Evidence map›Paper›PMID 39799936›Full record

ArticleDermatology (Basel, Switzerland)2025

Tattoo Ink Products and Pigments 2018-2019 Upfront the New EU-REACH Regulation: Danish Golden Benchmark Study of 108 Studios and 39,687 Clients Tattooed with Inks from 109,720 Ink Bottles.

Jørgen Serup, Bjørn Christian Severin, Esben Hammershøy

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in Dermatology (Basel, Switzerland), 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 2 papers, 1 of them a synthesis that pooled it.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
2citing papers in PubMed, 1 pooled it
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

2 citing papers in PubMed, 1 synthesis or guideline pooled it.

  1. Is tattooing associated with an increased risk of cancer? A systematic review and meta-analysis.Clinical & translational oncology : official publication of the Federation of Spanish Oncology Societies and of the National Cancer Institute of Mexico · 2026
    Pooled it
  2. Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

3 authors.

Jørgen SerupBispebjerg University Hospital, The Tattoo Clinic, Copenhagen, Denmark.
Bjørn Christian SeverinMiks Tattoo, Copenhagen, Denmark.
Esben HammershøyInkBase, Copenhagen, Denmark.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

introductionThe new EU regulation on tattoo inks in force January 2022 in a hitherto unregulated market marks a historical change. The study aim was to register tattoo inks de facto used in studios before the new EU regulation and establish a historical reference to tattoo customer exposure, ink toxicology assessment, clinical complications, and the impact on tattooing businesses.

methodA tattooist-operated electronic system (InkBase) for ink registration required by law is used in Denmark since 2018. A local database in studios refers to a central database. Clients, sessions, ink bottles, brand name, and pigment color index (CI) are registered. Person's data protection is respected. Tracing harmful inks is possible, with public warning.

resultsRegistrations from 108 studios employing about 700 tattooists were collected from March 2018 to 2019. 39,687 clients were tattooed in 50,604 sessions, using colors from 109,720 ink bottles. 10,833 were CI-labelled identifying the pigment. 98.1% of inks originated from USA. Detailed statistics on inks and pigments used are provided as a benchmark showing the spontaneous use and preference of "old" tattoo inks before the EU regulation compulsory to member states introduced dramatic restrictions difficult to follow.

conclusionsDenmark can, having detailed ink registration enforced by law and having a commonly used electronic registration system reporting to a central server, function as an index country in future surveillance of use of tattoo inks in studios, toxicology aspects and the impact of regulatory intervention on the tattooing industry, with a large sample of data collected in 2018-2019.

Indexed as

Coloring AgentsInkTattooingAdultBenchmarkingDenmarkEuropean UnionFemaleHumansMaleColoring AgentsColor index numberDistributorInkBaseManufacturerParlourPigmentRAPEXResAP (2008)SessionSupplierTattooist

Identifiers

PMID39799936
PMCPMC12324700

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Registered trials

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.