Don't think there are any real tattoo dangers?
Wait'll you hear about these two young women and all they've been through…
By Joanie Blaxter, founder of Follow Your Gut
Recently, I was chatting with a gal named Sierra who told me a long and frustratingly sad story of “mysterious” autoimmune health challenges emerging in her late 20's — extreme allergies to food and environment, chronic fatigue and swollen glands, hormonal disruption, etc. In and out of the hospital multiple times over recent years, she was open to any ideas about reversing autoimmune dysfunction, so I shared my approach to immune system support based on the latest gut microbiome science.
Noticing multiple tattoos on her arms and neck, and purposefully treading gently since I knew I was going to be mentioning a topic very few people seem to be aware of, I said she might want to hold off getting any more tats, at least until she got her health issues under control.
Then she REALLY surprised me!
“Oh, you don't have to tell me about tattoo dangers! I had to have seven lymph glands surgically removed because they were so swollen. ALL of them,” she emphasized, “were black with ink from my tattoos.”
About a month before that exchange, I commented to another gal, 21-year old Andrea, on how red and irritated her new arm tattoo looked. She said no, the tat was not new, that in fact she had gotten it three years earlier, it was just permanently like that to some degree or another. Yes, it was quite painful and would get worse when her allergic reactions were peaking, like during hay fever season.
Then she wholeheartedly swore that not only would she never get another tat, she also wished she'd never gotten any at all, but… (in her words, shrugging) “I was a dumb teenager!”
I told her she may have been young, but she certainly wasn't “dumb!” First of all, it's so very trendy, especially for the 20-somethings. At this point, about half (47%) of Americans age 18 to 29 have at least one tattoo. And according to a 2010 poll from the Pew Research Center, about half of those young adults have two or more.
Furthermore, the sheer availability of tattoo establishments in our society lulls all of us into the illusion that getting inked must be completely safe. (Note from Kelly: it's sort of like how we're lulled into thinking vaccines must be safe just because so many doctors continue to force them on everyone… Ugh. Sadly, this Mom of triplets knows better now. We can't blindly follow anyone with our health!)
The newest science, however, is clear! Tattoo risks are far, far more than just making sure your artist uses a clean needle.
Not surprisingly, however, the more money there is to be made, the slower the dangers are to be revealed. And with business booming, the tattoo industry has transformed itself from sketchy “scratcher shops” into what could only be described as highly appealing, positively upscale “studios” complete with bright lights, designer handbags, jewelry… and cute, catchy business names that appeal to young adults.
New Research on Tattoo Dangers
Admit it… you've thought about it. I have, many times over the years. After all, it's not possible to watch a movie without seeing some actor/actress sporting their personal symbol or phrase in some surprisingly secret, or not-so-secret, location. When all the big names have them – Angelina Jolie, Drew Barrymore, Johnny Depp, Scarlett Johansson – getting a tat has become synonymous for the coolness of self-expression.
Everyone seems to have a tattoo these days and you still hear very little about any problems with them, so they must be safe… right?
To try and answer that question, Dr. Marie Leger, a dermatologist at the New York University Langone Medical Center in New York City, and her colleagues published this report in 2013:
…randomly chose about 300 tattooed people in New York's Central Park and asked them whether they'd had any problems with their tattoos.
About 10 percent of the people said they'd had some complications. For some, these complications were short-lived, such as bacterial infection right after the tattoo was inked, or temporary swelling and itching.
But of those who had complaints, 6 in 10 suffered from chronic problems. And although many had suffered from unpleasant itching or swelling for years, few had bothered to get their problems checked by a doctor, the researchers found. (Emphasis mine, Source: In Addition to Regret, Tattoos Can Pose Serious Health Risks)
Okay, THAT'S a problem!
If tattoo dangers and medical complications are mostly unreported, then we have no way of accurately tracking the safety of the procedure.
Furthermore, very few people, neither tattoo artists nor members of the public, actually know what is in the ink itself because tattoo inks are not regulated by anyone. Nope. Not by the FDA, not legally by anybody.
In the United States, the Food and Drug Administration has the authority to screen the pigments used in inks before they go on the market, but the agency says it usually does not do so. (Source: Questions Raised About Tattoo Inks, Cancer)
At most, they have been “approved for such use as printer ink and automobile paint,” (Eewwww! Well, you want your tat color to last as long as your Chevy, don't you?)
