Does getting a tattoo or having one cause cancer? If so, does removing the tattoo reduce your risk of cancer?

Question

hi Doctors i hate my tattoo and was planning on getting lazer removal i read on the internet that tattos can cause cancer now im even more anxious to get rid of it is that true ? And with lazer is all the ink removed or some ink stays in my body for ever ? i really need answers im very anxious do tattoos really cause cancer ?

Wayne Wertheim, MD · Answer

to the best of my knowledge there has been no respected report or study showing that the act of tattooing can cause a cancer. There have been some thoughts that contaminants, chemicals, toxins in some unregulated inks (mostly out of the US) may have the potential to cause a cancer just as they would through any other means. You can research more about inks on the internet and going to a well respected shop probably assures a better quality of ink.
The same is true for laser therapy. Used correctly by a well trained experienced technician laser should not carry a risk of potential stimulation of a cancer. It is hard to say if at the end of your treatment there is any ink left. It would be hard to think that 100% of the ink will be removed but again it should not pose a problem.
Good luck.

Does getting a tattoo or having one cause cancer? If so, does removing the tattoo reduce your risk of cancer?

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