Tattoos are a popular way for people to express themselves permanently, and they have been around for a long time. While tattoo artists usually follow strict health rules, our research suggests that as many as 90% of tattoo inks in the US might have wrong labels. This means that the ingredients listed on the packaging might not be accurate, and there could be some additives in the inks that could be worrying.
What’s in an ink?
Tattoo ink is made of pigments, which give color, and a carrier. Before the 20th century, tattoo pigments were natural, like ash or minerals. But in the mid-20th century, artists began using synthetic pigments and dyes to make their own inks.
Tattoo ink is made of pigments, which give color, and a carrier. Before the 20th century, tattoo pigments were natural, like ash or minerals. But in the mid-20th century, artists began using synthetic pigments and dyes to make their own inks.
Nowadays, most tattoo pigments are synthetic, except for white and black ones. Over the past few decades, tattoo ink making changed from artists making their own to big companies making and selling inks to artists. My team tested 54 tattoo inks from the U.S. to see if they had the right ingredients.
Unlisted ingredients
More than half of the inks we tested had polyethylene glycol (PEG), which wasn’t listed on the labels. PEG is in many medical products, like laxatives, but it can cause allergic reactions. Some research shows that using PEG in tattoos a lot might hurt the kidneys.
We also found propylene glycol in 15 inks, even though it wasn’t listed as an ingredient. Propylene glycol is usually safe, similar to glycerin, which thickens ink. But, some people are highly allergic to it. In 2018, it was named the Allergen of the Year by the American Contact Dermatitis Society.
An allergic reaction to propylene glycol can make your skin red and itchy and cause blisters.
We also found some other ingredients in a few inks that are common in cosmetics but haven’t been tested in tattoo inks. These include BHT, dodecane, and 2-phenoxyethanol. In small amounts, 2-phenoxyethanol can work as a preservative. But, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has warned that it might pass to babies through breastfeeding and cause vomiting and dehydration in them.
Out of the 54 inks we checked, only 29 had the correct pigments listed. The rest either didn’t list them or listed the wrong ones. This is a known issue in tattoo inks that ink makers still haven’t fixed.
Pigment concerns
Studies have shown that carbon black, the main black pigment used in tattoos, can have the same cancer-causing stuff found in car exhaust and cigarette smoke.
A lot of red, yellow, and orange pigments are azo pigments, which have two connected nitrogen atoms. These pigments make tattoo ink look really bright and colorful, but as time goes on, they might break down into cancer-causing substances.
In Europe, rules say you can’t use copper-containing pigment blue 15 and pigment green 7. These were the only blue and green pigments we found in the inks we tested. The EU banned these pigments because they might cause bladder cancer if used in hair dyes. But no one’s looked into whether they’re a problem in tattoos yet.
A new focus on regulation
The FDA is starting to pay more attention to what’s in tattoo inks. In 2022, Congress passed the Modernization of Cosmetics Regulation Act, or MoCRA, which gives the FDA more power to regulate tattoo inks.
The FDA is still figuring out how to use MoCRA, but it will mean that tattoo inks need to have accurate labels showing what’s inside. It will also let the FDA recall ink if it’s found to be harmful. In the past, tattoo inks have only rarely been recalled, and it’s usually been voluntary because of bacteria.
So, what does this mean for people getting tattoos and the artists? Right now, there’s no clear answer on whether tattoos are completely safe. They can cause infections and allergic reactions. Also, tattoos can be very different in size, color, and where they’re put on the body.
Research studies, like the one done by my team, are crucial for figuring out what’s really in the tattoo ink. This helps researchers understand any negative effects, like long-lasting allergic reactions, that tattoos might cause.
Understanding the ingredients in tattoo ink helps doctors identify potential health issues in people with tattoos.
Tattoo-related health problems often occur when artists don’t follow hygiene rules. To prevent these issues, it’s vital to select a skilled artist who follows safety guidelines.
