In recent years, tattoos have become increasingly popular. According to a study published in the European Journal of Public Health, approximately 13–21% of people in Western Europe now have at least one tattoo.

Despite their widespread use, surprisingly little is known about the possible long-term health effects.

A 2025 study conducted at the University of Southern Denmark (SDU) found that people with tattoos may face an increased risk of developing skin cancer and lymphoma.

Using a cohort of randomly selected twin pairs, researchers compared individuals diagnosed with cancer to their twins who had not developed the disease, Euronews reports. According to the study, published in BMC Public Health, twins with tattoos had nearly a fourfold higher risk of skin cancer.

The authors also noted that tattoo size may play a role: designs larger than a palm could potentially further increase the risk.

“We have data suggesting a link [between the amount of ink and risk] for both lymphoma and skin cancer,” Signe Bedsted Clemmensen, associate professor of biostatistics at SDU and co-author of the study, told Euronews Health.

“For lymphoma, the risk estimate is 2.7 times higher — which is quite significant. For skin cancer, it was previously 1.6 and has now risen to 2.4. This suggests that the more ink a person has in their skin, the higher the risk indicator,” she added.

However, it is important to remember that these are only preliminary findings, and their interpretation is limited due to the large number of confounding factors. A more accurate analysis would need to consider ink types, tattoo location, cancer subtypes, as well as genetic and environmental influences.

“The main conclusion is that more research is needed,” Clemmensen emphasized, noting that future studies will require larger cohorts and longer follow-up periods.

“In my view, the next step is to study the biological mechanisms [of tattooing] and understand what exactly happens in the body.”

There is currently no conclusive evidence that tattoos cause cancer, but other risks should still be taken into account.

In particular, proper equipment sterilization is essential to prevent infections, and the safety of tattoo inks also remains an important concern.

All tattoo inks consist of a pigment, which provides color, and a carrier — a liquid that helps deliver the pigment into the dermis, the middle layer of the skin.

Since most tattoo inks are imported from different countries, tracing their exact composition can be difficult, and harmful substances are sometimes detected in them.