Many people get tattoos to look good or as a personal expression. They may choose micro tattoos to get the whole sleeve done. Some people have multiple tattoos in different areas. The prevalence of tattoos has definitely increased in the past few years. The permanent ink deposit under the skin ensures the tattoo is forever.
There are some concerns when it comes to getting tattoos. You must be clear about getting it done from a reputable place with fresh ink and needles. There’s also a chance of infections if your skin is sensitive or you don’t take care of the tattoo.
Can tattoos cause cancer?
A research reveals that people who have too many tattoos are more susceptible to getting lymphoma and skin cancer, as per a report by Harvard Health Publishing. It doesn’t come as a surprise that foreign components–the tattoo ink- may cause the body’s immune system to react and cause cancer.
The ink may travel to certain areas such as lymph nodes in the body and give you infections, often causing lymphoma and skin cancer. The research done at the University of Southern Denmark (SDU) focused on the long-term health implications of tattoos. They revealed that the ink gets too deep in the skin and leads to chronic lymph node inflammation.
whole body tattoo, massively damages the lymph nodes under a person’s skin. Causing chronically inflammation and toxin etc. Hence the increased rates of lymphoma.
It also damages sweat glands under the skin, and the toxins backs up in a person’s liver causing the liver to over…
— Dysnomia (@DysnomiaDy24169) May 1, 2025
Moreover, they compared twins with tattoos and learnt who’s more likely to get the disease. The twin with large tattoos was at high risk of skin cancer and lymphoma compared to the one with no tattoos. If the tattoo was larger than the palm, the individuals were at higher risk. Studying twins in these cases can help, as their genetic makeup is the same. These studies are known as case-cotwin studies/twin cohorts and provide reliable data for interpretation.
Their study revealed that the tattoo ink can impact the skin cells around it. Moreover, the ink may not be carcinogenic, but it could cause carcinogenesis of the cells. This may cause additional cell growth, a sign of cancer. Moreover, the ink migration to the lymph cells is also common, as it is an external material for the body.
This kicks in the body’s immune response, constantly fighting the infection. This can weaken the whole system, leading to cancer development in the cells. The study also says that the whole process may take years.
New study: People with tattoos have a higher risk of skin cancer and lymphoma, especially with large tattoos. Tattoo ink can move to lymph nodes, causing health concerns. Stay informed and discuss risks with your doctor. [Read more](https://t.co/Ho7GG5iGYp)
— abdulaziz (@abdulazizsal3h) May 9, 2025
So, if you get tattoos early on, you may discover the disease later in life after years. The direct impact is still uncertain as more research needs to be done here. This biological process of the body’s immune system response can be different in many people.
If someone is predisposed to getting cancer due to genetic makeup, they may skip getting tattoos. Meanwhile, more research is underway to learn about the link between the two. Also, if you have micro tattoos, you do not need to worry about getting cancer or lymphoma.
