A new study has found that tattoo ink can cause lifelong changes to the body's immune system and may affect how vaccines work. Researchers from an international team discovered that ink particles travel to and accumulate in lymph nodes, leading to chronic inflammation and altered immune responses.
The study, published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, is the first to examine the effect of tattoo ink on immune responses. Using mice, the researchers observed that ink caused acute and long-lasting inflammation in lymph nodes, death of macrophages (a type of white blood cell), and changes in how the body responded to vaccinations.
Specifically, the ink led to a reduced response to the Covid-19 vaccine but an enhanced response to an inactivated influenza vaccine. The researchers noted that the ink remained in the lymph nodes for life, even after tattoo removal.
“This work represents the most extensive study to date regarding the effect of tattoo ink on the immune response and raises serious health concerns associated with the tattooing practice,” the team said. They highlighted that at least one in five people globally has a tattoo.
The findings add to growing evidence linking tattoos to health risks. A separate study published in BMC Public Health found that people with large tattoos may have up to three times higher risk of developing lymphomas compared to those without tattoos.
The researchers concluded that their results are “crucial in informing the toxicology programs, policymakers, and the general public regarding the potential risk of the tattooing practice associated with an altered immune response.” They called for further research to inform public health policies and regulatory frameworks for tattoo ink safety.
