Tag Archive for: skin cancer

The Bottom Line on Tattoos and Skin Cancer

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Based on the research to date, there doesn’t appear to be a significant risk of tattoos causing skin cancer. I’ve explained this before in a memo several years ago, but here’s the gist of it: I’m sticking this issue under the heading “Reserve Judgment.” When there’s no statistical significance but there may be a relationship between variables, that’s the statistical term that’s appropriate. I know you’re thinking, “Dr. Chet—50 cases. Ever! C’mon, man. What’s your problem?” There are three reasons I’m reserving judgment.

First, while tattoo businesses have . . .

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Tattoos and Skin Cancer Research

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The research question of the week is do people with tattoos have an increased risk of skin cancer? Let me tell you what I found.

In a study published in Lancet Oncology, researchers examined the medical literature for case studies on tattoos and skin cancers of various types (1). They found 50 cases; 16 of them were melanoma. That doesn’t seem to be an overwhelming number of skin cancer cases when you consider the 60 million or so people who have tattoos. The researchers concluded that at this point, the number of cases of skin cancer is more likely . . .

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Do Tattoos Increase Skin Cancer Risk?

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The other day, out of the blue, Paula asked me a question: “Do you think people with tattoos have more undetected skin cancer?” You can’t help but notice that more and more people of all ages are getting elaborate tattoos, some covering extensive parts of their arms and legs—the areas most likely to get increased exposure to the sun. A section of black ink could mask a rapidly growing black mole, for instance, and skin cancer could go unnoticed for longer.

Move forward 10 hours. I was changing to work out at the gym, and the guy a . . .

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Skin Care: A Written Invitation

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Story time: My father-in-law was in the Army Air Corp in WWII. On the way to Italy to begin his deployment in the B-24 Liberator “Miss Maggie,” the crew stopped for a week in Belem, Brazil. It was summer and he and the other soldiers went swimming in the scorching sun. They spent all day at the beach, learning to body surf and having a great time. He and others were burned so badly, a few required hospitalization.

Move forward 40 years. That single exposure resulted in multiple episodes of skin cancer for Dad. Even at 92 . . .

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