“For immunocompromised individuals, tattoos may pose additional risks, as weakened immune systems might struggle with infection or inflammation.”
Tattoos are an expression and release of a person’s creativity, or maybe it would be better put as the artist’s creativity, and the people share the images that they best identify with and bring meaning to their lives. Tattoos are applied by skin pricks with ink; the skin pricks can range from 50 to 3,000 per minute, and depending on the tattoo size there can be 10s of thousands of pricks. Many people do not understand the permeability of the skin and the fact that what you apply or pierce can enter your blood stream. Consider what people put on their skin as a sun block, we have had more skin cancer emerged after the introduction of toxic sun blocks than before from the sun. These lotions do not just remain on the surface, they glide deeply into the pores, common sense and the subject of its own newsletter.
What happens when getting a tattoo? During this procedure ink is inserted into the dermis, prompting your immune system to respond as if it were dealing with a foreign invader. Macrophages—a type of white blood cell—try to envelop the ink particles, but because the dye molecules are too large to break down, they remain trapped within these cells. As macrophages die (typically within days to a week), new ones arrive to repeat the process with the free ink, creating a cycle that holds the tattoo in place. Over time, some smaller ink particles may shrink enough to be drained by lymphatic vessels, causing tattoos to fade naturally. In case of laser removal, ink is broken into even smaller fragments that macrophages can clear more efficiently.
“Scientists aren’t yet sure if the macrophages’ inky clog-up has consequences. What if you are forcing them to take care of these foreign clumps of pigment instead of doing immune surveillance.”[1] What kind of effects could this have? “The immune system may actually be slightly weakened following a new tattoo, potentially putting the body at a disadvantage if a new tattoo ends up inflamed, infected, or triggering allergies.”[2]
What about those with weaker immunity, will they not respond more negatively to tattoos than those with a strong immunity? The answer is yes; they certainly will. Naturally, there are broader immunological and physiological effects of tattooing. For immunocompromised individuals, tattoos may pose additional risks, as weakened immune systems might struggle with infection or inflammation. Then we must examine the dyes being used, since there is no reliable oversight or regulation guidelines in place, one negative experience could set in motion chronic disease conditions, including cancer.
How can this be the case when so many people have tattoos? Because tattoo inks can contain a wide range of potentially harmful substances, particularly in nonorganic inks, which often include metals like cadmium, chromium, lead, and nickel—many of which are known or suspected carcinogens. These metals and synthetic compounds help maintain long-term color but raise health concerns. Organic inks, typically plant- or carbon-based, are generally safer but fade more quickly due to the absence of stabilizers. Despite FDA labeling requirements, a U.S. study revealed that 83% of tattoo inks tested had significant labeling inaccuracies. Additionally, pigments like azo dyes can break down into carcinogenic compounds, and other ingredients such as polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons pose further cancer risks.
“Health Canada has created a list of restricted or prohibited ingredients of tattoo inks. This list includes substances that are considered mutagenic, carcinogenic, toxic to reproduction, skin sensitizers, and irritants. The regulator also samples and tests tattoo inks to check for microbial contamination, heavy metals, and labeling accuracy. The European Union has taken a similar approach, but the FDA does not approve tattoo inks.”[3]
We are not talking about a fraction of the population affected by this. According to the Narrative Research survey[4] in 2024 one third of the adult Canadian population has tattoos. The survey also showed that women are much more inclined to get a tattoo, including permanent makeup, than men (38% vs 28%). In Canada, the US, and Europe, a patient must be 18 to start accumulating tattoos. One would think that with such popularity that there would be multiple studies on the consequences on getting tattoos, but the opposite is true. “While there have been many case reports noting the occurrence of various types of cancerous lesions within tattoos, they do not tell us whether this association is causal or coincidental. Epidemiological studies exploring this question are few.”[5] And it is quite complicated to find relevant answers with the number of brands and color inks on the market. “Then there are the many confounding factors such as smoking, alcohol, socioeconomic status, etc., which must be accounted for.”[6]
When it comes to the long-term health effects of tattoo pigments, research has primarily focused on lymphomas, as ink particles often migrate to nearby lymph nodes where they may cause chronic inflammation and potentially carcinogenic effects. Some case-control and twin studies have found a significant or elevated risk of lymphoma. Additionally, several studies have explored links between tattoos and skin cancer. One study found significantly higher risks for skin cancer in individuals with large tattoos.
