Tattoo ink exposure is associated with lymphoma and skin cancers

In the case-control study, individual-level analysis resulted in a hazard of skin cancer that was 1.62 times higher among tattooed than non-tattooed participants (95% CI: 1.08–2.41). The twin-matched analysis of 14 twin pairs discordant for tattoo ink exposure and skin cancer shows HR = 1.33 (95% CI: 0.46–3.84). For both skin cancer and lymphoma, increased hazards were found for tattoos larger than the palm of a hand: HR = 2.37 (95% CI: 1.11–5.06) and HR = 2.73 (95% CI: 1.33–5.60), respectively. In the cohort study design, individual-level analysis resulted in increased hazards among tattooed for skin cancer, HR = 3.91 (95% CI: 1.42–10.8), and basal cell carcinoma, HR = 2.83 (95% CI: 1.30–6.16). Larger tattoos may show a stronger effect either due to higher dose of exposure or longer time of exposure (from tattoos acquired over time). Likewise, absence of red ink shows an effect; however, some ambiguity arises due to color effects, as many colors are typically present at the same time ... Read full article.