{"id":6539,"date":"2021-02-22T03:58:29","date_gmt":"2023-01-09T16:47:39","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.saved-tattoo.com\/?p=6539"},"modified":"2024-01-05T00:00:00","modified_gmt":"2024-01-05T00:00:00","slug":"is-it-true-that-tattoos-cause-liver-and-kidney-damage","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.saved-tattoo.com\/is-it-true-that-tattoos-cause-liver-and-kidney-damage\/","title":{"rendered":"Is It True That Tattoos Cause Liver and Kidney Damage?"},"content":{"rendered":"

When you decide to get a tattoo, the first thing that you can think of is how amazing and cool it’s going to look. Few people actually think of the possible side effects of getting a tattoo. Some don’t even check whether they’re allergic to the ink, which later creates major issues causing tattoo infections<\/a>, etc. But there is one question that a lot of people do ask; can tattoos really cause liver or kidney damage and disease, or is that just a myth?<\/p>\n

In the following paragraphs, we’ll take a look at some health concerns regarding tattoos and see whether getting tattooed can really damage your precious kidneys and liver. So, without further ado, let’s started!<\/p>\n

Tattoos and Main Health Concerns<\/h2>\n

Tattooing Explained<\/h3>\n

We all know what getting a tattoo means, but many of us don’t really understand the process<\/a>. So, let’s start by simply explaining what a tattoo artist does to place the ink beneath your skin and make it stay there.<\/p>\n

Tattoo artists inject colorants or ink into the skin using needles that are actuated by tattoo machines<\/a>. The colorants or the ink are generally purchased by reliable online suppliers. Now, when the artist pushes the needle beneath the very skin surface, the ink is placed in the dermis of the skin in form of small particles.<\/p>\n

Small parts of that ink are absorbed by the surrounding tissue, while the rest simply enters the blood vessel system. That is why ink can be found in the\u00a0lymph nodes<\/a>\u00a0next to the tattooed skin area.<\/p>\n

So, if you were wondering where all the health concerns stem from, this is it. The problem stems from the fact that ink doesn’t simply stay in one place; the excess ink moves through the blood or rests in the tattooed area and surrounding tissue.<\/p>\n

Tattoo Colorants or Ink Explained<\/h3>\n
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Image Credit: Saved Tattoo<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Tattoo colorants<\/a>\u00a0or ink are generally described as pigments or dyes. But, the chemical structure of the ink as a pigment is usually insoluble, which is important for the medium where the pigment is used and incorporated. The pigment is how tattoo artists create stable and persistent tattoos.<\/p>\n

Now, there are two types of pigment; organic and inorganic.<\/p>\n

In the past, the majority of tattoo artists used inorganic pigment, which generally contained heavy metals like chromium, mercury, or cadmium. As a result, the pigment wasn’t just black but achieved colors like red (mercury sulfide) or yellow (cadmium sulfide). The black ink was a mixture of carbon black and titanium dioxide.<\/p>\n

Organic pigment is mostly used nowadays. The chemical structure or organic colorants comprises organic pigments or polycyclic pigments. These pigments have proven better in terms of color payoff and vividness or vibrancy.<\/p>\n

Now, when we talk about pigments for ink, it is essential to mention that colorants do not have and pharmaceutical requirements. So, alongside the standard chemical structure, colorants can contain by-products of the coloring compounds as well as various impurities. Therefore, the complete ‘ingredient’ list of the colorants is incomplete and varies from one colorant to the other. The same issue applies to black colorants as well as colored pigments.<\/p>\n

Tattoo Colorants and Health Concerns<\/h3>\n

Colorants or ink, especially the black ones are usually produced using\u00a0polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons or PAHs<\/a>. Furthermore, the black ink is generally made from Carbon black, which is listed as possibly carcinogenic to humans according to the Internation Agency of Research in Cancer or IARC. These carcinogenic compounds are known to be exposed to humans through tobacco and polluted air, or by drinking and eating contaminated water and food.<\/p>\n

However, the carcinogenic compounds can also enter the body through tattooing, especially if the tattoo artists use questionable, inorganic pigments or colorants.<\/p>\n

When it comes to the Carbon black issue alone, it is well known that it can cause skin allergic reactions or tattoo infections in certain people. In some, it can also cause\u00a0tumors<\/a>, but such cases, as described by medical literature, can also appear as coincidental.<\/p>\n

Tattooing and colorant seem to affect the skin mainly. The process of tattooing damages the skin heavily and causes skin superficial bleeding and pain. Then, there is the itching, swelling oozing, and possible infection of the tattoo during the healing process. Many people experience skin sensitivity and persistent skin problems in the tattooed area even long after the tattoo has fully healed.<\/p>\n

Tattoo Colorants and Liver\/ Kidney Issues<\/h3>\n

As we mentioned earlier, tattoo colorants or ink do not simply stay in the tattooed area<\/strong>. A certain amount of ink rests in the tattooed area or the dermis and creates a persistent tattoo. However, the excess ink enters the blood vessel system and travels around the body.<\/p>\n

These transported ink particles have the potential of reaching other organs and locations in our body or can leave the body completely through the urinary system or defecation. That is where the liver and kidneys enter the story.<\/p>\n

Because the excess ink needs to somehow exit the body, it is most likely to go through the liver and the kidneys on its way out. The liver is responsible for getting rid of the toxins like excess ink, but the chemical structure of the ink might cause some immunotoxic effects. The same applies to the kidneys. Exposure to heavy metals in bad ink, as well as toxins in colorants, can create a burden for the kidneys and the liver and contribute to cognitive issues like fatigue or brain fog, according to\u00a0Brooke Schneller, doctor of clinical nutrition<\/a>.<\/p>\n

However, in the majority of cases, the ink passes through the liver and the kidneys and exits the body.<\/p>\n

But, a more serious issue is also at hand. What happens when the tattoo becomes infected due to external contamination of the tattooed skin (for example, your tattoo artist is working with a dirty needle). Well, in such case, the infection can spread to the kidneys and cause serious kidney damage<\/p>\n

So, What If You Have a Tattoo?<\/h3>\n
\"What
Image Credit: Saved Tattoo<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

One of the main things you can do to avoid possible colorant toxins and heavy metals in your body is to stop getting tattooed. Sure, this may be a hard decision to make, but if your immune system is generally bad and you suffer from certain diseases or allergies, it would be best to avoid aggravating your health more than it already is.<\/p>\n

However, if you already have a number of tattoos and you want to get rid of the toxins in your body, here’s what you can do;<\/p>\n