Instead, tattoos are monitored like the cosmetics industry. The FDA will investigate if there's a complaint. And, apparently, very few people are reporting their problems, at least according to Leger's 300-person poll.
And, while infections from getting inked with a dirty needle are considered to be “rare,” the quality of tattoo business inspections varies from area to area.
I used to inspect tattoo parlors for my state. This was a weak program, we did little to really protect health of individuals getting tattoos. I came away convinced tattooing is really a surgery and we shouldn’t let non-medical providers do them. (Source: Hidden Tattoo Dangers – be leary of getting inked.)
But, looks like from Leger's research only 1 out of 10 people with tats have problems, so what's the big deal?
Those odds may not seem so bad until you consider that the biggest health complication may not show up for years, maybe decades.
Forget site infection! Of all the tattoo dangers, it's CANCER I'm most worried about.
Even if you're sure that your artist uses relatively non-toxic ink, turns out, the ingredients are a sideline complication.
What's probably much more dangerous is that the act of surgically piercing the skin with a foreign substance can overstimulate the immune system permanently.
We rarely stop and think about the science of tattoos. In fact, some people don't even stop and think before getting tattooed.
We kind of know the reason they last forever … because the ink goes so deep into your skin that it can never wash off … or something?
It's not that simple… tattoos are actually a complicated inflammatory process… kind of like an infection—and the reason it's permanent is because your body keeps on fighting it forever. (Emphasis mine, Source: The Secret to a Tattoo's Permanence: The Immune System)
Remember 21-year old Andrea with the constantly inflamed tattoo? Will she have that painful condition the rest of her life? My biggest fear, though, is she'll eventually develop an even worse autoimmune disease.
No one knows the long term consequences of injecting any kind of dye under the skin because NO LONG TERM TESTING HAS EVER BEEN DONE.
Until now – new technology, the Atomic Force Microscope, being used at the University of Bradford in England, has identified previously unseen, atomic-sized nano-particles from tattoo ink leaving the site of injection. This means that…
Ink nano-particles are potentially traveling to other parts of the body to lodge in tissues and organs.
Research is increasingly showing, however, that there might be health risks involved, especially if your tattoo design contains large areas of black ink… the color most often linked to potential adverse health effects, although all tattoo inks have toxic potential, including:
- Potentially carcinogenic
- May cause inflammation and DNA damage
- May contain carcinogenic Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons (PAHs) like benzo(a)pyrene (a Class 1 carcinogen according to the International Agency for Research on Cancer)…
To date there have been no systemic studies to look at tattoo dangers or the safety of injecting such inks into the body. (Source: Tattoo dangers — Nanoparticles in Tattoos May Cause Cancer)
The lymph glands and brain are considered to be especially at risk.
Recently, the FDA launched new studies to investigate the long-term safety of the inks, including what happens when they break down in the body or interact with light. Research already has shown that tattoo inks can migrate into people's lymph nodes. (Source: Inkling of Concern: Chemicals in Tatoo Inks Face Scrutiny)
Sierra's seven surgically removed swollen lymph glands that were black with tattoo ink is a startling real life example of that scientific research.
Still tempted by the romance of skin art? Still think it's worth the risk? Both Sierra and Andrea would certainly encourage you to research the tattoo dangers and find safer ways to “tell your story” other than on your skin.
(This is Kelly jumping in again… Like Joanie, I'm thankful that I never got any tattoos. Probably because I grew up with my Dad having tattoos up and down both his arms from his Army days, and while they were interesting to look at, I never thought they were cool or wanted any myself. My hubs, Kent, did get one on his arm when he was in the Marines during the first Gulf War, I think he was in Okinawa then, or maybe the Philippines, but that was back before we questioned the safety of everything like we do now. Yikes, tattoos over there are probably even more sketchy…?)
