What Health Professionals Says About The Effect of Tattoos for Health

TIMESINDONESIA, JAKARTA – Tattoo, the art of inserting ink into the skin and creating images or words as a form of self-expression has become a lifestyle nowadays. In addition, in some cultures tattoos have deep meanings such as symbols of social status or respect for tradition, such as Māori tattoos.

Interestingly, tattoos date back thousands of years, found on mummies from 3,000 SM and artwork dating back to 4,900 SM. But what happens inside the body when we tattoo the skin?

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Dr. Maxim Darvin from Charité Hospital Universitätsmedizin Berlin said on their official YouTube channel that when ink is injected into the skin into the dermis layer, the body perceives it as a foreign object. The immune system responds immediately.

"White blood cells called macrophages swallow the ink and try to destroy it so that it can be excreted through the lymphatic system," he said.

However, the ink particles are too large to fully break down. As a result, the ink remains trapped in the macrophages, and that's what makes the tattoo clearly visible on the skin.

He also said that macrophages do not live forever. When they die, the ink is released back into the dermis. However, it is immediately reabsorbed by new macrophages that come in their place.

"This process keeps repeating itself, so the tattoo stays put despite the body's cells constantly regenerating. But over time, some of the small ink particles may disappear making the tattoo slowly fade," he added.

In addition, removing a tattoo is not easy as the body is constantly renewing macrophages. Usually, lasers are used to break down the ink particles into smaller ones, so that the body can get rid of them naturally.

This process requires multiple treatments and is costly. Further research is expected to find ways to speed up the tattoo removal process, for example by preventing new macrophages from coming to the targeted area.

But there are important questions regarding the safety of tattoos, especially for people with immune disorders. Some reports mention swelling and pain after getting a tattoo, but it is unclear whether this is actually caused by the tattoo or other factors. A body that is weak against infection could be overwhelmed by a new burden like a tattoo. 

Interestingly, tattoos can also provide unexpected health benefits. Studies show that the process of getting a tattoo strengthens the immune response, not just at the tattoo site but throughout the body.

"After getting repeated tattoos, cortisol levels of the stress hormone are known to decrease. This decrease in cortisol can reduce the risk of health problems such as high blood pressure, diabetes, and anxiety," the guy explained.

Although tattoos appear to be just art on the surface of the skin, the process actually involves various body systems including the immune, lymphatic and endocrine systems. So, before getting a tattoo or removing one, it is important to understand how the body responds and maintains a healthy balance. (*)

Pewarta: Florence Danella Ni'matussa'adah

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