Overview

• People with two or more tattoo sessions had a lower observed risk of melanoma, with risk decreasing as the number or size of tattoos increased.
• Those with four or more sessions showed a 56% lower melanoma risk, and people with three or more large tattoos had a 74% lower risk.
• A single tattoo was associated with higher melanoma risk, rising about 53% compared with no tattoos, with the increase noted especially for in situ disease.
• Getting a first tattoo before age 20 correlated with a 26% lower risk of melanoma and a 52% lower risk of invasive melanoma.
• The case–control analysis compared 1,167 melanoma cases in Utah (Jan 2020–June 2021) with more than 5,800 controls, and researchers proposed behavioral, physical, or immune explanations while urging continued sun protection.