There are conflicting studies on whether tattoos make a person more prone or less prone to cancer, with new research suggesting they may decrease a person’s risk for certain skin cancers. The latest study published in the Journal of the National Cancer Institute found people with at least two tattoos had a decreased risk of melanoma while those with one or no tattoos were at an enhanced risk of developing the disease.
Researchers ‘surprised’ by results
Researchers said the results were unexpected as they initially predicted people with tattoos have an increased risk of melanoma due to the ink used in tattoos as well as inflammatory responses.
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“The results that tattoos could decrease melanoma risk surprised us,” said Rachel McCarty, the author of the study. “But this isn’t a black and white case of ‘get more tattoos, and you could lower your risk of melanoma. Instead, we need to do more research to understand what we are seeing and if this decreased risk is simply due to behavioral or physical factors, or if there could be beneficial immune responses associated with tattooing which lower melanoma risk.”
Speculation on results
Scientists say the reason for the results may be because individuals with tattoos may be more proactive about skin care such as using sun block to protect their body art. Another theory is that tattoos act as a natural shield from the sun’s harmful UV rays.
“Tattoo artists already advise their clients to wear sunscreen and sun protection to prevent tattoos from fading,” McCarty said. “We know wearing sunscreen is an important safety step for everyone, even without tattoos. But it’s also important for those with tattoos to take extra precautions to prevent any additional harmful components forming in the skin when pigments break down from UV exposure.”
Researchers studied 7,000 people in Utah to come up with the results.
Conflicting research
Despite the study’s findings, a separate research project published on ecancer.org suggests that those with tattoos are more likely to get certain blood or skin cancers. Scientists involved in the study said that is because ink breaks down and can sometimes infiltrate a person’s blood causing the chemicals to be absorbed into the lymph nodes of a person.
Researchers also note that having a tattoo may weaken the immune system of a person, leading to a greater risk of the disease. The study reportedly involved more than 5,900 Danish twins.
Scientists insist that more studies are necessary to make any definitive conclusions but these studies may help them better understand the impacts of tattoos when it comes to cancer. The Pew Research Center found that around 41% of Americans under the age of 30 have at least one tattoo, while 46% of those between the ages of 30 and 49 have one or more.
