New York University researchers found out that six percent of adult New Yorkers with tattoo encounter some tattoo-related skin allergy that could last for months and more.
The recent study stated that one out of every 10 inkers does not foresee any skin reaction that comes from getting a tattoo.
To gather the findings, researchers conducted survey interviews of 300 adult New Yorkers. One of the questions is if they have undergone unwanted side effects after being inked. Results found that ages between 18-69 years old have less than five tattoos and 67 percent of them were inked on the arm. They also found out that 10 percent of the respondents have experienced symptoms like itching, pain and scarring.
Other symptoms are allergies, skin infections, sun sensitivity, skin redness, and prolonged scabbing, according to Youth Health Mag.
Marie C. Leger, study lead and assistant professor at the Ronald O. Perelman Department of Dermatology, revealed that these symptoms are associated with the qualities of ink and how our immune system responds to it, and tattoo artist or parlor practices has nothing to do with it.
Red and black, two of the most common ink colors, inflict the most long-lasting skin complications. Colored tattoo inks are badly understood and not standardized, wherein 44 percent of chronic skin reactions came from red ink and one third of it involved the black ink, Medical News Today reported.
Another revelation is that 10 percent of the participants undergone similar types of short-term complications like swelling and infection, pain, and delayed healing happened within weeks of getting inked.
In addition, out of the 300 participants, only a third of them sought medical assistance after experiencing the symptoms of getting a tattoo.
Leger said that the recent study is not to stop tattoo enthusiasts in making art, but rather a call to be more cautious. Tattoo enthusiasts, consumers and public health officials must be aware of the risks when getting a tattoo.