(Joanie's personal note… The only reason I wrote this article on tattoo dangers is because my daughter got a tattoo. So I began researching, more out of curiosity than anything else. After all, I've almost gotten a tattoo on several occasions. The first version of this article came out in the summer of 2015. Back then, in no way did I suspect I would uncover the volumes of negative science out there that does not support the safety of tattoos. Bizarrely, two years later, you still see next-to-no negative press about tattoos, despite the research demonstrating the dangers. It was meeting Sierra and hearing her tragic story that really motivated me to update and republish this article. All I can say, don't take my word for it, DO YOUR OWN RESEARCH! Especially before you let anyone alter your body surgically.)
What about you?
Have you been inked? Have you thought about tattoo dangers? Had any health problems or regrets? (If you do, you aren't alone – nearly one third regret getting inked.) Ever had a tattoo surgically removed? Any beloved family members with skin art who also have autoimmune complications? Tell us about your experiences.
TED Ed Video: Tattoo Dangers and What Makes Tattoos Permanent
Tattoo Removal
More you might like:
- Preventing Antibiotic Resistance: What a Difference Ten Years Makes — How We Dodge Antibiotic Bullets
- More posts by Joanie
- 15 Ways to Keep Your Child Healthy (That your doctor never told you!)
This is a post by my sweet friend, Joanie Blaxter, a regular writer around here. Joanie is the founder of Follow Your Gut and a health coach who has been in sales and education in the natural foods and products industry since the early 70’s, with six years spent recently as a vitamin specialist in a natural foods store. She is also the Weston Price chapter leader for the Ventura, California area.
For dietary consultations, Joanie can be contacted here. Or click here to read Joanie’s past articles.
Disclaimer reminder: Neither Joanie nor I are health professionals! Use what you read here for your own research and then maybe consult with a natural-minded doctor or health professional you trust to find what is best and right for YOU. Read my entire disclaimer here.
Photo Credits: featured photo, tattoo storefront, Chevy, tattoo woman
David Noaker says
Wow I never thought about that. I don’t like how trendy they have got n thats true about when money is to b made less danger will b revealed. The body is so complex n even with organic ink a person still doesnt know how their body will respond especially 10 yrs later but we live in a live in the moment society. I have quite a few tatts but didnt get em cuz they were cool.anyway good article
Jeanmarie Todd says
I am not a fan, but I have been to a tattoo art museum and many artists are very talented. I have zero desire to get one myself.
Danielle Levins says
Look into organic inks, much better option. While for some folks it’s still a ~no go~, there are alternatives to traditional inks, and as always, KNOW your artist and their practices! <3
Paige Robertson Leger says
Organic ink? How do you find that? Is that advertised? How is it different?
Joanie Blaxter says
@ Paige You can find some artists that use organic ink. However, that doesn’t mean you’re safe! You’re still risking a permanently hyper-stimulated immune system along with nanoparticles of ink getting lodged in your lymph system and brain. See my responses to both Danielle and Jill below.
Joanie Blaxter says
@ Danielle Yes, organic inks are probably better than industrial inks. But the content of the inks themselves is probably the least of the problems with tattoos. We still have the issue of our immune system become hyperactive due to piercings of the skin in combination with small, atomic-sized particles leaving the site of the piercing and potentially lodging in the lymph glands or brain.
Jill says
I wonder if the tattoos done by indigenous cultures were safer.
Joanie Blaxter says
@ Jill Yeah I wondered that too. But I guess we’ll never know. Certainly the inks were organic not industrial chemicals, but still… it would seem that you’re still producing a forever immune system stimulation in combination with introducing these micro-sized particles into the bloodstream which would stress the detox organs like your lymph system.
I think part of the double whammy is that we are exposed to so many toxins in our environment now. What our bodies have to deal with is so much worse than even 100 years ago. That’s only 3 generations of time.
Joanie Blaxter says
Donna, thank you for educating me about tattoo removal not removing all the ink, helpful to know. This information is NOT about shaming, though, because science is not a criticism. Unfortunately, we’ve all been led to believe that tattoos are safe. As I said, I got into this topic basically out of a desire to protect my child. The whole idea is to prevent suffering, not create it.
Joanie Blaxter says
Angie, I would be partifularly careful about putting anything UNDER the skin. Here is what CamShel said in the comments section to the article: “This is actually what worries me about getting a tattoo…
https://www.theatlantic.com/health/archive/2014/07/the-real-reason-tattoos-are-permanent/374825/
if we are purposefully putting our bodies into this permanent state of “anti,” why are we surprised by all the dis-ease caused by inflammation and auto-immune reactions? Now I’ll add heavy metal poisoning, petrochemical reactions, and cancer to the list of why I think they are not the best for our bodies.”
