Study shows tattoos are linked to a 21% higher risk of lymphoma.

For years, regret was considered the most severe side effect of tattoos. However, my new study suggests there could be more serious concerns.

Tattoos have become a popular way to express identity or celebrate life milestones. Yet, we know little about their long-term health effects. Over the past decade, hazardous chemicals in tattoo ink have garnered attention in Europe. Research indicates that the ink injected into the skin does not remain there.

The body views tattoo ink as a foreign substance and attempts to eliminate it, triggering an immune response that results in a significant portion of ink particles ending up in the lymph nodes. However, the crucial question has remained unanswered: how does tattoo ink in the lymphatic system impact health?

To address this, my colleagues and I at Lund University, Sweden, conducted a large study to investigate whether tattoos might increase the risk of malignant lymphoma, a rare cancer affecting white blood cells (lymphocytes). This study was recently published in the journal eClinicalMedicine.

With over 20% of its population tattooed, Sweden is one of the most tattooed countries globally. It also has a strong tradition of maintaining population registers, like the National Cancer Register, which includes everyone diagnosed with cancer.

Our study involved everyone in Sweden diagnosed with lymphoma between the ages of 20 and 60 years from 2007 to 2017. For each lymphoma patient, we identified three random individuals of the same sex and age without lymphoma (the control group).

Participants completed a questionnaire about various lifestyle factors. Those with tattoos provided information about tattoo size, age at first tattoo, and tattoo colors. The study included 5,591 people (1,398 cases and 4,193 controls).

We found that tattooed individuals had a 21% higher risk of lymphoma compared to those without tattoos, even after accounting for smoking status and education level (both factors that may be associated with getting tattoos and developing lymphoma).

It’s important to remember that lymphoma is a rare disease, and the risk increase pertains to a very low baseline risk. According to the National Board of Health and Welfare, 22 in 100,000 people aged 20 to 60 years were diagnosed with lymphoma in Sweden in 2022.

Size Doesn’t Matter

The size of the tattoos did not seem to matter. What did matter was the duration—how long participants had their tattoos. The risk appeared higher for new tattoos (received within two years) and older tattoos (received more than ten years ago).

It’s not appropriate to make any recommendations based on this single study. More research is needed. However, this study highlights the importance for people with tattoos to be aware of potential health effects and to seek medical care if they experience any symptoms that may be related to their tattoos.

As the tattoo trend persists, it is a societal responsibility to ensure that getting tattooed is as safe as possible.

Clearly, more research is needed to understand the health implications of tattoos. My colleagues and I are currently completing parallel studies on two types of skin cancer and are starting new research to determine if there is an increased risk of immune-system-related conditions, such as thyroid disease and sarcoidosis.

This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Christel Nielsen, Associate Professor, Occupational and Environmental Medicine, Lund University.