Is tattoo ink harmful? New studies look at bacteria levels, additives

Some tattoo ink can contain potentially harmful levels of bacteria while other batches contain additives that are not labeled, a growing issue as more and more Americans continue to get inked, according to recent studies, including one published on Tuesday.

The bacteria study, the first of its kind, was conducted by scientists from the federal Food and Drug Administration, an agency that admits it has not regulated the industry over the years despite having the power to do so.

The FDA team found 26 contaminated samples out of 75 tattoo and permanent makeup inks that they analyzed, according to an abstract of their article published in the academic journal Applied and Environmental Microbiology.

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Tattoo artists have long maintained they place extra emphasis on health and safety, considering the nature of their work: piercing skin with needles and inserting ink into the top layer of skin. While skin infections and allergic reactions can occur, tattoo artists are regulated by local health departments in New Jersey and must take bloodborne pathogen training before beginning their careers.

A representative for the Alliance of Professional Tattooists said its board of directors would not be able to respond on Tuesday to the study's findings since they are all volunteers.

A third of adult Americans has at least one tattoo

Once the favorites of sailors, soldiers and outsiders, tattoos have exploded over the last 20 years in the U.S., becoming commonplace among soccer moms, political figures and corporate executives. About 32% of adult Americans have at least one tattoo, according to a 2023 survey by the Pew Research Center.

The Food and Drug Administration considers tattoo ink to be "cosmetics" and doesn't regulate them unless complaints arise. Although it has the power to do so, the FDA has also not "exercised regulatory authority" for color additives used in tattoo ink due to "other competing public health priorities and a previous lack of evidence of safety problems."

Outbreaks have occurred due to contaminated ink that have led to recalls in 2004, 2012 and 2017, according to the FDA. The 2017 outbreak was caused by microbial contamination found in batches of one ink brand.

Unlisted additives in tattoo inks

Another study published in March found that 45 of 54 tattoo inks tested contained unlisted additives including polyethylene glycol, propylene glycol, and higher alkanes that could cause allergic reactions or other health risks. Published in the journal Analytical Chemistry, the research team from Binghamton University in New York said the study shows the need for more accurate tattoo ink labeling in the U.S.

The bacteria study published Tuesday found contaminants even in unopened and sealed tattoo inks, suggesting that the product itself could be the source of a bacterial infection after the procedure. Both bacteria that can live in the presence of oxygen and those that cannot were found in the samples.

Of the 34 bacterial isolates found by the team, 19 were strains that could lead to infection.

"The results emphasize the importance of monitoring these products," the FDA team wrote.