Can laser tattoo removal cause cancer later in life?

Question

Hi. I would like to get a tattoo removed but I'm concerned about cancer. I've heard that the ink gets metabolized by the body. I've heard that the ink gets absorbed into the body. Either way, it sounds like this could potentially cause cancer. Does anyone have an opinion on this? Thank you!

Monika Soni, MD · Answer

There is no evidence that laser tattoo removal causes cancer. Tattoo ink is being chipped by our immune system recognizes it as foreign body and tries to get rid of it constantly. That’s why tattoos are getting lighter over time. Laser tattoo removal speeds up this process and breaks apart tattoo ink so our immune system can get rid of it faster.

Kristin J. Tarbet, MD, FACS · Answer

I haven't seen any evidence that tattoo removal with laser causes cancer. I would not be concerned at all.

Hardik Soni, MD · Answer

There is no evidence that laser tattoo removal causes cancer. Tattoo ink is being chipped by our immune system constantly since it recognizes it as foreign body and tries to get rid of it. That’s why tattoos are getting lighter over time. Laser tattoo removal speeds up this process and breaks apart tattoo ink so our immune system can get rid of it faster. Hope this helps!

Glenn Messina, MD · Answer

Under normal conditions your body is constantly but slowly picking at your tattoo. Thats why an old tattoo never loos as sharp as a fresh one. UV light also harm the ink. Laser removal basically is speeding up the process and the ink is taken to your lymhnodes and later removed from the body, just as it does naturally. There is no evidence that laser removal causes cancer.
My concerns for my patients is skin cancers being concealed by the ink. That is why i closely examine every tattoo for any hidden irregularities in the inked skin.

Can laser tattoo removal cause cancer later in life?

Answers (4)