Janet Gandolfo says
I got ONE when I was in my early twenties as an act of rebellion. I’m in my forties now and have no others. If it wasn’t for the fact that I don’t like the way the skin looks after having them removed I’d probably get mine taken off.
Angie Tillis says
I prefer henna tattoos I’m too indecisive to go with anything permanent ..
Kateri Scott says
I tease that I’ll be the only one in the nursing home without a tattoo. I have no desire to ink myself. Heck, I didn’t get my ears pierced until I was in my 30’s!
Jesse Baker says
Ha! You and I both…and I still don’t have my ears pierced at 31, nor do I care to 🙂
Kateri Scott says
My daughter wanted hers pierced, so I went in with her. Otherwise, I am not sure I would have decided to for myself.
Amie Adams Green says
Yup very dangerous but kids think they are invincible
Wendy Jean Bushula says
Dr Hulda Clark said this year’s ago.
Mary Sheiko says
And this, Kelly the Kitchen Kop: https://www.theatlantic.com/health/archive/2014/07/the-real-reason-tattoos-are-permanent/374825/
Sarah L. Peterson says
What about the stick on kind? My daughter is in Kindergarten and her teacher gives them out. What’s going in her skin!?
Kelly the Kitchen Kop says
That’s totally different, Sarah L. Peterson. Those are the equivalent of paint or stickers.
Sarah L. Peterson says
still must have some nasty chemicals though, no?
Kelly the Kitchen Kop says
Hmmm, I’m not sure Sarah L. Peterson — maybe someone else might know?
Sarah L. Peterson says
I can tell you lemon essential oil takes them right off 🙂
[email protected] says
Hello Again.
I saw a brief glimpse of a reply here but for some supposedly editorial reasons it was taken down before I had the chance to address it. I will reply to the points I can recall because I´m going abroad for a week and want to get this ball rolling so to speak.
You claim that Ink manufacturers do not disclose the igredients used in their ink. This is partly due to there being a multitude of manufacturers all over the world and they all have different guidelines for the processes involved. I´ve read an article from a dermatologist who describes a few cases in Europe where the patient has contracted an infection from an untraceable ink that was allegedly manufactured in China.
Now having said this, I will provide a list of well established ink manufacturers whose products are internationaly used. This list will bring the reader to their materials safety data sheet (MSDS) where they can easily check the ingredients for potential allergic reactions and other hazards. Adobe reader is required:
https://www.intenzetattooink.com/i/msds
https://orientattoosupplies.com.au/media/msds/KURO_SUMI_COLORS_MSDS.pdf
https://docs.google.com/document/pub?id=1Vft44V-l-0z5DxflaUGuoHyKPdVJHl-oQm7qumkEBGc
This list is by no means meant to be comprehensive. It is made under the light of current knowledge derived for the understanding of chemistry mankind has aquired over the course of history. It´s meant to illustrate the need for transparency that you claim the industry doesn´t have. Also it will emphasize the point I made in the earlier post about the urgency tattoo artists have to do their own research. Luckily today many of the ink manufacturers only sell to lincensed professionals.
And for the readers who are still in the dark: The comment on macrophages was covered by the video in the link provided by an earlier commenter. It also covers the role of fibroblasts who also play a pivotal role in sealing the ink under the skin:
https://www.theatlantic.com/health/archive/2014/07/the-real-reason-tattoos-are-permanent/374825/
You also have pointed out that FDA is not regulating the ingredients used in manufacturing inks which is very true. However, to our benefit I have found that they do their own study to understand the risks involved of ink. They have a research laboratory within FDA’s Arkansas-based National Center for Toxicological Research (NCTR), led by chemist Paul Howard, Ph.D.
