Tattoo ink travels through the body, killing immune cells

Tattoo ink doesn't just sit dormant on the skin. New research shows it quickly travels to the lymphatic system, where it can linger for months, kill immune system cells, and even disrupt how the body responds to vaccines.

Scientists in Switzerland used mice to track what happens after getting a tattoo. The dyes were channeled to nearby lymph nodes within minutes and continued to accumulate for two months, causing immune cell death and prolonged inflammation.

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The ink also weakened the antibody response to Pfizer Inc. and BioNTech SE 's COVID vaccine when the injection was given into tattooed skin.

In contrast, the same inflammation appeared to enhance responses to an inactivated flu vaccine.

"This work represents the most extensive study to date on the effect of tattoo ink on the immune response and raises serious health concerns related to the practice of tattooing," the researchers report.

"Our work highlights the need for further research to inform public health policies and regulatory frameworks regarding the safety of tattoo inks."

The findings have been published in the scientific journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1073/pnas.251039212

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