Body art has long since become a mainstream trend, yet the biological consequences of the procedure often go overlooked. Medical professionals warn that tattoos can trigger allergic reactions and infections and even complicate medical treatment, according to infohub.kz.
Once pigments enter the skin, they interact with the human immune system. Experts stress that the tattooing process itself damages the upper layers of the skin, creating direct health risks and potentially leading to various complications.
Among the most common threats, doctors single out allergic reactions to pigments, bacterial infections and the formation of granulomas around the ink. The use of non-sterile equipment also poses a serious danger, as it can transmit dangerous infections, including hepatitis B and C. Red pigment causes allergies more often than any other, and a reaction can appear even years after a session with a tattoo artist.
Large or fresh tattoos can also complicate medical procedures. Plastic surgeons, for example, decline to perform elective surgery on areas with recent tattoos because of the risk of inflammation. During magnetic resonance imaging, ink containing iron oxide sometimes causes a burning sensation, and anesthesiologists try to avoid puncturing directly through tattooed skin when administering epidural analgesia.