The tattoo consists of perforating the epidermis using fine needles to introduce pigments into the skin that create a pattern. While this is an increasingly widespread act, it is not completely trivial.
A new study, published in the Journal of Applied Physiology, suggests that the number of punctures required to penetrate the tattoo ink into the dermal layer of the skin would damage the sweat glands, preventing the skin from perspiring properly. They point out that a decrease in sweating could affect our body’s heat regulation, especially when much of the body’s surface is covered with tattoos, the researchers said.
A risk of anhidrosis
This side effect could therefore have long-term effects on health by causing a form of anhidrosis, a pathology characterized by insufficient sweat production and which can lead to heat stroke.
This is not the first time that the dangers of tattoos have been raised. The National Union of Dermatologists-Venereologists regularly points out their various risks. The pigments contained in the inks can, for example, cause skin conditions such as eczema or skin allergies. They can also worsen skin lesions in people with skin lesions such as psoriasis.
A lalso read:
- Tattoo: inks move around the body
- Tattooing: 1 in 10 people suffer from skin reactions
- Everything you need to know before getting a tattoo