Internationally steps have been taken to similar extends. The Europian Union acknowledged some years ago that they do not have a clear cut approach on how to classify tattoo inks. To correct this they have issued a resolution (ResAP(2008)1) to tackle this. It is meant to provide guidelines to what chemicals inks may not include due to their known toxicity. Below is a link:
https://wcd.coe.int/ViewDoc.jsp?id=1254065&Site=CM
https://www.bfr.bund.de/cm/343/risk-assessment-and-regulation-of-tattoo-inks-in-the-eu.pdf (a slideshow for summary)
This has lead two of the member nations to ban the import of certain inks that have harmful chemicals.
https://chemicalwatch.com/23197/eu-commission-mulls-over-action-on-tattoo-inks
Now about the migrating nanoparticles I know very little of. I know that they are particles of nano in scale and are in abundance around us. Is there a reason why we should be alarmed of these specific particles? Nature has provided us means to fight foreign objects because they have been with us since the dawn of humanity. Also people who´ve had most of their bodies covered in ink have lived a normal lifespan with little or no compilcations. Tattoos also have a known history of 6000 yrs. I would like to imagine that any clear connection between these particles and health would have been established or at least brought under suspicion within that time scale. I say the latter because of the possibility of indirect observations since I´m aware that our understanding of that size scale is very recent and it would be unreasonbale to assume that prehistoric humans would have had a concept for matter so small in nature.
However I´m not trying to brush the issue away. What you have said about them is indeed worthy of research. And also a very urgent one given the popularity of tattoos these days. I have read about a case where a woman had a cancer scare because ink particles had created a tumorlike structure in her lymphnode. Imagine the relief when they took it out and found out the truth. Of course it was done by invasive treatments but still I find it as a story with a happy ending because the procedure was a routine.
Now as a closing argument. Even though we are speaking of an artform with history as deep and intriguing as any other form of human expression there has been a lot of implied fear risen from concerns when facing unknown subject matter. As a fellow human beign standing on the shoulders of previous generations I have to thank them for paving the way to these modern times by taking the risks despite the uncertainty of the outcome. I know some of you will agree and some of you will disagree with me on this perspective on tattoos but please ask yourselves: How much more do we know about dermatology, social psychology and visual arts because of the existence skinpigmentation?
Please share your thoughts.
Leo
[email protected] says
“What about you? Have you been “inked?” Any beloved family members with skin art? What do you think about all this information? Would you re-think this decision now?”
Hmmm… An interesting article I must say. Many of the points made here are very valid and indeed they need further studies to conclude and develop the safety issues of the chemicals used in inks.
As a fairly heavily tattooed individual I will however point out some aspects that may be helpful in understanding the mindset and “scene” of tattooing. Including some perspective in safety issues.
1. I find it interesting that nobody here as far as I have seen, brings out the entrepenurial aspect of tattoo business. Do you automatically assume that a tattooartist does not care about the quality of his work and the safety of their clients? After all, they are painted on a canvas that walks, talks and is opinionated. If they want to keep their business blooming they have to do the research themselves to provide the best service they can. The ink manufacturers are also conducting business and I want to point out that no company stays with inferior products. Inks have developed for 60 or so years so we have already gotten rid of many hazards that may have been around before.
2. The trend aspect also helps alot here. It has brought the art into mainstream and thus provided the scene with healthy competition. It has also helped to dismantle a certain amount of taboos making the scientific research more accessible nowadays. Soon we do not have to trust surveys of 300 people. Actually studies have been done. I mostly know anthropological ones but I´m sure other types do exist as well.
3. We are starting to get studies of long term exposure to ink. Tattoos have been around in the western culture for almost 200 years but the first mainstream-trend happened during the second world war. The downside is that we know the health hazards of 50+ year old types of ink. More studies will come eventually.
And for the question wheter this article has made me reconsider my tattoos, the answer is no. I know that everything in life is an exchange of sorts and for me it was the unertainty of the potential (see how I´m not saying “actual”) risks versus the experience of going through the pain and receving a personal mark of the things I felt conncted with. I´m saying this in a very abstract sense because this is a different topic altogether so excuse me if I come of a bit vague. One of the things about getting a tattoo is the sense that they are not gotten, they are achieved through the discomfort of the process. They hurt hours but last a lifetime preserved by my body own mechanisms. The way I see it, macrofages stuck in my skin doesn´t seem like big things because they´re already a part of my body and have done their job by sealing the foreing particle within themselves. It´s called healing. Tattoos are gateways to infectiong just like any other of the thousands of scrapes and wounds we get in our lifetime.
