Are You “Dying” to Get a Tattoo?

A significant minority of US residents have at least one tattoo (an estimated 45 million people). For this reason, any health issues associated with tattoo inks have the potential to be a real public health problem.

An FDA study found that many of the inks contained heavy metals including mercury, lead, cadmium, and other known health-threatening metals.

As if that was not enough, other complex compounds were also on the FDA’s fact sheet.

 “Although a number of color additives are approved for use in cosmetics, none is approved for injection into the skin. Using an unapproved color additive in a tattoo ink makes the ink adulterated. Many pigments used in tattoo inks are not approved for skin contact at all. Some are industrial grade colors that are suitable for printers’ ink or automobile paint.” click for FDA update

Many of these substances are known to be cancer-causing (carcinogenic). The absurdity of permanently “decorating” human skin with substances known to cause skin cancer is outrageous.

The practice of tattooing goes back into antiquity. It seems this practice won’t go away soon, if ever, so why doesn’t somebody develop tattoo ink that’s non-toxic, something we can “live” with?

The health threat presented by these inks has not been overlooked by the mainstream media. Recently the LA Times ran an article entitled “FDA and CDC warn that tattoo ink can be hazardous to your health.”  

This Washington Post article focused on inks contaminated with bacteria. Their article entitled “Contaminated ink implicated in tattoo infections” gives you one more reason to avoid tattoos.

According to History of Tattoos, 36% of Americans between the age of 18 and 29 have at least one tattoo. 72% of adults with tattoos have tattoos that are usually hidden by clothing. More women regret their tattoos than men. In 2012, 21% of Americans had one or more tattoos.

“The FDA considers tattoos and permanent makeup to be cosmetics.”