If you haven’t heard enough reasons why you shouldn’t get a tattoo, here’s one more to add to the list – bacteria contaminated ink. The ink that is used by your tattoo artist may be contaminated by bacteria.
In the first ever study of its type, U.S. FDA (Food & Drug Administration) researchers looked into whether commercial tattoo inks are contaminated with anaerobic and/or aerobic bacteria. The results were published in the July 2 edition of Applied and Environmental Microbiology, the journal of the American Society for Microbiology, a 32,000 member organization founded in 1899.
“Our findings reveal that unopened and sealed tattoo inks can harbor anaerobic bacteria, known to thrive in low-oxygen environments like the dermal layer of the skin, alongside aerobic bacteria,” says corresponding author Seong-Jae (Peter) Kim, Ph.D., a microbiologist with the Division of Microbiology at the FDA’s National Center for Toxicological Research in Jefferson, Arkansas. “This suggests that contaminated tattoo inks could be a source of infection from both types of bacteria.”
Thirty-five percent of tattoo ink is contaminated
The researchers tested a total of 75 tattoo inks from 14 different manufacturers. They discovered that around 35 percent of tattoo or permanent makeup inks sold in the U.S. were found to be contaminated with bacteria.
“Both types of bacteria, those needing oxygen (aerobic) and those not needing oxygen (anaerobic), can contaminate the inks,” Kim says. “There was no clear link between a product label claiming sterility and the actual absence of bacterial contamination.”
According to the U.S. Food & Drug Administration (FDA) contaminated tattoo ink can cause a variety of health problems, including allergic reactions and infections that can spread throughout the body and can even lead to sepsis, among other things.
Kim and his colleagues will continue their research to:
- Develop more efficient microbial detection methods for tattoo inks, making the process quicker, more accurate and less labor-intensive.
- Conduct systematic research to better understand microbial contamination in tattoo and permanent makeup inks.
In the meantime, there are actions that manufacturers and consumers can take to help prevent the contamination of tattoo ink.
Manufacturers must be proactive
Manufacturers can turn to the FDA for help in ensuring that tattoo ink can be safe to use. In June 2023 it issued Draft Guidance for Industry: Insanitary Conditions in the Preparation, Packing, and Holding of Tattoo Inks and the Risk of Microbial Contamination.
This document offers guidance that can help tattoo ink manufacturers and distributers recognize situations that might cause tattoo ink to be contaminated with microorganisms. It also recommends steps to help prevent the occurrence of these conditions or eliminate unsanitary conditions that currently may exist during the manufacturing or distribution process.
You too can be involved
The FDA encourages consumers and healthcare providers to report adverse reactions from tattoos to MedWatch, the agency’s problem-reporting system. You can do it either online or by calling 800-332-1088.
