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    "original_url": "https:\/\/www.nytimes.com\/2026\/09\/08\/well\/tattoo-aftercare-cancer-risk-safety-advice.html?emc=edit_ufn_20260922&nl=from-the-times&segment_id=226904",
    "parsed_content": "How Safe Are Tattoos?We asked experts about the risks.Credit...Eric Helgas for The New York TimesSkip to contentSkip to site indexSearch & Section NavigationSection NavigationAccountAccountGoHome U.S.SECTIONSU.S.PoliticsNew YorkCaliforniaEducationHealthObituariesScienceClimateWeatherSportsBusinessTechThe UpshotThe MagazineTOP STORIESDonald TrumpSupreme CourtCongressImmigrationAbortionLatest PollsNEWSLETTERSThe MorningMake sense of the day\u2019s news and ideas.The EveningCatch up on big news, and wind down to end your day.See all newslettersPODCASTSThe DailyThe biggest stories of our time, in 20 minutes a day.See all podcastsWorldSECTIONSWorldAfricaAmericasAsiaAustraliaCanadaEuropeMiddle EastScienceClimateWeatherHealthObituariesTOP STORIESMiddle East CrisisRussia-Ukraine WarChina International RelationsThe Global ProfileLeer en Espa\u00f1olNEWSLETTERSThe WorldA guide to understanding the news, made for readers around the globe.Your Places: Global UpdateThe latest news for any part of the world you select.Canada LetterBackstories and analysis from our Canadian correspondents.See all newslettersBusinessSECTIONSBusinessTechEconomyMediaFinance and MarketsDealBookPersonal TechEnergy TransitionYour MoneyTOP STORIESU.S. EconomyStock MarketArtificial IntelligenceNEWSLETTERSDealBookThe most crucial business and policy news you need to know.On TechOur best tech reporting from the week.See all newslettersPODCASTSHard ForkOur tech journalists help you make sense of the rapidly changing tech world.See all podcastsArtsSECTIONSToday's ArtsBook ReviewBest SellersDanceMoviesMusicTelevisionTheaterPop CultureT MagazineVisual ArtsRECOMMENDATIONS100 Best Movies of the 21st CenturyCritic\u2019s PicksWhat to ReadWhat to WatchWhat to Listen To5 Minutes to Make You Love MusicNEWSLETTERSBooksReviews, news and features to help you find your next read.WatchingStreaming TV and movie recommendations.See all newslettersPODCASTSBook ReviewThe podcast that takes you inside the literary world.PopcastPop music news, new songs and albums, and artists of note.See all podcastsLifestyleSECTIONSAll LifestyleWellTravelStyleReal EstateFoodLoveYour MoneyPersonal TechT MagazineCOLUMNS36 HoursAsk WellThe HuntModern LoveWhere to EatVowsSocial Q\u2019sThe EthicistAsk the TherapistNEWSLETTERSThe WeekenderUnwind with stories about culture and the way we live.WellEssential news and guidance to live your healthiest life.See all newslettersPODCASTSModern LoveThe complicated love lives of real people.See all podcastsOpinionSECTIONSOpinionGuest EssaysEditorialsOp-DocsVideosLettersTOPICSPoliticsWorldBusinessTechClimateHealthCultureCOLUMNISTSJamelle BouieMaureen DowdDavid FrenchThomas L. 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Win ProjectionsNEWSLETTERSThe PulseDelivering the top stories in sports, Sunday to Friday.See all newslettersPLAYConnections: Sports Edition Connections: Soccer Edition Connections Coach U.S.InternationalCanadaEspa\u00f1ol\u4e2d\u6587How Safe Are Tattoos?We asked experts about the risks.Credit...Eric Helgas for The New York TimesSupported bySKIP ADVERTISEMENTListen \u00b7 5:40 min Share full articleBy Allessandra DiCoratoSept. 8, 2026Leer en espa\u00f1olQ: I want to get a tattoo, but is it really safe?Once a form of rebellion hidden under your sleeve, tattoos are now so commonplace that almost half of U.S. adults ages 30 to 49 have at least one. But despite their growing popularity, there\u2019s a lot scientists don\u2019t know about how tattoos interact with the body.When you get a tattoo, an artist uses needles to deposit ink 1 to 3 millimeters into your skin. This process \u2014 and the ink itself \u2014 can cause reactions that include immune responses and bacterial infections. Some researchers are also studying whether tattoos can cause longer-term complications, like cancer.