Think twice before you get inked



Think twice before casually getting a tattoo
Think twice before you get inked

That's because tattoos may give rise to diseases, say doctors.

Sporting a tattoo has always been seen as something cool. The more complicated and mysterious it seems, the greater is its cool quotient. And imagination simply rules the designs one wants. For most, the desire to get inked permanently kicks in during teens and early adulthood. And the popularity of this art form is just growing bigger with the passage of time. However, doctors have now warned that tattoos can increase the risk of skin cancer.

Ink may contain toxic elements

The ink used for making tattoos might contain toxic elements, which can cause skin cancer. Especially the blue ink containing cobalt and aluminum, which is the age-old colour of choice for tattoo artists. Besides this, red ink may have mercurial sulfide and certain coloured inks often contain lead, cadmium, chromium, nickel, titanium and other heavy metals, feel doctors.

Equipment

The equipment used in tattooing and body piercing, if contaminated with infected blood, can risk transmission of blood-borne viruses such as HIV, Hepatitis B and C and various skin cancers like squamous cell, carcinoma and melanoma, cautions consultant plastic surgeon Dr DJS Tula.
Increased risk due to arsenic

Not everyone who gets a tattoo done gets skin cancer. However, they are at risk because most tattooists use ink that contains arsenic.

Damage to muscles

In the quest for sporting the most exotic looking tattoos, individuals don't take into consideration the damage tattoos cause to their skin. In fact, certain designs require deep penetration into the skin and can damage muscles in the bargain, adds Dr Tula.

Tattoo artists speak
Contrary to what was said, tattooists debunk skin and health risks like skin cancer or other blood-borne disease, associated with tattoos. As long as you take these precautions, you are safe, they say:
Go to a professional, reputed tattoo artist. A professional will use only organic inks. The best inks are imported from the US, Britain and Australia. Some unprofessional tattoo artists use Chinese inks which are available at cheap rates in the market and might be harmful.
After getting inked, aftercare procedures should also be followed properly to prevent getting infections on the inked skin.

Precautions to be taken
One should choose a hygienic place for a tattoo where needles are properly sterilised. Tattoos between the mid ribs and upper shoulders should be avoided, says dermatologist Jane Ruth.
Some of the other common skin risks associated with tattoos include allergic reactions to certain tattoo inks. However, infections that occur after getting a tattoo can be treated with the help of antibiotics.
Not just getting tattoos, but even tattoo removal poses skin risks. For example, hypo-pigmentation (loss of skin colour) and as hyper-pigmentation (skin darkening) on the area where the tattoo was.

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