Skin cancer risk with tattoos

Having tattoos could be correlated with a decreased risk of melanoma.

In a study published in the Journal of the National Cancer Institute, investigators examined the outcomes of over 7,000 participants with and without melanoma diagnoses.

Compared with those who never received tattoos, the individuals who underwent four or more tattoo sessions, had three or more large tattoos or received their first tattoo prior to 20 years of age were found to have a lower risk of developing melanoma. However, individuals who underwent just one tattoo session had a higher risk of developing the disease.

The investigators hypothesized that receipt of tattoos could promote an immune response, resulting in the elimination of precancerous cells. They emphasized that further studies will be needed to better understand the results.

Read more: Journal of the National Cancer Institute

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