New research is looking at the possible risk of exposure to cancer-causing chemicals in the body following tattoo removal.
As tattoos become increasingly popular – nearly half of all Australians have a tattoo – so too does ‘tattoo regret’ with many people turning to laser treatments to remove their ink.
Research has found that laser tattoo removal may lead to exposure of cancer-causing toxins and has been linked to chemicals known to damage DNA and even impact fertility.
Now, researchers at Flinders University in South Australia are hoping to assess these risks to determine just how dangerous tattoo removal could be.
Project lead and Flinders University PhD candidate Benjamin Boyle presented the preliminary study at the 17th World Congress of Environmental Health in Perth earlier this year.
He said involving human volunteers will help determine any health risks related to laser tattoo removal.
“We need to find out more about the safety of laser tattoo removal, particularly on the kidneys and other organs which filter blood,” he said.
“Do they filter through the body or get trapped in the body?”
Researchers are calling for 50 people to take part in urine testing before and after laser treatment.
They plan to test urine samples collected from volunteers having tattoos laser removed to see if these chemicals are released into the body during the tattoo removal process.
Professor Claire Lenehan, College of Science and Engineering Dean of Research, says said their research had shown that carcinogenic compounds could be released during laser tattoo removal procedures.
“Just as prolonged exposure to sunlight can cause paints to degrade, so can laser removal of tattoos cause pigment molecules to break apart into smaller, potentially toxic compounds,” she said.
“We have identified chemicals that are known to damage DNA, affect fertility and even cause cancer.”
Mr Boyle said the laser tattoo removal industry in largely unregulated in South Australia.
In WA, a medical practitioner is required to be involved with setting up the protocols and procedures for cosmetic laser treatments and, in the case of tattoo removal, be available to provide medical support to the person having the procedure.
Non-medical practitioners may be able to use lasers for cosmetic procedures if they have an exemption from licence from the Radiological Council.
For tattoo removal this includes:
- Attending a laser safety course recognised by the council
- Attending a tattoo removal course
- Undertaking a minimum of 100 hours practical training under supervision of someone with a WA license to use a class 3B or 4 laser with at least 50 of those hours in tattoo removal procedures.
Researchers hope their work will help to inform public health advice, policy and regulations on laser tattoo removal around the world.