WORLD (Enmaeya News) - December 13, 2025
A new Swedish study has raised concerns about a potential link between tattoos and melanoma, suggesting that tattooed individuals may face a higher risk of developing the most dangerous form of skin cancer.
The research, conducted by epidemiologists using national health registers, found that people with tattoos had a 29% higher likelihood of developing melanoma compared to those without tattoos.
The study, however, found no association between tattoos and squamous cell carcinoma, another cancer type related to ultraviolet (UV) exposure.
Researchers analyzed data from the National Cancer Register, identifying 2,880 melanoma cases between ages 20 and 60 in 2017, and 2,821 squamous cell carcinoma cases diagnosed between 2014 and 2017. Each case was compared with three individuals of the same age and sex who had no history of skin cancer.
Participants completed questionnaires detailing tattoo history, including size, location, and age at first tattoo, alongside factors such as sun exposure, tanning bed use, smoking, income, education, and skin type.
A total of 5,695 people took part in the melanoma arm of the study and 6,151 in the squamous cell carcinoma segment.
According to researchers, the increased melanoma risk appeared more pronounced among individuals who had tattoos for more than ten years, though they cautioned that smaller numbers in this subgroup require careful interpretation.
The study did not find evidence that larger tattoos increased risk, despite containing more ink.
One hypothesis suggests that ink particles, which can migrate to lymph nodes, may contribute to chronic inflammation, a factor long linked to cancer development.
However, the study emphasizes that its findings do not prove causation, and more research is needed to understand the biological mechanisms involved.
Scientists say the results highlight the need for improved long-term monitoring of tattooed individuals and for health systems to begin documenting tattoo status more systematically.
