Tattooing or not tattooing, that’s the question… With the increase in the popularity of tattoos among the general population, and particularly in the young generation, the medical complications of its application or elimination are increasingly being described by the medical literature
Adverse reactions to the tattoo
The existing epidemiological data on adverse reactions to the tattoo are still scarce, unreliable and biased. People with adverse reactions to tattoos consult little to the doctor, so many data come from voluntary surveys carried out afterwards, in which people who have had adverse reactions are more likely to participate than those who have not.
In general, serious complications are not common and fatal cases are exceptional. Some studies estimate that up to 10% of those tattooed will present an adverse reaction, with 4% being acute and 6% having a chronic period of more than 4 months.
Most of the adverse reactions once past acute inflation are persistent itching, photosensitivity in the tattooed area and elevation of the skin due to excess pigment during tattooing.
Hypersensitivity reactions are less frequent and the reactivation of autoimmune skin diseases are even more rare and occur in predisposed people.
Tattoos and risk of cancer
Theoretically, many of the impurities, some of the oldest components of the inks used for tattoos or their degradation products (including those that are produced after the application of laser in order to eliminate them) have mutagenic, genotoxic and carcinogenic properties that could affect to the skin or organs from a distance.
In addition, the solar exposure of the tattoo also generates products of degradation and free radicals that theoretically increase the risk of skin cancer.
However, at the moment no conclusive data have been found that associate the tattooed with the risk of skin cancer, locoregional lymph nodes (lymphomas) or distant organs. The absence or absence of risk of tumors induced by tattoos can not be totally excluded yet, because better studies are needed to evaluate it.
Regarding skin cancer, taking into account that millions of people are tattooed, and compared to the 2-3 million skin cancers that arise each year, only 50 cases of skin tumors developed in areas tattooed during the years have been documented. last 40 years. The researchers think that these overlaps are only coincidences. Even so, melanomas and basal cell carcinomas have been seen more frequently in areas tattooed in black and squamous cell carcinomas, keratoacanthomas and pseudoepithelial hyperplasia have been seen mainly in areas tattooed in red.
As a precautionary measure, tattoos should be avoided in areas of skin that contain moles or pigment alterations, as they could interfere in the diagnosis and treatment of a malignant or premalignant lesion that appeared in the future and passed unnoticed or was harder to assess by the doctor
If you have questions or require more information, visit the specialists of the Family Medicine portal in Mérida.
