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Getting a tattoo can be a risky decision for health because the inks used can be toxic, and depending on the tattoo artist and environmental conditions, there may not be the necessary hygiene for the procedure, increasing the risk of infections.
Red, orange and yellow inks are the most dangerous because they contain azole compounds that disintegrate when exposed to the sun, spreading through the body and may increase the risk of cancer. The green and blue colors in metallic tones contain nickel and, therefore, can cause contact allergy, being prohibited in many cosmetics and jewelry. Black, on the other hand, despite having fewer risks, contains toxic substances such as carbon black, based on oil, tar and rubber, which increase toxins in the body, facilitating the appearance of diseases.
Despite this, the risks of the tattoo can be reduced by getting the tattoo with a known and qualified professional who has good equipment, inks and hygiene conditions.
Main risks of tattooing
The main risks of getting a tattoo include:
- Allergic reaction to the used ink, which can appear even after many years of the tattoo;
- Itching, inflammation and local peeling when the region is exposed to the sun;
- Formation of keloids that are ugly scars with relief and swelling;
- Higher risk of being infected with diseases such as Hepatitis B or C, AIDS or Staphylococcus aureus, if the material used is not disposable.
In addition, small droplets of the ink can spread throughout the body through the lymphatic circulation, and these consequences are not yet fully understood. Facilitating the development of cancer is a possibility, however, as cancer can take several years to manifest, it becomes difficult to prove the direct link between cancer and tattooing.
The risks of using these paints exist because these substances, despite being regulated by Anvisa, cannot be classified as medicines or cosmetics, which makes their regulation and studies difficult. Another important factor is that in addition to the lack of studies on the effects of tattoos on humans, in the short, medium and long term, animal testing is not allowed.
Care when getting a tattoo
To reduce the risk of any of these complications, it is important to take some precautions such as:
- Require that all material is new and disposable, avoiding materials that are sterilized and reused;
- Prefer small, black tattoos;
- Do not get a tattoo over spots or stains, as this can make it difficult to see any change in the size, shape or color of the spot;
- Apply a healing ointment or antibiotic cream after it is done and for 15 days;
- Apply a good layer of sunscreen, whenever exposed to the sun, to protect the skin and prevent tattoo fade;
- Do not go to the beach or pool in the first 2 months to reduce the risk of infections;
- Do not donate blood for 1 year after performing the tattoo.
When observing any change in the skin at the tattoo site, you should go to the doctor to perform tests and start the appropriate treatment, which may include the use of medications to control the symptoms or illness that may have arisen and also the removal of the tattoo. See how laser treatment is done to remove the tattoo.
Saina still what to eat for your tattoo to heal properly:
Tattoo of henna also has risks
Get a tattoo of henna it is also a choice that can put your health at risk because, just like in the black ink of the final tattoo, in the case of henna allergy signs and symptoms, such as:
- Itching, redness, blemish, blisters or discoloration of the skin at the tattoo site;
- Red spots can spread throughout the body that usually appear within 12 days.
In this case, one should go to the dermatologist to start the treatment, which consists of removing the tattoo and applying creams and lotions such as corticosteroids on the spot. After resolving the allergy, the tattoo site with henna it can be definitely marked, in high relief, or the skin can be lighter or darker in the entire outline of the drawing.
Henna is it a natural substance?
THE henna is a dye from a plant called Lawsonia inermis sp, which after being dried is reduced to powder. This powder is mixed with a paste that allows a better application of the product on the skin, having a color closer to brown. In this way, the tattoos of henna they are usually more natural and therefore have a lower risk of allergic reaction.
However, to achieve the black color of the henna other substances are added, such as synthetic paraphenylenediamine dye (PPD). The darker the color, the more additives the paint contains and, therefore, the greater the risk of allergies because it can no longer be considered a natural product.
Thus, the tattoos that have the least health risk are the tattoos in henna natural, which has a coloration closer to brown, with a slight reddish hue and which are the tattoos made by indigenous tribes, for example. However, these are not definitive and need to be touched up over time.