The Tattoos and the risk of health complications: a narrative review
Narrative review
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.12775/JEHS.2026.95.73995Keywords
tattoo, health complications, tattoo ink, allergic reactions, pigment migrationAbstract
Introduction: As tattooing has become a widespread form of body modification, concerns about its health safety have grown. Tattoo inks are mixtures of organic pigments and metal compounds whose toxicological profile after intradermal application remains incompletely understood.
Aim: The aim of this review was to summarise the current knowledge on the health complications of tattooing, spanning dermatological, infectious, pigment-migration and oncological aspects. A second objective was to assess the quality of the available evidence.
Material and method: A narrative review of English-language literature indexed in PubMed and Google Scholar up to December 2025 was performed, including original studies, reviews, case reports and regulatory documents.
Results: Cutaneous complications are best documented - early inflammatory, infectious and allergic reactions, chronic allergy (mainly to red pigment), granulomatous and sarcoidal changes, photo-induced reactions and adverse effects of laser removal. Blood-borne transmission (HBV, HCV, HIV) is linked mainly to non-professional settings; HPV, HSV and rare infective endocarditis also occur. Pigment particles, metals and titanium dioxide may migrate to regional lymph nodes, with scarce data on systemic distribution. Lymphoma findings are divergent and skin cancers within tattoos appear incidental.
Conclusions: Most complications are cutaneous and mild; serious systemic and oncological consequences are rare and not confirmed as direct effects. The main gaps concern ink toxicology and long-term pigment migration, justifying further research, improved regulation and high hygienic and diagnostic standards.
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Copyright (c) 2026 Alicja Nierychlewska, Michał Falis, Alicja Solecka, Agata Bronisławska, Robert Bronisławski, Damian Stencelewski, Laura Magdalena Sikorska, Magdalena Aleksandra Boniecka, Michalina Grudzińska
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