Overview
- Lund University scientists used a national case-control design, identifying 2,880 melanoma cases and 2,821 squamous cell carcinoma cases in Sweden with matched controls.
- Tattooed participants had higher odds of melanoma, while no increased risk was detected for squamous cell carcinoma across consistent analyses.
- The apparent excess risk looked greatest more than a decade after first getting tattooed, though subgroup numbers were small and the estimate is uncertain.
- Analyses found no evidence that larger tattoo size raised melanoma risk, with researchers noting ink particles can migrate to lymph nodes and may drive chronic inflammation.
- Public guidance emphasizes UV protection and regular skin checks, with some clinicians cautioning that certain inks contain compounds that can degrade under sunlight and calling for stronger regulation and better tattoo data in health records.