With the unmistakable influence of pop culture in the rise of the popularity of tattoos of all colors, sizes, images, and shapes, more scientists have been drawn to questioning whether infusing ink into the deeper skin layers is a good idea, or if it could lead to dire consequences like skin cancer.
Earlier this year, a team of German dermatologists published a report that aimed to determine whether there was a correlation between the development of skin cancer and the practice of tattooing. During the course of the research, the team determined that there is no direct connection between skin cancer and the ink that is being used in tattoos. However, they urged medical practitioners to be mindful of potential signs of squamous cell carcinoma especially in people who have previously had reactions to the ink used in their tattoos. They were quick to point out that there are currently no international standards that have been set for a mixtures that are being used for this practice, and that some countries could be using tattoo ink products that contain carcinogenic, or cancer-causing, agents. According to the researchers, there are still many countries that regulate the ink used in tattoos as "cosmetics."
In the United States, for example, the Food and Drug Authority is authorized to screen the pigments of tattoo ink before they reach the market, but this process is often overlooked because, Digital classification, please call next and not require FDA approval before they are sold in the market. A number from the research team also added that proper screening is not being done because of "other competing public-health priorities and the previous lack of evidence of safety problems specifically associated with these pigments." Typically, the FDA will only launch investigative studies into the safety of a particular product after receiving complaints about that product's safety.
