July 19, 2024 -- Commercial tattoo and permanent makeup inks are too often contaminated with microbes that can lead to infection, warn investigators of a first-of-its-kind study testing the products.
When U.S. researchers tested 75 unopened and sealed tattoo and permanent makeup inks from 14 different manufacturers, they discovered that about 35% of the products were contaminated with bacteria.
They detected both aerobic bacteria, which require oxygen, and anaerobic bacteria, which thrive in low-oxygen environments like the dermal layer of the skin.
"This suggests that contaminated tattoo inks could be a source of infection from both types of bacteria," Seong-Jae Peter Kim, PhD, a microbiologist with the FDA’s National Center for Toxicological Research, said in a news release.
The findings "are concerning," said Waleed Javaid, MD, professor of medicine and director of infection prevention and control for the Mount Sinai Health System in New York City. "This contamination poses a significant health risk, as these inks are injected into the dermal layer of the skin, creating an environment conducive to bacterial infections," said Javaid, who wasn't involved in the study, which was published online in the journal Applied and Environmental Microbiology.
Infections from contaminated tools or ink for tattoos can lead to major diseases, such as HIV, hepatitis, and skin infections caused by Staphylococcus aureus ("staph") and other bacteria, according to the FDA.
New Body Art Culture
Tattoos are more popular than ever, and it is estimated that at least 32% of people in the United States have at least one tattoo. And the rise in popularity has coincided with an increase in ink-related infections.
This new research joins previous studies that have shown that commercial tattoo and permanent makeup inks are often contaminated with pathogenic microorganisms.
Of the 75 ink samples that Kim and colleagues tested, 26 were contaminated with 34 different types of bacteria. Of those, 19 were identified as capable of producing disease. Some of the vials were labeled as being sterile.
"The presence of bacteria like Cutibacterium acnes and Staphylococcus epidermidis, which can cause skin infections and other complications, underscores the potential danger to individuals receiving tattoos or permanent makeup," Javaid said.
The results "emphasize the importance of monitoring these products for both aerobic and anaerobic bacteria, including possibly pathogenic microorganisms," Kim said in the news release.