This article discusses a study revealing that commercial tattoo inks can harbour both aerobic and anaerobic bacteria, increasing infection risks. It underscores the importance of monitoring ink sterility and educating patients on safe tattooing practices.

A new study has revealed that commercial tattoo ink can harbour both aerobic and anaerobic bacteria, posing risks of infection in areas under the skin. It is the first study to evaluate anaerobic bacteria risks in commercial tattoo inks.

The study, published in the American Society for Microbiology’s Applied and Environmental Microbiology journal, looks at bacteria contamination risks in permanent makeup (PMU) inks.[1] 

It comes after a dramatic rise in tattooing and ink-related infections in the last decade. PMU refers to cosmetic tattooing treatments like microblading, faux freckles, and eyeliner tattooing. 

Testing commercial tattoo ink for bacteria contamination 

Study researchers tested 75 tattoo iPMU inks for bacterial contamination. They evaluated inks for both aerobic bacteria, which can survive in oxygenated environments, and anaerobic bacteria, which can survive in low-oxygen areas, such as the dermal layer of the skin, where tattoo ink is placed.

After testing, researchers found that 26 of the 75 ink samples tested were contaminated with various bacteria. They then isolated the detected bacteria strains and found that some strains were capable of surviving in anaerobic environments.

“The rising popularity of tattooing in recent years has coincided with an increase in tattoo-related complications or adverse reactions,” corresponding author Seong-Jae (Peter) Kim, PhD, a microbiologist with the Division of Microbiology for the US Food and Drug Administration’s National Center for Toxicological Research, said in a press release.[2] “It should be noted that microbial infections constitute just [1] aspect of these complications. In addition to microbial infections, immunologic complications, such as inflammatory reactions and allergic hypersensitivity, as well as toxic responses, represent a significant portion of these issues.”

Doctors can talk to patients about the potential risks of tattoos

The study has implications for people with tattoos and for the medical community. 

Jana Abelovska, a superintendent pharmacist overseeing pharmacy operations at Click Pharmacy, based in the United Kingdom, says that it is critical for healthcare providers to be aware of potential risks from tattoo ink and equipped to treat infections should they occur. She also recommends talking to curious patients about tattoo ink risks to help them make informed decisions about their health.

“Doctors should explain the potential dangers of tattooing to their patients and stress the necessity of selecting a professional tattoo artist who follows all the necessary sanitary precautions,” including following sterilisation practices, practising good hygiene, and using new needles, Abelovska says. 

How to find a sterile tattoo ink

Researchers found several tattoo inks that were contaminated. But they also found more—almost two-thirds of the total—that were not, [1] While this may be a silver lining in the research, it is unclear whether consumers can distinguish between contaminated and uncontaminated inks.

Notably, Dr Kim stated in the press release that there was “no clear link” between sterility claims on product labels and “the actual absence of bacterial contamination.”[ 2] So, directing patients toward tattoo inks labelled as sterile will not guarantee that they select an uncontaminated product.

Next steps for research

Dr. Kim and the other researchers already have plans for future research. According to the press release, they are looking forward to two main steps:

1. One to make their research quicker and more accurate by developing more efficient microbial detection methods for tattoo inks,
2. Another is to deepen their understanding of how contamination occurs in tattoo and PMU inks to gain insight into how to prevent this.  

Disclaimer: This story is contributed by Claire Wolters and is a part of our Global Content Initiative, where we feature selected stories from our Global network which we believe would be most useful and informative to our doctor members.