This might make you think twice if you’re considering getting your first tattoo or getting another one to add to your collection.
About 35% of tattoo or permanent makeup inks sold in the US are contaminated with bacteria.
Researchers tested 75 tattoo inks from 14 manufacturers for the presence of aerobic and anaerobic bacteria.
The FDA considers the inks used in tattoos — including permanent makeup — to be cosmetics, which do not need premarket approval like a drug or medical device does.
The pigments used in the inks are color additives, which are subject to FDA approval, but the agency admits it has not historically regulated them. State and local jurisdictions, meanwhile, oversee tattooing practices.
Infections can lead to rashes or lesions, and in some cases, permanent scarring.
The study results follow research that found 83% of tattoo inks contain substances not on their label, like different pigments or unlisted additives. A separate study highlighted a potential link between tattoos and lymphoma, a type of blood cancer.