Tattoo ink can migrate from your skin to your lymph nodes
and liver. Here's what you need to know.
Tattoo are permanent works of art on your skin but the ink doesn’t
always stay where you can see it.
When you get a tattoo, your skin is punctured with hundreds
of needle pricks. Each prick deposits ink into the dermis…which is the layer of
skin below the epidermis. The dermis houses blood vessels and nerves. When ink
enters to the dermis, it enters to the bloodstream and from there, it can
travel around the body. Once in the bloodstream, some of the ink can migrate to
the lymphatic system. Once in the lymphatic system, the ink can get carried to
the lymph nodes. The lymph nodes’ job is to filter out harmful substances from
the body.
Analysis on cadavers with tattoos has shown enlarged and
pigmented lymph nodes. So how does this happen?
Black tattoo ink is commonly made from iron oxides and
carbon colored ink may contain nickel, chromium, manganese or cobalt which
means that tiny particles of these metals could end up in your lymph nodes. Research
on mice also found that tattoo ink can travel through the blood of the liver.
So what does this mean to your health?
More studies still need to be conducted so that we can understand
the long term effects of tattoo ink.
Doctors recommend asking for black tattoo ink without iron
oxides and if you want a colorful tattoo, try to find a parlor that works with
non-metallic organic pigments.
This ink alternatives include carmine, scarlet lake,
sandalwood and braze wood.