Do tattoos cause cancer? A dermatologist explains the risks

You may already know that the pigments used in tattoo ink can sometimes migrate to nearby lymph nodes or distant organs and mimic metastatic cancer on lymph node biopsy or screening scans.  

But are tattoos actually bad for your health? Can they ever cause cancer?

Here’s what to know about tattoos, including what to consider before getting one, and why a recent twin study out of Denmark is getting so much attention.

Can tattoos affect anything but the skin?

Yes. Ink particles can travel to and accumulate in the lymph nodes, liver, bladder and urinary tract. That’s because your body recognizes ink as a foreign substance and is trying to get rid of it.

Does that mean tattoos are bad for your health?

Not necessarily. But since the ink can migrate from your skin to other areas, it does raise concerns about possible long-term effects. There are some other health aspects to consider, too.

Ink quality

The pigments used to make various colors may contain heavy metals or other ingredients or contaminants that can cause allergic reactions or infections. “Tattoo ink poisoning” is a popular term that describes a range of acute or chronic adverse effects associated with tattoo ink. Some of these reactions include redness, irritation, itching and in more severe cases, fever, swollen lymph nodes, and infection at the tattoo site.

Because tattoo inks are considered cosmetics, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) doesn’t regulate them in the same way it does food or medicines. Look for manufacturers that clearly list their ingredients and have their products independently tested for purity and accuracy in labeling.

Needle cleanliness

If proper safety protocols aren’t followed, you could get an infection from dirty gloves, unsterilized equipment or sloppy sanitation practices. Laws regulating tattoos vary by state, but in Texas, parlors must be licensed by the Texas Department of State Health Services.

Don’t hesitate to walk away from one if you have any doubts about its licensing status, overall cleanliness or infection control practices.

Skin conditions

You might want to reconsider getting a tattoo if you have an inflammatory skin disorder, such as psoriasis or eczema. Tattoos can increase your risk of developing the skin plaques associated with those conditions, as well as keloids (thick, raised scars) and granulomas (inflammatory bumps or plaques on your skin). We also recommend not covering any mole that a dermatologist is actively monitoring for skin cancer. Tattoos can make it hard to detect changes in those.

Other health conditions

If you are pregnant, breastfeeding, immunocompromised or have an active, ongoing infection, you should probably hold off on getting a tattoo. Any time you break the skin barrier, you create a pathway for germs to enter the body and cause problems.

Are some tattoo inks considered worse than others?

No particular tattoo ink is any worse than another; however, there are some components of concern associated with the carbon black found in black inks and azo pigments, which are found in colored inks. Additionally, colored pigments typically involve more ingredients, so it’s easier for them to contain byproducts or other contaminants.

Can tattoos actually cause cancer?

Tattooing in general is not considered carcinogenic — or cancer-causing. But some ink colors contain substances that can become hazardous under the right conditions.

• Carbon black, for instance, may contain polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), some of which are classified as carcinogens.
• Azo compounds (found in colored inks such as orange, yellow and red), on the other hand, release carcinogenic amines when exposed to sunlight or laser light.

Some studies have demonstrated an association between tattoos and cancer. One Swedish study from 2024 found that tattoo exposure was associated with a higher risk of lymphoma. Similarly, a Danish study of twins published in 2025 found a link between tattoos larger than the palm of your hand and a higher risk of both skin cancer and non-Hodgkin lymphoma.

Does that mean you should get your tattoos removed?

Not necessarily. Just because there’s a link doesn’t mean that tattoos cause cancer. It just means a connection has been noted.

Both of those studies focused more on whether a chronic inflammatory response to a tattoo could be a precursor to a malignancy. They didn’t account for a number of other variables, such as underlying risk factors, differences in sun exposure or skin type. The overall understanding is that there is no established causal link between tattoos and cancer and that larger studies are needed.

Fiorinda Muhaj, M.D., is a dermatologist at UT MD Anderson.

Request an appointment at UT MD Anderson online or call 1-877-632-6789.