• Question: Is our skin affected by tattoos?

    Asked by Pepe 15 to Ben, Lizzie, Francis, Max, Sian on 13 Mar 2018.
    • Photo: Ben Mulhearn

      Ben Mulhearn answered on 13 Mar 2018:

      Well it’s a really good question, in fact how do tattoos stay around forever!? There are certain cells that live in the skin called macrophages (“big-eaters”). They eat up the colour in tattoos, and the live in the skin long-term, this is why our tattoos are permanent.

    • Photo: Francis Man

      Francis Man answered on 13 Mar 2018:

      Actually there is a recent study saying that the ink from the tattoos gets released when the macrophages die, but then it gets eaten again by the new macrophages.

      Some molecules in tattoo inks can activate the immune system and cause inflammation. It’s not really surprising because you are injecting a foreign substance into the body, and it’s the immune system’s job to get rid of it…

    • Photo: Lizzie Wright

      Lizzie Wright answered on 13 Mar 2018:

      Yes, the study Francis mentions is very interesting and there were some really cool pictures of the macrophages with tattoo ink inside of them! This mechanism explains why tattoos get less defined over time.

      https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2018/03/180306101708.htm

Comments