Can Red Tattoo Ink Cause Skin Cancer

Skin cancer Squamous cell carcinoma melanoma and leiomyosarcoma have been described in tattoos particularly in areas of red ink.

Can red tattoo ink cause skin cancer. A tattoo could potentially make it challenging to watch a skin mole for suspicious changes and the colors in tattoos might also disguise changes to moles that can indicate skin cancer. According to doctors inks used in tattoos may contain toxic elements which can cause skin cancer especially blue ink the age-old colour of choice for tattoo artists which has cobalt and. The FDA warned tattoo artists that using the contaminated inks could lead to skin irritation such as redness and swelling and could spread throughout the.

If you do decide to get a tattoo doctors recommend you choose the area you want to ink wisely. Azo inks are organic compounds that are of great concern because of their potential toxicity and carcinogenic properties. For at least a decade now there have been cancer cases and studies from around the world suggesting that printer ink and other chemicals used for printers cause cancer.

Keratoacanthoma -like reactions to tattoos have also been described. Thats why its important to talk with a dermatologist if you have any questions about your skin or moles before getting a tattoo. Because it is hard to distinguish from skin cancer the bump could lead to potentially unnecessary and expensive skin cancer treatment including surgery Shinohara said.

Lymph nodes may also enlarge due to infection and inflammation. Research by the European Chemicals Agency. Some studies have found that red tattoo ink often contains Azo dyes.

Red ink appears to be related to chronic and allergic skin reactions caused by tattoos. Red Tattoo Ink Linked to Skin Cancer Case Report September 24 2014 A case report published in PRS Global Open has found a possible link between red tattoo ink and squamous cell carcinoma a serious type of skin cancer. But it may cause skin damage and some complications like long term effects of the tattoo ink and sometimes colorings remain unknown.

Many cancers including lymphomas which come from immune cells can cause lymph nodes to swell. Although there has been concern about tattoos leading to the development of skin cancer studies have failed to show a connection. However a tattoo is known as the common form of self-sustaining.