Researchers from Lund University in Sweden have highlighted a possible link between tattoos and lymphoma, a type of cancer of the lymphatic system, after conducting a study that included 11,905 people – 2,938 of whom had been diagnosed with lymphoma,, while 4,193 were in the lymphoma-free control group.
In the group with lymphoma, 21% were tattooed, while 18% were tattooed in the control group without a lymphoma diagnosis.
“After taking into account other relevant factors such as smoking and age, we found that the risk of developing lymphoma was 21% higher among those who were tattooed,” said lead author Christel Neilsen.
“It is important to remember that lymphoma is a rare disease and that our results apply at the group level. The results now need to be verified and investigated further in other studies and such research is ongoing,” she added.
The researchers initially thought that tattoo size might influence lymphoma risk – but, to their surprise, it didn’t seem to matter.
“We do not yet know why this was the case. One can only speculate that a tattoo, regardless of size, triggers a low-grade inflammation in the body, which in turn can trigger cancer. The picture is thus more complex than we initially thought,” Nielsen noted.
‘Under-researched’
When tattoo ink is injected into the skin, the body perceives it as a foreign substance. The immune system reacts by trying to eliminate the ink, which often ends up deposited in the lymph nodes. This accumulation could play a role in the development of cancer, although the exact mechanisms remain to be clarified.
Whie the popularity of tattoos has soared in recent decades, the risks associated with tattoo ink remain largely under-researched. Inks often contain potentially carcinogenic chemicals. This study, therefore, is an important step towards a better understanding of these risks, but much remains to be uncovered.
“People will likely want to continue to express their identity through tattoos, and so, it is very important that we as a society can make sure it is safe.
“For the individual, it is good to know that tattoos can affect your health, and that you should turn to your healthcare provider if you experience symptoms potentially related to your tattoo,” Nielsen concluded.