Interesting perspective and the doctor's trying not to be judgmental but, in the end, still seems to be pretty ambivalent (if not opposed) about the risks v. rewards of tattoos. I've got three tats myself, have never had any problem with them, and freely chose to take the risks. 20+ years since my first tat, I've had NO regrets, nor any problems whatever. But neither have I covered my skin with ink or gotten my tats from people I didn't know and trust to have sterile equipment. That said, I understand a medical doctor's concerns and think everyone who has tats or is considering getting (or adding), should know the current medical perspective on the safety of tattoo inks.
The focus of fears by most public health officials about body inking once concerned properly sterilized needles, spreading infections and unsanitary conditions at tattoo parlors. Scientists now are saying attention needs to be diverted to the very ink inside a tattoo needle.
As the market for tattoos has expanded wildly, so, too, have the types of materials employed, including UV inks that glow in the dark and permanent makeup. How toxic are their components, especially over the long run?
via Tattoos: Inks Raise New Health Concerns About Age-Old Designs
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