ArticleBMC public health2025
Tattoo ink exposure is associated with lymphoma and skin cancers - a Danish study of twins.
Article in BMC public health, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 18 papers, 1 of them a synthesis that pooled it.
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Who cites it
18 citing papers in PubMed, 1 synthesis or guideline pooled it.
- A Systematic Review on Molecular Toxicology and Omics-Based Risk Assessment of Pigments Used in Dermal Implantation Procedures: Implications for Somatology and Somatic Therapy Practice.International journal of molecular sciences · 2026Pooled it
- No robust evidence supporting an association between tattoos and de-novo cutaneous melanoma.European journal of epidemiology · 2026Article
- Re: "Does tattoo exposure increase the risk of cutaneous melanoma? A population-based case-control study".European journal of epidemiology · 2026Article
- Chemical components of tattoo inks and their potential role in carcinogenesis and their side effects.Archives of toxicology · 2026Review
- 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 · 2026Review
- Simultaneous Determination of Aromatic Amines in Tattoo Ink by Gas Chromatography-Electron Ionization (GC-EI)-Mass Spectrometry (MS) and Tandem MS (MS/MS).Molecules (Basel, Switzerland) · 2026Article
- Tattoo-Induced Cutaneous Lymphoid Hyperplasia: A Case Series and Review of the Literature.Dermatology practical & conceptual · 2026Article
- Tattoos and risk of cutaneous melanoma and nonmelanoma skin cancer in France.Journal of the National Cancer Institute · 2026Article
- Subcutaneous Panniculitis-like T-cell Lymphoma with Secondary Haemophagocytic Lymphohistiocytosis Arising at Widespread Tattoo Sites: A Case Report.Acta dermato-venereologica · 2026Article
- Tattoo Ink Exposure and Its Potential Link with Lymphoma and Skin Cancer: A Narrative Review of New Evidence.Cardiovascular & hematological disorders drug targets · 2026Review
- Does tattoo exposure increase the risk of cutaneous melanoma? A population-based case-control study.European journal of epidemiology · 2025Article
- Tattooing and risk of melanoma: a population-based case-control study in Utah.Journal of the National Cancer Institute · 2025Article
- Investigating the potential association between tattoos and lymphoma: an exploratory systematic review and meta-analysis.EClinicalMedicine · 2025Article
- Heavy Metal Content in Tattoo and Permanent Makeup Inks and European Standards-Is There Still a Health Risk?Toxics · 2025Article
- Cohort Profile: The Cancer Risk Attributable to the Body Art of Tattooing (CRABAT) study.International journal of epidemiology · 2025Article
- Tattoos and cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma: a population-based case-control study.European journal of epidemiology · 2025Article
- Tattooing is Mainly Cultural: A Representative Twin Study of Tattooing Determinants.Behavior genetics · 2025Article
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Authors and funding
5 authors.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
backgroundWe aim to study the potential association between tattoo ink exposure and development of certain types of cancers in the recently established Danish Twin Tattoo Cohort. Tattoo ink is known to transfer from skin to blood and accumulate in regional lymph nodes. We are concerned that tattoo ink induces inflammation at the deposit site, leading to chronic inflammation and increasing risk of abnormal cell proliferation, especially skin cancer and lymphoma.
methodsWe conducted two designs of twin studies to improve confounder control: A cohort study of 2,367 randomly selected twins and a case-control study of 316 twins born in the period 1960-1996. Cancer diagnoses (ICD-10) were retrieved from the Danish Cancer Registry and tattoo ink exposure from the Danish Twin Tattoo survey from 2021. The analysis addressed effects of time-varying exposure.
resultsIn the case-control study, individual-level analysis resulted in a hazard of skin cancer (of any type except basal cell carcinoma) that was 1.62 times higher among tattooed individuals (95% CI: 1.08-2.41). Twin-matched analysis of 14 twin pairs discordant for tattoo ink exposure and skin cancer showed HR = 1.33 (95% CI: 0.46-3.84). For 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 a hazard ratio of 3.91 (95% CI: 1.42-10.8) for skin cancer and 2.83 (95% CI: 1.30-6.16) for basal cell carcinoma.
conclusionIn conclusion, our study suggests an increased hazard of lymphoma and skin cancers among tattooed individuals, demonstrated through two designs: a twin cohort and a case-cotwin study. We are concerned that tattoo ink interacting with surrounding cells may have severe consequences. Studies that pinpoint the etiological pathway of tattoo ink induced carcinogenesis are recommended to benefit public health.
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