Tattoos increase the risk of developing lymphoma (4 photos)

Swedish scientists have found that the risk of developing cancer in people with tattoos is 21% higher. The study, published in the journal eClinicalMedicine, involved 11,905 people.





"It is important to remember that lymphoma is a rare disease and our results are applicable at the level of a group of people," Lund University researcher Christel Nielsen said last week. "The results need to be verified and further studied, so research continues."



The most common cancers among tattooed people were diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (a fast-growing, curable cancer that begins in white blood cells) and follicular lymphoma (a slow-growing, incurable cancer).

“We know that when tattoo ink is injected into the skin, the body perceives it as something foreign and the immune system is activated,” Nielsen explains. “Much of the ink travels, ends up in the lymph nodes, where it settles.”





Experts believed that the size of the tattoo was critical, but this turned out not to be the case.

"A tattoo, no matter its size, causes inflammation in the body, which in turn can cause cancer. So the picture is more complex than we thought."

The expert also emphasized the importance of monitoring the chemical composition of tattoo inks. In the US, almost a third of adults have a tattoo, and 22% have more than one.

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) considers tattoo inks to be cosmetics and their pigments to be color additives.



"People will continue to express their individuality through tattoos, and therefore it is very important to make sure that it is safe. You need to know that tattoos can affect your health and that you should consult a doctor if you have warning symptoms," the doctor concluded .