Something that I've been seeing a lot recently and feel needs to be discussed with facts, is the link of tattoos to cancer. Before I even continue, let me point out that there isn't one. Now... on a chemical information website, they put out an article called, "Germany cracks down on use of carcinogenic dyes in tattoo parlours". This obviously sparked my attention for further reading. The gist of their article is that a German agency, the Federal Institute for Risk Assessment (BfR), has tightened the controls on the use of labeling of dyes used by tattoo shops. The Tattooing Agents Ordinance was passed in mid-November last year, and took effect May 1st. What I didn't find anywhere in their article, or the originating article is any mention of anything being carcinogenic whatsoever. Seems like a rash judgement to say tattoo inks are cancer-causing in the title, when there's absolutely nothing even remotely close to that mentioned in the articles...

After reading this, I decided to do a little more research on this topic; tattoos causing skin cancer. In an online dermatology journal they talk about the relationship between tattoos and skin cancer. The main focus of the article is that tattoos make it more difficult to locate melanomas. This makes since to me. If you tattoo your arm black, and you develop skin cancer, it's going to make it a bit more difficult to see a black mole on the skin. They also state several times that, "there is no proven causative link between tattoos and melanoma development". Hmmm... I need more.

Just today, May 5th, there was an article posted in the New York Times called "The Claim: Tattoos Can Increase the Risk of Skin Cancer." They start out by recognizing that a lot of tattoo inks contain various metals and how there may be a link there, but they immediately follow up with an interview with Dr. Ariel Ostad, an assistant clinical professor of dermatology at N.Y.U. Langone Medical Center in Manhattan. He points out how tattooing inks are absorbed into the skin on a cellular level, and that tattoo ink is unlikely to cause any harm (other than the obvious trauma to the skin to get it under there). When asked point blank if tattoos can lead to cancer, he stated, "unequivocally no."

He feels that the link between skin cancer and tattoos is most likely caused by getting a tattoo over an existing mole, which then turns cancerous.

So, do tattoos cause cancer?

No, there is no evidence anywhere of tattoo ink being injected under the skin to cause skin cancer.

Phew!

.: Adam