(ORDO NEWS) — Tattoos on the body have been gaining more and more popularity in recent years. Large or miniature, colorful or black and white – the choice is yours. But before you get a tattoo, you should know the effect of a tattoo on the human body, in particular on its immune system. The Week writes about it.
According to anthropologist Christopher Lynn, when a person gets a tattoo, the ink is applied through tiny punctures under the top layer of the skin. As a result, the body perceives the tattoo as a wound and sends macrophages, or white blood cells, to heal the affected area. At the same time, tattoo ink is difficult to be broken down by cellular enzymes.
“The reason the pigment stays there is because the pigment particles are too big for the white cells to destroy,” said Anne Laumann, a professor of dermatology at Northwestern University.
Instead of being broken down, the ink is transferred from macrophage to macrophage, so the tattoo becomes more blurred over time, especially as the skin itself ages and deforms. This means that the tattoo and the body’s immune system are in a constant relationship that never stops.
The immune system can actually be slightly weakened after a new tattoo, which can put the body “at a disadvantage, especially if the new tattoo ends up becoming inflamed, infected, or allergic,” the article notes.
In the long run, small skin injuries performed by a professional using sterile, hypoallergenic equipment and safe materials can even keep nearby immune cells active. This is stated in some studies.
“If your body tolerates a tattoo at all, it means that the immune system has adapted,” adds dermatologist Maria Daniela Ermida.
However, experts warn: tattoos can cause infections, especially when applied in unsanitary conditions. In addition, the tattoo ink itself may contain ingredients that cause an allergic reaction or be harmful to health.
“Different colors are created using different pigments and diluents, and some contain materials that may be considered carcinogenic,” Healthline writes.
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