4 ms·

Safety is definitely the number 1 concern. I'm not sure how long trials will need to run before they can confirm there is no increased cancer risk. Also a con

by daveguy 11y ago

Safety is definitely the number 1 concern. I'm not sure how long trials will need to run before they can confirm there is no increased cancer risk. Also a concern. If it's gone in a year, what does it look like in 6 months? Are you going to look like you have a nasty blob-bruise for 6 months as the definition fades and the ink migrates?

jessriedel 11y ago
There is absolutely no way that they can take enough statistics to prove that there's no increased cancer risk. i don't think we even know whether regular tattoos increase cancer risks.
- refurb 11y ago
  We don't know a 100% whether current tattoo inks causes cancer, but we have a pretty good body of evidence to suggest they don't. Most tattoo inks are pretty old compounds whose toxicity has been tested (e.g. black ink is carbon black).
- TheSpiceIsLife 11y ago
  How common is cancer in Australia? In 2016, it is estimated that the risk of an individual being diagnosed with cancer by their 85th birthday will be 1 in 2 (1 in 2 males and 1 in 3 females).[1] According to at least one source[2] 14.5% of Australians have a tattoo. I'm going to go with tattoo ink not being a major cause of cancer. If it were you would expect to see more skin cancers local to the tattoo, or some other particular type of cancer more common among those with tattoos. I think we've got bigger problems than any potential cancer risk form tattoos. Bigger problems like alcohol, cigarettes, benzene in petrol, vehicle exhaust, combustion of coal for electricity, consumption of processed meats - these are all known carcinogens[3]. 1. https://canceraustralia.gov.au/affected-cancer/what-cancer/cancer-australia-statistics https://canceraustralia.gov.au/affected-cancer/what-cancer/c... 2. http://www.disappearink.com.au/post/tattoo-statistics-australia/ http://www.disappearink.com.au/post/tattoo-statistics-austra... 3. http://www.cancer.org/cancer/cancercauses/othercarcinogens/generalinformationaboutcarcinogens/known-and-probable-human-carcinogens http://www.cancer.org/cancer/cancercauses/othercarcinogens/g...
merqurio 11y ago
I guess that as long that it just loses color intensity it's not a problem. If it blurs... then well, It's better than nothing and entry barrier less for lot of people.
zbjornson 11y ago
Tattoo inks are not regulated by the FDA, so on a regulatory level this isn't a problem, but consumers may be concerned obviously.
- PeCaN 11y ago
  On the other hand, if they do start giving people cancer or something the FDA probably would step in. The reason they don't currently is (presumably) just lack of evidence that there's a problem. It's probably worth keeping future regulation in mind for them, lest they accidentally get themselves regulated out of business.
alva 11y ago
> Also a concern. If it's gone in a year, what does it look like in 6 months? Once the nature of the decay is worked out I could see an awesome opportunity for tattooists to artistically incorporate it for evolving designs.
- deleted 11y ago
  [deleted]

by daveguy 11y ago

jessriedel 11y ago

There is absolutely no way that they can take enough statistics to prove that there's no increased cancer risk. i don't think we even know whether regular tattoos increase cancer risks.

refurb 11y ago
We don't know a 100% whether current tattoo inks causes cancer, but we have a pretty good body of evidence to suggest they don't. Most tattoo inks are pretty old compounds whose toxicity has been tested (e.g. black ink is carbon black).
TheSpiceIsLife 11y ago
How common is cancer in Australia? In 2016, it is estimated that the risk of an individual being diagnosed with cancer by their 85th birthday will be 1 in 2 (1 in 2 males and 1 in 3 females).[1] According to at least one source[2] 14.5% of Australians have a tattoo. I'm going to go with tattoo ink not being a major cause of cancer. If it were you would expect to see more skin cancers local to the tattoo, or some other particular type of cancer more common among those with tattoos. I think we've got bigger problems than any potential cancer risk form tattoos. Bigger problems like alcohol, cigarettes, benzene in petrol, vehicle exhaust, combustion of coal for electricity, consumption of processed meats - these are all known carcinogens[3]. 1. https://canceraustralia.gov.au/affected-cancer/what-cancer/cancer-australia-statistics https://canceraustralia.gov.au/affected-cancer/what-cancer/c... 2. http://www.disappearink.com.au/post/tattoo-statistics-australia/ http://www.disappearink.com.au/post/tattoo-statistics-austra... 3. http://www.cancer.org/cancer/cancercauses/othercarcinogens/generalinformationaboutcarcinogens/known-and-probable-human-carcinogens http://www.cancer.org/cancer/cancercauses/othercarcinogens/g...

merqurio 11y ago

I guess that as long that it just loses color intensity it's not a problem. If it blurs... then well, It's better than nothing and entry barrier less for lot of people.

zbjornson 11y ago

Tattoo inks are not regulated by the FDA, so on a regulatory level this isn't a problem, but consumers may be concerned obviously.

PeCaN 11y ago
On the other hand, if they do start giving people cancer or something the FDA probably would step in. The reason they don't currently is (presumably) just lack of evidence that there's a problem. It's probably worth keeping future regulation in mind for them, lest they accidentally get themselves regulated out of business.

alva 11y ago

> Also a concern. If it's gone in a year, what does it look like in 6 months? Once the nature of the decay is worked out I could see an awesome opportunity for tattooists to artistically incorporate it for evolving designs.

deleted 11y ago
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