For many, tattoos are works of art, whether small or large, with minimalist, complex or realistic designs. What many people don’t know is that a simple tattoo, which seems harmless, can be harmful to your health, new studies say.
But, after all, what harm do tattoos do? Small or large scratches on the skin can compromise the performance of the immune system, responsible for defending our body, reveals a study carried out by the University of Southern Denmark in collaboration with the University of Helsinki, Finland.
Scientists discovered that the ink does not remain in its entirety in the area of the skin where it was injected, as expected. Therefore, several small particles travel through the blood to the lymph nodes, which aim to protect the body from external agents that could cause infections.
This factor led researchers to conclude that “there is an association between tattoos and lymphomas and also skin cancer”, said Sihne Bedsted Clemmensen, coordinator of the study, cited by “Correio da Manhã”.
Therefore, researchers warn that the risk of contracting lymphoma (blood cancer) “is 2.7 times higher” compared to a person who does not have tattoos. In skin cancer, the risk is 2.4 times higher compared to a person without tattoos, Bedsted Clemmensen told the North American magazine “Earth”.
Still, not all tattoos have the same impact on the human body. After observing 5,900 patients, scientists concluded that the risk of getting an infection is greater when tattoos are the size of a hand.
Despite the conclusions, the researchers consider that it is necessary to carry out more studies to discover the exact size that tattoos can have on the human body, such as genetic factors, the type of ink used or even the place on the body that is tattooed.
date:2026-02-11 09:00:00