Black tattoos protect against <scp>UVR</scp>‐induced skin cancer in mice

Lerche, Catharina M.; Sepehri, Mitra; Serup, Jørgen; Poulsen, Thomas; Wulf, Hans Christian

doi:10.1111/phpp.12181

Cited by 31 publications

(36 citation statements)

References 29 publications

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“…This was recently supported in a study on black tattoos and photocarcinogenicity in mice, which even indicated that light absorption in black tattoo pigment may delay the deve lopment of sun-induced skin cancer [27] .…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 63%

Classification of Tattoo Complications in a Hospital Material of 493 Adverse Events

Serup¹,

Sepehri

Carlsen³

2016

Dermatology

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115

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Background/Aims: Tattooing is a global trend. Clinical knowledge of complications is based on case reports collected over a century. Larger cohorts reflecting complications associated with contemporary trends are lacking. Methods: The study was a retrospective review of a consecutive cohort of patients with tattoo complications diagnosed in the “Tattoo Clinic“ of Bispebjerg University Hospital in Copenhagen, Denmark, from 2008 to 2015, based on patient history and systematic clinical examination. Results: A total of 493 tattoo complications in 405 patients were studied. Overall, 184 (37%) presented allergic reactions with plaque elevation in 32.2%, excessive hyperkeratosis in 3.7%, and ulceration in 1.4%, predominantly observed in red tattoos and nuances of red; 66 (13%) presented papulo-nodular reactions, mainly observed in black tattoos (considered non-allergic) and due to pigment agglomeration; 53 (11%) had bacterial infections; 46 (9%) were psycho-social complications; 144 (30%) belonged to several specific diagnostic entities, including photosensitivity, pain syndrome, and lymphopathy. We found no cases of cutaneous or other malignancies. Sarcoidosis was primarily seen in black tattoos and was a common associated disease, found in 23 reactions (5%), compared to the background population. Conclusion: The study introduces a new concept of classification of tattoo complications based on simple tools such as patient history and objective findings supplemented with histology. The study reflects complications originating from presently used tattoo inks, often with organic pigments. The introduced classification has been submitted to the World Health Organisation (WHO) as a proposal to the 11th revision of the International Classification of Diseases.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 63%

Classification of Tattoo Complications in a Hospital Material of 493 Adverse Events

Serup¹,

Sepehri

Carlsen³

2016

Dermatology

Self Cite

115

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“…For further details, see the supplementary materials (for all online suppl. material, see www.karger.com/doi/10.1159/000468149) [13][14][15] .…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…By light and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) we aimed to clarify whether systemic distribution of the tattoo pigments to internal organs takes place. Using the same tattoo inks we have recently published results concerning photocarcinogenicity by recording skin tumours in mice [13,14] .…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

Tattoo Pigments Are Observed in the Kupffer Cells of the Liver Indicating Blood-Borne Distribution of Tattoo Ink

et al. 2017

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Aim: Tattoo pigments are deposited in the skin and known to distribute to regional lymph nodes. Tattoo pigments are small particles and may be hypothesized to reach the blood stream and become distributed to peripheral organs. This has not been studied in the past. The aim of the study was to trace tattoo pigments in internal organs in mice extensively tattooed with 2 different tattoo ink products. Material/Methods: Three groups of mice were studied, i.e., 10 tattooed black, 10 tattooed red, and 5 untreated controls. They were tattooed on the entire back with commercial tattoo inks, black and red. Mice were sacrificed after 1 year. Samples were isolated from tattooed skin, lymph nodes, liver, spleen, kidney, and lung. Samples were examined for deposits of tattoo pigments by light microscopy and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). Results: TEM identified intracellular tattoo pigments in the skin and in lymph nodes. TEM in both groups of tattooed mice showed tattoo pigment deposits in the Kupffer cells in the liver, which is a new observation. TEM detected no pigment in other internal organs. Light microscopy showed dense pigment in the skin and in lymph nodes but not in internal organs. Conclusion: The study demonstrated black and red tattoo pigment deposits in the liver; thus, tattoo pigment distributed from the tattooed skin via the blood stream to this important organ of detoxification. The finding adds a new dimension to tattoo pigment distribution in the body, i.e., as observed via the blood in addition to the lymphatic pathway.

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“…Carcinogens may, over time, develop in the skin as a result of local metabolism and certainly, under the influence of the sun's ultraviolet radiation (UVR). Photochemical decomposition was, in a number of studies, shown to be relevant in relation to tattoo pigments, which are selective absorbers of light depending on their colours [6][7][8][9] . Photochemical breakdown products can undergo absorption and expose internal organs to new carcinogens parallel to the skin [10].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Recently, our group studied the risk of skin cancer in mice after tattooing with the 2 commercial inks containing BaP and 2-anisidine, both inks banned from the Danish market in 2011 [9,13]. Studies included the combination of UVR and carcinogens.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Search for Internal Cancers in Mice Tattooed with Inks of High Contents of Potential Carcinogens: A One-Year Autopsy Study of Red and Black Tattoo Inks Banned in the Market

Sepehri

Lerche²,

Carlsen³

et al. 2017

Dermatology

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Background and Objective: Tattoo ink stock products often contain potential carcinogens, which on large-scale population exposure may be clinically relevant. The aim of this autopsy study in mice was to screen major organs for clinical and subclinical cancers. Methods: Mice were tattooed on their backs. In total, 48 mice were included and divided into 4 groups; 11 mice tattooed black, 10 tattooed red, and 5 mice serving as untreated controls. A group of 22 mice with black tattoos and exposed to ultraviolet radiation (UVR) were also studied. The black and red inks were both stock products banned on the Danish market due to the measured contents of potential carcinogens; benzo(a)pyrene and 2-anisidine, respectively. The mice were housed for 1 year after tattooing, and autopsy study on internal organs was performed. Tissue samples were systematically taken from major organs for screening of subclinical changes, not detected by visual examination. Any observed deviation from normal structure was subject to biopsy and light microscopy. Results: All mice survived the 1-year observation period. Autopsy revealed no macroscopic signs of cancer. Microscopic search of internal organs showed no subclinical or clinical cancer. Conclusion: Despite extensive tattoos with 2 banned inks, the long-term observation in mice showed no internal cancers nor was the combination of carcinogen and UVR associated with cancer. Lack of observed malignancy might be explained by the fact that tattooing is only a single dose exposure. Registered data on carcinogens relies on repeated or chronic exposures. The study does not support the hypothesis that tattooing causes cancer.

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Black tattoos protect against UVR‐induced skin cancer in mice

Cited by 31 publications

References 29 publications

Classification of Tattoo Complications in a Hospital Material of 493 Adverse Events

Classification of Tattoo Complications in a Hospital Material of 493 Adverse Events

Tattoo Pigments Are Observed in the Kupffer Cells of the Liver Indicating Blood-Borne Distribution of Tattoo Ink

Search for Internal Cancers in Mice Tattooed with Inks of High Contents of Potential Carcinogens: A One-Year Autopsy Study of Red and Black Tattoo Inks Banned in the Market

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