This is what you need to know before getting a tattoo

According to some sources, there are nearly 5,000 tattoo studios in Spain. What began as a somewhat underground trend has grown into a robust industry with a turnover of around €280 million annually. These figures are approximate because, as stated by the National Union of Professional Tattooists and Piercers of Spain (UNTAP), there are no official figures.

Every year, thousands of people get tattoos , a safe procedure if you go to a legal center and use approved ink. Despite this, dermatology specialists advise keeping some key tips in mind. The first of these is, of course, to avoid going to an uncertified studio that doesn't offer safety and hygiene guarantees.

Furthermore, dermatologist Donís Muñoz, a member of the Spanish Academy of Dermatology and Venereology (AEDV), emphasizes the importance of learning about the effects of different colors on the skin. He gives the following examples: "Red inks are the ones that cause the most intolerance problems , even many years after the tattoo is done; while black pigment is the safest."

Being careful with the sun and swimming in fresh or salt water is also key to proper tattoo care during the first few weeks. Julio Maset, a doctor at the pharmaceutical company Cinfa , points out the harmful impact of solar radiation on tattooed skin: "It's still a skin wound in the process of healing." Therefore, it's best to avoid exposing that area to the sun and, if absolutely necessary, use sunscreen specifically for tattooed areas.

In summer, intensify care

Summer is also the time for swimming in pools, beaches, rivers, and swamps, where microorganisms and other particles can be present and cause complications for tattooed skin that is still healing. Therefore, experts recommend avoiding swimming in these waters for the first month.

Red inks are the ones that cause the most intolerance problems; while black pigment is the safest.

Starting in the second month, it's recommended to thoroughly wash the tattooed skin with water and mild soap . Then, dry the area carefully with a clean towel to prevent microorganisms present in the water from causing a skin infection. Maset: "With some piercings, such as lip and navel piercings, which take 4 to 6 months to heal, you should follow the same process."

Does it increase the chances of skin cancer?

Some theories claim there could be a direct relationship between tattoos and skin cancer. Donís Muñoz affirms that, indeed, "many tumors, both benign and malignant, can develop on tattoos, and this generates many hypotheses. The inks used for tattoos contain substances with in vitro carcinogenic potential, such as polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons and aromatic amines."

However, he points out that "to date, a causal relationship between inks and tumors has not been established . To date, there is no scientific evidence linking tattoos with skin cancer, and therefore, their association is coincidental, not causal . However, if we focus on new synthetic colored inks, it cannot be safely ruled out, due to the prolonged latency of carcinogenesis."

What if I need to take a medical test?

Given this possibility, it is essential to report the existence of tattoos because there have been several cases of misdiagnoses in patients with tattoos. The reason, according to Muñoz, is that "these nuclear medicine techniques essentially use radiotracers that accumulate in areas with the greatest tumor activity and would indicate the lymphatic spread of the tumor."

"The presence of ink in regional lymph nodes can lead to false positives due to misinterpretation. This should be noted by both those who have tattoos and those who have had them removed in the past, since, despite laser tattoo removal, ink deposits persist for life and, if not seen, would go unnoticed by the radiologist," the dermatologist concludes.