Tattoo-related infections can cause other potential risks that also need to be considered. According to a systematic review on Systemic infections associated with tattoos or permanent makeup, “[b]acterial bloodstream infections should be considered in subjects developing fever and rigour after tattoos, regardless of local symptoms. A shift in causative organisms has been documented, when comparing with historical reports. Nontuberculous Mycobacteria (NTM) are emerging organisms causing lymphadenopathy. Strict hygiene conditions are essential when performing a tattoo.”[7]
You may believe that you only have a mild skin irritation which is typical with tattoos but keep in mind that “[w]ithout treatment, mild infections can become severe localized infections, such as cellulitis, abscesses, or necrotizing fasciitis (flesh-eating disease). Infections can also progress to severe, life-threatening systemic (whole-body) infections, such as sepsis or endocarditis (heart infection).”[8]
We are living in a time when we have floating fungal infections creating a global pandemic, we have toxic chemtrails that taunt us when viewing the skies, we have heavy metals in the air and pushed into our arms, fluoride in our drinking water, and pesticides and herbicides everywhere. Once you pierce the skin your have created a conduit for bacteria, fungal infections and viruses to enter. We need to consider that this may cause many health problems, including allergic reactions, skin problems and infections. More serious health conditions may develop as well, e.g. diseases spread through blood. Be aware of the consequences and make an informed, wise decision.
In review, when I think about what the average person is exposed to today, due to lack of clarity and the truth being slanted and suppressed, I am reminded what we are intended to be in our humanity. The expression “Your body is a temple, keep it holy,” what does than mean? This phrase originates from the biblical verse 1 Corinthians 6:19, my interpretation is, we have been given an awesome task to keep our physical bodies in their purest possible state, directing respect and reverence to our temple. Of course, coupled with critical thinking, making the best achievable choices to remain healthy with the understanding that you have acquired.
Recommended Life Choice products:
- CLAW Therapy to extract the toxins and heavy metal and to detox the plaque blocking your wellness,
- Thymus Gland with Pure Vitamin C,
- Colloidal Silver, the amazing oral spray immunity fighter; this is one product that you definitely want entering your pours.
References:
- Bottaro, Angelica. 2025. Infected Tattoo: Everything You Need to Know. https://www.verywellhealth.com/infected-tattoo-stages-5278755
- Hoption Cann, Stephen A. 2025. Do Tattoos Pose a Cancer Risk? https://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/do-tattoos-pose-cancer-risk-2025a1000fkh?ecd=WNL_trdalrt_pos1_ous_250624_etid7519383&uac=467637CZ&impID=7519383
- Narrative Research. 2024. One third of Canadians have tattoos, and most have no regrets about getting them. https://narrativeresearch.ca/one-third-of-canadians-have-tattoos-and-most-have-no-regrets-about-getting-them/
- Rao, Devika. 2023. The price (and pros) of tattoos. https://theweek.com/health-and-science/1022099/how-do-tattoos-affect-your-immune-system
- Rello, Jordi et al. 2022. Systemic infections associated with tattoos or permanent makeup: A systematic review. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S2387020622000481
- Wu, Katherine J. 2023. Tattoos Do Odd Things to the Immune System. https://www.theatlantic.com/science/archive/2023/03/tattoo-science-immune-system-effects/673462/
[1] Wu, Katherine J. 2023.
[2] Rao, Devika. 2023.
[3] Hoption Cann, Stephen A. 2025.
[4] Narrative Research. 2024.
[5] Hoption Cann, Stephen A. 2025.
[6] Ibid.
[7] Rello, Jordi et al. 2022.
[8] Bottaro, Angelica. 2025.