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researchers believe ink can interfere with immune signalling, the chemical communication system that immune cells use to create responses to infection or vaccination.
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tattoos are becoming more commonplace nowadays. whether it’s one simple design or full arm sleeves of ink, tattoos are viewed as a permanent way of artistic self-expression.
however, deep beneath the ink pigments in the skin, the body interacts with it in ways scientists are only beginning to understand.
while generally considered safe, a new scientific study suggests that tattoo inks aren’t biologically inert, and many commonly used pigments can affect immune activity, trigger inflammation, and reduce the effectiveness of vaccines.
ink affects lymph nodes
the study, published by proceedings of the national academy of sciences of the united states of america (pnas), suggests that tattoo ink is taken up by immune cells in the skin.
when those cells die, signals are released to keep the immune system working, which leads to inflammation in lymph nodes for up to two months.
researchers also found that the ink found in the vaccine injection site has altered immune responses in specific ways. as an example, the study noted it was associated with a reduced immune response to the covid-19 vaccine.
it doesn’t mean that tattoo ink makes vaccines unsafe. rather, researchers believe ink can interfere with immune signalling, the chemical communication system that immune cells use to create responses to infection or vaccination.
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allergic reactions
allergic and inflammatory reactions are the most documented health risks of tattoos. in particular, red pigment is commonly associated with itching, swelling and granulomas — small inflammatory nodules that form when the immune system tries to isolate material it can’t remove.
studies suggest these reactions can appear some time — months or years — after getting a tattoo. the reactions may be triggered by sun exposure or immune function changes.
any chronic inflammation has been linked to tissue damage and increased disease risk, according to the conversation.
risks of infection
tattoos also carry some risks of infection. examples include poor hygiene, which can lead to staph infections, hepatitis b and c, or atypical mycobacterial infections, reports science alert.
tattoos generally do not cause serious health problems, but aren’t free from risk either, as the ink introduces substances into the body that weren’t designed to live in human tissue, which for some could be toxic under certain conditions.
as tattoos become larger and plentiful, so do the chemical burdens that come with it. that, combined with aging, sun exposure, immune changes, or laser removal, means the burdens may have results that scientists have yet to discover, per science alert.
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this article was originally published in the toronto sun on january 5, 2026.
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