Thank you for the article and please excuse my grammatical errors if there are any. English is not my native language.
Leo
Ina says
There will be always somebody somewhere sitting at a desk writing idiotic articles about a subject they know nothing about,getting a tattoo goes far beyond what ink was used and indeed there are organic inks on the market ,but you woldnt write about that because it is not as Alarming,and consider all the people that make a living ,feed their families working in the industry ……..
Donna says
Ina,
There will always be people (like me) who are grateful for people that are willing to put the information out there for those of us who like to stay updated on the possible consequences of elective procedures and get backlash from others who perceive sharing the info with others as a personal vendetta.
You are absolutely right about tattoos going far beyond what inks are used, but that is a good starting point. Have you researched what the organic ingredients of which the inks are composed? How familiar are you with the carrier ingredients used? The FDA does not require the ink manufacturers to reveal the ingredients in their products. Did you know that one form of mercury is organic? Just because something is organic doesn’t make it good for us. Many green organic inks have aluminum in them. Aluminum is linked to Alzheimer’s and other medical conditions. Medical centers that do cosmetic tattooing (eyebrows, lip liner, etc.) must have disclaimers because of the reaction some people have to them as anything foreign (that which doesn’t belong) that is put in the body.
A tattoo is essentially a wound comprised of multiple open punctures which put one at risk for a multitude of problems such as (but not limited to) infection, fungus, viruses, scarring, and allergic reactions. Our body responds by beginning the inflammatory process which is the natural response to “injury.” I cannot think of an instance where injury is good for someone except for in cases of surgical life-saving procedures. Often when a patient has abnormal liver function, the doctors look for tattoos in the patient’s history profile in addition a list of other things. Doctors are leery of tatted patients getting MRIs done even though “supposedly” that is a myth. If you look up on National Library of Medicine’s site about tattoo induced skin burn during an MRI, you’ll see that there are tattoos that can create problems for patients needing that type of imaging.
The author of the article is not telling people what they can and can’t do or even advising otherwise. She is merely suggesting that before anyone take the leap that they do a little research and make an informed decision. With the advent of the internet and all the available information, we would be foolish to make uninformed decisions about our bodies. Our bodies (or vessels) are the one thing we will have until we die. People make more informed decisions about cars they are going to buy that last the average person 5-10 years before trading or buying new. We should be more concerned about what is going to get us through this life.
You know what I do when I don’t like an article someone has written? I either don’t finish reading it or I just shrug it off if I know better. If I comment, I try to provide information that shows their error, but most of the time it just isn’t worth it.
Joanie Blaxter says
Thank you, Donna, for your extremely educated comments! Clearly, you have done research on this topic.
Yes, my goal in writing this article was solely to get the information out there. My interest in this topic got piqued when my daughter got a tattoo a couple years ago. At the time, I was uneasy about the ingredients in the ink, but had no resources to refer her to.
Since then, after accidentally running across a couple articles, I decided to delve deeper and was shocked at the amount of tattoo medical research that is turning up some pretty scarey results.
My daughter is 28 and almost ALL her friends are inked, usually more than once. And the research looking at long term results of getting tattooed are only just being done, so a lot of what we’re hearing about now, I suspect, is simply initial results. Good, long term research takes decades. It may take that long before more definitive information really hits the media.
I really fear for the Millennials. They have more exposure to chemicals, toxins, pesticides, heavy metals, hidden antibiotics, hormonal birth control, etc etc than any other generation before them. And, as you said, getting a tattoo is an elective procedure.
bb says
Why are there words and numbers missing throughout this article?
Joanie Blaxter says
bb, could you describe more fully what you mean? I’m not sure what you mean.
Lori says
I have NEVER wanted a tattoo and NEVER would! Ever. My husband and I neither one like them. I do not find them to be ‘body art’ as I find them ugly. I know not everyone feels as I do and I am not trying to be offensive, just giving my opinion. There is nothing wrong with the skin God gave me, so I don’t want to cover it up with ink. If I want to see art, I will go visit a gallery.
