Many athletes have tattoos on their bodies, especially among footballers. An American study shows that tattoos disrupt the skin’s sweat system. And would cause energy deficiencies and dehydration.
Thanks to a new study, published this week, we now know why the tattoo is permanent. While it was believed that the cell that contained the pigment lived forever, in reality the ink would pass from one cell to another.
The opportunity therefore to recall another fact about tattooing: it would not be good for the health of athletes.
The disrupted sweat system
L’study, American, was published last summer. But the magazine Les Inrocks spotted her recently. Here is what she explains. Tattooed skin excretes 50% less sweat than non-tattooed skin because the ink is deposited in the deep layers of the skin, around the “sweat glands”. These allow the sweating process.
Thus, the sweat of a tattooed person would not have the same composition. Indeed, there would be more salt (sodium) in the sweat of tattooed skin. However, sodium in perspiration is normally reabsorbed through the skin. Tattoos block this process.
Why is it risky?
Thus, having a lot of tattoos can have health risks. First, sweating is essential for the regulation of our body. It allows toxins to be evacuated. Tattoos also lead to energy deficiencies.
Advice given by researchers at Alma College, a university in Michigan (United States): drink plenty of water before exercise for large athletes with tattoos.
It should also be noted that these health risks also concern soldiers, often heavily tattooed and with intensive physical activity.
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