When you decide to get a tattoo, the first thing that often comes to mind is how amazing and cool it’s going to look. Few people actually think about the possible side effects of getting a tattoo. Some don’t even check whether they’re allergic to the ink, which can later create major issues such as tattoo infections. But there is one question that a lot of people do ask: can tattoos really cause liver or kidney damage and disease, or is that just a myth?

In the following paragraphs, we’ll delve into some health concerns regarding tattoos and explore whether getting tattooed can indeed damage your precious kidneys and liver. So, let’s dive in!

Tattooing Explained

We all know what getting a tattoo means, but many of us don’t really understand the process. So, let’s start by simply explaining what a tattoo artist does to place the ink beneath your skin and make it stay there.

Tattoo artists inject colorants or ink into the skin using needles that are actuated by tattoo machines. The colorants or the ink are generally purchased from reliable online suppliers. Now, when the artist pushes the needle beneath the skin surface, the ink is placed in the dermis of the skin in the form of small particles. Some of that ink is absorbed by the surrounding tissue, while the rest enters the blood vessel system. That's why ink can be found in the lymph nodes next to the tattooed skin area.

Tattoo Colorants or Ink Explained

Tattoo colorants or ink are generally described as pigments or dyes. But, the chemical structure of the ink as a pigment is usually insoluble, which is important for the medium where the pigment is used and incorporated. The pigment is how tattoo artists create stable and persistent tattoos.

Now, there are two types of pigment: organic and inorganic.

In the past, the majority of tattoo artists used inorganic pigment, which generally contained heavy metals like chromium, mercury, or cadmium. As a result, the pigment wasn’t just black but achieved colors like red (mercury sulfide) or yellow (cadmium sulfide). The black ink was a mixture of carbon black and titanium dioxide. Organic pigment is mostly used nowadays. The chemical structure of organic colorants comprises organic pigments or polycyclic pigments. These pigments have proven better in terms of color payoff and vividness or vibrancy.

Tattoo Colorants and Health Concerns

Colorants or ink, especially the black ones, are usually produced using polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons or PAHs. Furthermore, the black ink is generally made from Carbon black, which is listed as possibly carcinogenic to humans according to the International Agency of Research in Cancer or IARC. These carcinogenic compounds are known to be exposed to humans through tobacco and polluted air, or by drinking and eating contaminated water and food.

However, the carcinogenic compounds can also enter the body through tattooing, especially if the tattoo artists use questionable, inorganic pigments or colorants.

Tattoo Colorants and Liver/Kidney Issues

As we mentioned earlier, tattoo colorants or ink do not simply stay in the tattooed area. A certain amount of ink rests in the tattooed area or the dermis and creates a persistent tattoo. However, the excess ink enters the bloodstream and travels around the body.

These transported ink particles have the potential of reaching other organs and locations in our body or can leave the body completely through the urinary system or defecation. That's where the liver and kidneys enter the story.

Because the excess ink needs to exit the body, it is most likely to go through the liver and the kidneys on its way out. The liver is responsible for getting rid of toxins like excess ink, but the chemical structure of the ink might cause some immunotoxic effects. The same applies to the kidneys. Exposure to heavy metals in bad ink, as well as toxins in colorants, can create a burden for the kidneys and the liver and contribute to cognitive issues like fatigue or brain fog.

However, in the majority of cases, the ink passes through the liver and the kidneys and exits the body.

But, a more serious issue is also at hand. What happens when the tattoo becomes infected due to external contamination of the tattooed skin (for example, your tattoo artist is working with a dirty needle). Well, in such cases, the infection can spread to the kidneys and cause serious kidney damage.

The Bottom Line

Before any major decision in life, it is essential to do your research and weigh the pros and cons. The same goes for tattoos. As fun as they seem to be, tattoos can cause some serious health issues in some people and specific cases. But, since there is no way of knowing how the tattoo or ink will react with your body, one needs to be prepared in advance.

It is important to emphasize that kidney and liver damage are not common, and they occur in specific cases. However, it is crucial to be aware of all the potential side and adverse effects of tattooing. You simply need to think before you ink and get informed as much as you can. People treated with dialysis or a kidney transplant would be more vulnerable to such infections; though there is no specific evidence stating that people with kidney disease should not get permanent tattoos.