Tattoos may be linked to increased risk of cancer, study suggests

Tattoos may be linked to an increased risk of cancer, according to a new study.

Researchers at the University of South Denmark and the University of Helsinki have found tattoo ink may increase the risk of skin and lymphoma cancers.

The research team says this is because tattoo ink accumulates in the lymph nodes and does not just remain where it is injected.

Lymph nodes are small structures which help to protect the body against potentially harmful substances.

The university researchers are concerned that tattoo ink may trigger an inflammation in the lymph nodes, which could lead to abnormal cell growth and an increased risk of cancer over time.

A quarter (26%) of the British public have tattoos, according to a 2022 YouGov survey.

Last year, Wales brought in new rules for tattoo artists and body piercers with a UK-first licensing scheme.

The team at the University of South Denmark (SDU) have access to information from more than 5,900 Danish twins, as part of survey results from the Danish Twin Tattoo Cohort.

Having analysed tattoo patterns and cancer diagnoses, the study found higher occurrence of both skin and lymphoma cancers in those with tattoos.

"The unique aspect of our approach is that we can compare twin pairs where one has cancer, but they otherwise share many genetic and environmental factors," said Jacob von Bornemann Hjelmborg, professor of biostatistics at SDU.

The study also suggests the size of the tattoo can have an impact, and the rate for lymphoma is particularly high for tattoos defined as bigger than a palm.

The rate was nearly three times higher for individuals with large tattoos compared to those without any.

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"This suggests that the bigger the tattoo and the longer it has been there, the more ink accumulates in the lymph nodes," Signe Bedsted Clemmensen, assistant professor of biostatistics at SDU, added.

Researchers plan to conduct further research into whether particular ink colours have varying impacts and whether certain types of lymphomas are more linked to tattoos than others.

(c) Sky News 2025: Tattoos may be linked to increased risk of cancer, study suggests