in the body for very long. It’s important to maintain good health before and after getting a tattoo and throughout the tattoo removal procedure. If you are in good health, your body has effective detoxification systems that can process most of the chemicals in the tattoo ink. Be cautious and knowledgeable about the ingredients used in the tattoo ink. However, if you have a damaged immune system, are sensitive to new things introduced to the body, or lead an unhealthy lifestyle.
Staying Well
If you have a tattoo or don’t, it’s crucial that you actively manage your health. This entails consuming lots of vegetables, exercising frequently, and drinking lots of water. You may stave off chronic disease by aiding your body’s detoxification processes, promoting blood flow, and strengthening the liver as it eliminates all pollutants. A doctor or nurse at Delete is an excellent resource to talk to about what supplements you can take to assist your liver and maintain a healthy lifestyle. The Pure Encapsulations, please? Supplements from Delete, including Liver Detox, Fish Oil, and Multi T-D, aid in tattoo eradication. To help your body’s detoxification pathways work as effectively as possible, we also advise B-12 Boosts and Nutrient Infusions.