How safe is tattoo ink?
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The bottom line
Tattoo ink is made of color pigments in a liquid base. Many pigments contain heavy metals. Toxicity includes allergic skin reactions, infections, and photosensitivity. Long-term effects include chronic skin problems and possibly increased risk of malignant lymphoma. Tattoo ink is regulated by the FDA. Temporary tattoos, such as henna, are safer than permanent tattoos.
Prevention tips
Use a licensed tattoo studio. Check to see if there have been any recent recalls on the tattoo inks used by the studio you choose.
Be sure to watch them open fresh, single-use needles.
Be sure ink is poured into new disposable caps.
Check that they are wearing clean medical gloves.
For 2 weeks, wash the tattoo twice a day with warm water and mild soap and then pat dry with a clean paper towel. Avoid pools, hot tubs, baths, and natural bodies of water until it heals.
Keep area moisturized and use sunscreen.
This really happened
A 27-year-old woman developed painful bumps 2 weeks after she underwent a gray ink enhancement of an existing tattoo on her right forearm to shoulder. She went to the emergency department. Her skin had multiple red, scaly bumps and blisters. Biopsy showed a dermal inflammatory reaction and the presence of bacilli determined to be Mycobacterium abscessus. She was treated with antibiotics for 7 weeks. Sixteen weeks after presentation, she had 57 red bumps, 2 of which were filled with pus. Antibiotics were recommended but the patient chose surgical intervention. Six larger lesions were surgically removed. By 24 weeks after initial presentation, all the lesions had resolved. Another client of the same tattoo studio developed red bumps infected with the same bacterium and followed a similar course.
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What is tattoo ink made of?
Tattoo ink is made of color pigments which become permanently trapped in the skin. These pigments are suspended in a liquid carrier base. The pigment for black is carbon, while white is titanium dioxide. Most other colors contain heavy metals. Examples of carrier bases include water, alcohols, glycerin, propylene glycol, and witch hazel.
Is tattoo ink toxic?
The main risk that tattoo ink presents is an allergic reaction. Tattoo ink can cause immediate irritation and inflammation of the skin. Some pigments cause photosensitivity. In these cases, sun exposure leads to swelling, itching, and hives. Red tattoo ink is the most common cause of pigment-related allergy. Some cases have resulted in severe lesions that require surgical intervention in order to heal.
What should I do if I have a reaction to tattoo ink?
If you have a mild to moderate skin reaction to tattoo ink, gently clean with mild soap and water, and apply an unscented moisturizing lotion. You can apply cool compresses for swelling and itching; apply nonprescription hydrocortisone cream and/or take an oral antihistamine. If the allergic reaction lasts longer than a week or two or you have more serious symptoms such as intense swelling or hives, dizziness, trouble breathing, or other symptoms that are not on the skin, seek medical attention right away.
The FDA requests people who have had reactions or illnesses suspected to be linked to tattoo ink to report their experiences.
Get expert help
If you are having a reaction to tattoo ink, or have questions regarding tattoo ink, use the webPOISONCONTROL online tool to get help, or call your poison center at 1-800-222-1222. Whether online or by phone, expert guidance is always free, confidential, and available 24 hours a day.
Can you have an allergic reaction to tattoo ink?
Yes. Most allergic reactions to tattoo ink result from heavy metals or synthetic azo dyes in red and yellow pigments. Some allergic reactions are delayed. Months or years after the tattoo is applied, an itchy, scaly rash may develop. The pigments can travel through the lymphatic system and be deposited in lymph nodes.
Signs of a tattoo infection
If an infection develops, redness, pain, throbbing, and pus can occur. The skin feels hot and there may be pustules, boils, and bumps. If the redness extends beyond the tattoo, that means the infection is spreading. Body aches, chills, fever, and swollen glands mean the infection is no longer just in the skin and has spread into the body.
Does tattoo ink contain heavy metals?
Yes, tattoo ink contains various heavy metals depending on the color of the pigment. For example, red is iron oxide or cadmium, green is chromium oxide, and blue is a copper compound or cobalt. Other metals found in inks include lead, arsenic, and nickel. These heavy metals may be present in significant amounts or as contaminants in trace amounts.
Is tattoo ink regulated for safety?
Yes, the FDA regulates tattoo inks. Manufacturers are required to submit the list of ingredients, register their facilities, and put into place a system to track and report serious adverse reactions to the FDA. The FDA requires that inks are manufactured under sanitary conditions.
Despite regulations, an FDA study found that about 1 in 3 (35.4%) unopened tattoo and permanent makeup inks contained live bacteria, including some products labeled as sterile. Although contaminated ink does not always lead to infection, some of the bacteria identified can cause human illness, raising concerns about tattoo ink manufacturing and sterility.
Can tattoo ink cause long-term health problems?
Yes, tattoo ink can cause long-term health problems. Chronic skin reactions including delayed allergic reactions and inflammation may occur. Some people develop fibrosis, granulomas (inflammatory tissue knots), keloids (raised scar tissue), and body-wide inflammation. There may be an association between tattoos and increased risk of malignant lymphoma.
Some people with tattoos feel pain and burning during MRIs. This is because the scanner's magnetic field may activate metal particles in the pigment, stimulating nearby nerves.
Are temporary or henna tattoos safer than traditional tattoos?
Yes, temporary tattoos are safer than traditional tattoos. Because they do not use needles, they do not break the skin, so there is no risk of bleeding or infection.
Henna is a natural dye prepared by grinding the dried leaves into a fine powder and mixing with water or oil to make a paste. This is applied to the skin and left to dry for 20–30 minutes. The active ingredient is lawsone. Henna tattoos last 2–4 weeks. Although henna has a low allergic potential, allergic reactions are possible. Some of these allergic reactions are due to coloring agents added to the natural henna.