Tattoo : the Academy of medicine wants to ink more secure

bogdan.hoda/epictura

Published the 03.10.2017 at 08: 00

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One in ten French has chosen to decorate their skin with ink. The tattoo is popular, especially among young people. The national Academy of medicine is aware of this. And she is worried for his fellow citizens. In a recent opinion, it calls for a better regulation of tattoo products.

The first finding of the Academicians focused on regulations in force. It is the taste of these experts, too low. In fact, it regulates activities of tattoo artists and their tools. The professionals must use single use equipment and comply with the rules of hygiene specific.

But the Academy of medicine wants to go further. It requires the establishment of a ” book intervention “, where each act of tattooing will be notified as well as the components used. Similarly, an epidemiological monitoring is needed, according to experts, in order to monitor the possible adverse effects of an ink or a substance.

A strengthened follow-up

All of these proposals require enhanced monitoring of regulations in place, and a regular control of the establishments. That is, at the present time, is insufficient. The Academy also reminds us of the requests issued as of 2008. The use of the inks should be more regulated, and the safety of authorised substances demonstrated in a clear manner.

The inks, they are governed by the Code of public health. But pretty fuzzy. Certain substances are prohibited. When this is not the case, “their use is conditional on the completion of a safety study,” says the website of the ministry of Health.

A notice that does not share the Academy of medicine. The organic dyes, for example, cannot justify any study ensuring their safety. The observation is all the more worrying that these products were intended primarily for external use… “the composition of The colored inks is rarely specified,” says the notice.

Mutations in at-risk

The criticism of the Academicians are not limited to these substances. They also see an eye réprobateur black inks, which is loaded with polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHS) ; they are considered to be carcinogenic likely by the international agency for research on cancer (IARC).

And “the role of the inks is essential,” says the notice of the Academy of medicine. They persist in the long-term under the skin and move in, sometimes with a risk of toxicity. Under the effect of UV rays or lasers to dice-tattoo, mutations can occur. Similarly, the presence of PAHS was detected in the lymph nodes near the area of the tattoo.

At the present time, the complications after an act of tattooing are common. In Germany, two-thirds of the people suffer from traumatic after-effects, delays, of cicatrisations and other local lesions. Approximately 6 % of these ailments are chronic.