\u201cWe\u2019re not at a point as a scientific community to be able to say tattoos are definitively safe\u201d or unsafe, said John Swierk, a chemist at Binghamton University, part of the State University of New York. The research now being conducted, he said, is a step toward those answers.Here\u2019s what experts know about the risk of complications and how to avoid them.What the research saysThough it\u2019s difficult to know how many people develop problems with their tattoos \u2014 studies estimate 2 percent to 67 percent \u2014 some complications are more common. A study at a tattoo clinic in Denmark of a few hundred people found that 11 percent of the complications were bacterial infections and 37 percent were allergic reactions.AdvertisementSKIP ADVERTISEMENTInfections can occur within days of getting a tattoo. They can cause redness, drainage and fever, and they often need treatment with antibiotics, said Dr. Marie Leger, a dermatologist in New York City. The cause can be contaminated equipment, skin bacteria entering the wound or the ink itself. In 2012, scientists detected bacteria underlying an outbreak in an unopened ink container, suggesting contamination during manufacturing. Last month, researchers at the Food and Drug Administration reported finding bacteria in 35 percent of more than 200 inks they tested, even those labeled sterile.Allergies, for their part, can occur in reaction to the use of aftercare products in the days or weeks after getting a tattoo, when skin is especially sensitive, Dr. Leger said. They can cause redness or itchiness, and topical creams may control the symptoms.Longer-term allergies to ink can set in months or years later. They occur more frequently with red inks, Dr. Leger said, and the itchy or raised area can be confined to a certain color: You might notice it within a red rose, for example, but not in its green leaves. In severe cases, a doctor may recommend tattoo removal, for example through shaving off the outer layer of the skin containing the pigment.Dr. Christopher Bunick, a dermatologist at Yale, said other immune reactions can also appear as bumps in a tattoo years after getting it. The reactions can last for months or years and are typically treated with topical corticosteroids, he said.Experts aren\u2019t sure what sets off these responses, in part because labels on tattoo ink bottles don\u2019t always fully describe the contents. In 2024, Dr. Swierk and his colleagues found that 83 percent of inks they tested contained unlisted pigments or additives. Europe has regulations limiting certain ingredients in tattoo ink, but the United States does not, although the F.D.A. has issued manufacturing guidance.AdvertisementSKIP ADVERTISEMENTDo tattoos increase my risk of cancer?Some ink ingredients, like heavy metals, can cause health problems. Research suggests that some ink in a tattoo ends up in a person\u2019s lymph nodes. Scientists are beginning to study if the chemistry of the ink or your immune reaction to it can lead to cancer.In 2024, researchers, including Christel Nielsen, an epidemiologist at Lund University in Sweden, found in a large study that people with tattoos may have a higher risk of lymphoma. But Dr. Nielsen said the risk of lymphoma is very low to begin with, and the increase doesn\u2019t prove that tattoos cause cancer. Still, she said, the question warrants further investigation. Other studies of lymphoma risk have been inconclusive, as has research on tattoos and skin cancer. \u201cI think we have to take this seriously for sure, but we still don\u2019t really know yet\u201d if there\u2019s a connection, Dr. Leger said.How can I reduce my overall risk?If you\u2019re getting a tattoo, Dr. Bunick said, it\u2019s important to make sure beforehand that there are no open sores in the area and to keep the tattoo clean and protected from the sun afterward. Dr. Leger recommended avoiding red pigments if you\u2019re worried about allergies. You should see a doctor if you notice signs of infection or changes in your skin\u2019s texture months or years after getting a tattoo, she said.Working with an experienced tattooist can also help. \u201cTattoo artists are serious professionals, and many of the known definite risks around infections and even allergies can be mitigated by working with a good artist,\u201d Dr. Swierk said.Ultimately, the decision to get a tattoo comes down to personal choice. \u201cThere are plenty of good reasons to get a tattoo, and people have to weigh that there is a degree of uncertainty there,\u201d Dr. Swierk said. \u201cBut that doesn\u2019t mean that they shouldn\u2019t get a tattoo.\u201dAdvertisementSKIP ADVERTISEMENT",
    "published_at": "2026-09-08T09:03:26+00:00",
    "author_name": "Allessandra DiCorato",
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    "ai_headline": "How Safe Are Tattoos?",
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