Tattoos, regardless of their size, increase the risk of cancer by 21%, according to a new study. The researchers say they don’t want to dissuade anyone from worrying about it. They just want to make sure the procedure is safe. Explanations.
Malignant lymphoma
In recent decades, The tatoos are becoming more and more common. According to the Pew Research Center, 32% of American adults have one and 22% have more than one. However, as researchers at Lund University, Sweden, report in a new study published in the journal eClinical Medicinetattoos increase the risk of having malignant lymphoma, a lymphatic system cancer.
“We have identified people diagnosed with a lymphoma via population registers »said Christel Nielsen, associate professor of epidemiology at Lund University and lead and corresponding author of the study. “These individuals were then matched to a control group of the same sex and age, but without lymphoma. Study participants completed a lifestyle factors questionnaire to determine whether or not they had tattoos. »
The lymphatic system
THE lymphatic system is part of the immune system. It keeps body fluid levels balanced and helps the body defend itself against infections. There are two main types of cancer affecting the lymphatic system: non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma (NHL), which accounts for about 90% of all lymphomas, and Hodgkin’s lymphoma.
This new study was carried out on 11,905 Swedes, of whom 2,938 suffered from lymphoma between the ages of 20 and 60. Among them, 54% responded to a questionnaire on tattoos. 47% of controls, those without lymphoma, did the same thing. Result: the prevalence of tattoos was 21% among cases and 18% among controls. “After taking into account other relevant factors, such as smoking and age, we found that the risk of developing lymphoma was 21% higher among people with tattoos“ specified Christel Nielsen. “The results now need to be verified and further explored in other studies. »
Furthermore, before analyzing the data, the researchers hypothesized that a larger tattoo could have increased the risk of having lymphoma. However, the risk does not depend on its size. “We don’t yet know why this is the case. One can only assume that a tattoo, regardless of its size, triggers mild inflammation in the body, which in turn can trigger cancer. The picture is therefore more complex than we initially thought. »
What about other cancers?
Now, researchers will analyze whether there is a link between tattoos and other types of canceras well as inflammatory diseases. “People are likely to want to continue to express their identity through tattoos, and so it is very important that we as a society can ensure that this is safe. »
The professor concluded: “It’s good to know that tattoos can affect your health and you should turn to your health care provider if you experience any symptoms that you think may be related to your tattoo. »
To go further, here’s what tattoos are really made of.