What others choose is up to them, but I think it is a shame when I see a young man or woman with most of their skin is covered in ink. I often wonder what they will think of these choices 30-40 years down the road.
calkundera says
I find bodies without tattoos to be ugly. Your point? Or are you just being judgmental? I think it’s a shame people like you feel the need to judge others. Here’s a classic remedy: Mind your own business. If you can’t say anything nice, just shut up already.
Donna says
calkundera,
I can’t really speak for Lori, but obviously she was just expressing her opinion. Thank God we still have that freedom. I don’t think that it was a personal attack targeted at you. We all have our preferences. For instance, my husband is a die-hard Levi fan. I used to like them, but now I find them dated. He finds some of the shoes I wear to be unattractive. I don’t take it personally. It’s his opinion, he’s entitled to it, and I wear them anyway just as he wears his skinny Levis and cowboy boots. Having an opinion about something doesn’t make one judgmental. Lori didn’t reference anyone’s character at all. Life would be pretty boring if we all had the same opinion about everything. No one would be different.
I’m just glad that as our society rapidly deteriorates and laws keep changing, that we haven’t had freedom of speech taken away “entirely.” It seems to be heading in that direction, but that’s a whole new conversation that doesn’t belong here.
Donna says
Lori, I am not a fan of tattoos either. Two of my four children have them, my ex had full sleeves and tattoos everywhere else. My youngest daughter is in the process of getting hers removed. She has eight. This is a great article to share with others if for no other reason but because no real study has been done about the long term consequences.
I am a Christian and believe that our bodies are the temple of the Holy Ghost as 1 Corinthians 6:19 says, “What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own?” In all things we are to give glory to God and I don’t see how a tattoo would give glory to Him. He made us perfect and we cannot improve on His Creation despite the fact that so many try.
I have seen some really good art work on bodies and thought how awesome it would be to see them on a real canvas.
Nancy says
Removing tattoos pushes the ink even further into your body, so you have not gone deep enough with your research. If you have tattoos leave them alone and don’t let anyone with a holier than thou attitude shame you over your tattoos. Anyone trying to pull you down is already beneath you.
Joanie Blaxter says
Wow, thank for that TED talk. I hadn’t seen that before I did the research for the article.
I do suspect that as this information continues to come out, given not only the popularity of tattooing, but also its long history in human culture, that someone somewhere will begin to promote “nontoxic” inking. Although, once again, only time will tell about how accurate that may or may not really be.
My only child has a tattoo. I don’t care if she gets a tat. I care that she remains safe.
CamsShel says
It was something I heard in passing one day in a restaurant. It took a lot of searching to find it. I think I did about eight different search terms before I did. But after watching that talk, it made so much sense that I just couldn’t let it go. I’m glad it was helpful for you!
CamsShel says
This is actually what worries me about getting a tattoo…
https://www.theatlantic.com/health/archive/2014/07/the-real-reason-tattoos-are-permanent/374825/
if we are purposefully putting our bodies into this permanent state of “anti,” why are we durprised by all the dis-ease caused by inflammation and auto-immune reactions? Now I’ll add heavy metal poisoning, petrochemical reactions, and cancer to the list of why I think they are not the best for our bodies.
Donna says
Great link. Thank you. I shared that with my daughter.
Shelley says
I have eight tattoos–all are Bible verses or quotes from literature I love. I am 47 and have no regrets about any of them. I research the tattoo studio for any health violations and interview my artist before even committing to any ink–if the place isn’t clean or professional in their practices and conduct, I don’t use it. For each tat I have I keep the site clean by washing multiple times per day and use a anti-bacterial ointment; I also consume bentonite clay for 30 days to pull toxins out of the body. I have never had issues with any of my tattoos, and some of them are over 25 years old. These are truly a matter of personal taste. While some may be dating themselves by getting them, they are also timeless if you choose wisely, but tattoos are a highly personal thing for many of us–I spend months/years considering what to place on my body before I get any art. Health risks are the responsibility of each person–we must weigh those for ourselves before putting anything in/on our bodies.
KitchenKop says
Thanks for your thoughtful comment Shelley and for sharing from another viewpoint.
Kelly
Joanie Blaxter says
My feelings exactly! Thank you, Shelley, for sharing what was clearly an extremely thoughtful process for you.