Tattoo Ink Moves Through Body, Killing Immune Cells, Weakening Vaccine Response
13 days ago
- #immune-response
- #tattoo-health-risks
- #cancer-risk
- Tattoo ink moves into the lymphatic system and persists for months, killing immune cells and disrupting vaccine responses.
- Research in mice showed pigments draining into lymph nodes within minutes, causing immune-cell death and sustained inflammation.
- Tattoo ink weakened the antibody response to the Pfizer-BioNTech Covid vaccine but boosted responses to an inactivated flu vaccine.
- 32% of US adults have at least one tattoo, raising public health concerns about ink safety and regulation.
- Tattooed individuals have a 21% higher risk of malignant lymphoma, with risks peaking early and over a decade later.
- Large tattoos are linked to significantly higher risks of lymphoma and skin cancers, including melanoma.
- Tattoo pigments like carbon black and azo dyes migrate to lymph nodes and remain for years, necessitating stricter regulation.