Tattoos may increase risk of lymphoma, study finds

A recent study conducted by a team of scientists from Lund University in Sweden and published by Electronic clinical medicineshed light on possible connection between tattoos and the development of lymphomasa type of cancer that affects the body’s lymphatic system.

Dr Christel Nielsen, who led the study, explained that they identified people diagnosed with lymphoma and compared them with a control group of the same age and sex who did not have the disease. Participants completed a questionnaire that included information about whether they had tattoos..

A study of 11,905 people found that 21% of people diagnosed with lymphoma had tattooscompared with 18% in the control group. After adjusting for other factors such as smoking and age, the risk of developing lymphoma was 21% higher among those who had a tattoo.

Dr. Nielsen emphasized that lymphoma is a rare disease and that these results apply at the group level. Except, emphasized the need to verify and deepen these findings through future research that is already underway.

“We know that when tattoo ink is injected into the skin, the body interprets it as something foreign that shouldn’t be there and the immune system is activated,” Nielsen said. “Most of the ink is transported from the skin to the lymph nodes, where it is deposited,” he added.

Dr. Nielsen also noted the importance explore the possible link between tattoos and other types of cancer, as well as in inflammatory diseases. Additionally, he stressed the need to educate people about the possible health risks associated with tattoos and ensure that tattoos are performed safely.