Many people assume that tattoos are bad for your body,
injecting a foreign object into your body and attempting to make it
permanent. People are scared of the
cleanliness of the needles, what rashes, and infections they may get from the
tattoo itself. Actually, in some cases
this assumption is correct. A small
percentage of people do get allergic reactions or skin injections after they
get a tattoo. However, a study was done
on people who had gotten tattoos.
In the
study, they took saliva samples before their tattoo and afterwards. This study showed that directly after getting
their first tattoo, people’s immune system lowers temporarily. The immune system uses up antibodies fighting
possible infection at that tattoo site. Through
the saliva samples, the researchers tested the levels of immunoglobulin A. They found that the levels dropped
significantly after getting their first time.
In people who got tattoos more often, this lose in immunoglobulin A was
much less. The immune system works so
hard to try to fight off the foreign substance being put into your body, that
it’s focused on that and only that which can cause you to feel tired,
exhausted, and it’s easier to get sick.
However,
the more tattoos you get, the stronger your immune system will become. Picture getting more tattoos like training
for a marathon. At first you feel really
out of shape, but after weeks of training you’re stronger than you’ve ever been
and know you can run a marathon. This is
because after the tattoo, your body returns to normal. Moreover, if you continue to get more
tattoos, your body will feel that stress but won’t return to that same set
point. Instead, the body will adjust
that set stress point to a higher level which makes your immune system
stronger.
So, if
you have a relative or a friend who constantly disproves tattoos make sure you
tell them that tattoos are beneficial as well.
You can show them the studies that these scientists have done to prove
that many tattoos benefit the human body and the immune system itself.
This is a beautiful topic. I am fascinated about tattoos and it's on my bucket list. Getting a tattoo is similar to recovering from a cold or flu then. Your immune system is stronger and able to recover from the same sickness faster. It's very interesting that people with more tattoos have a stronger immune system. This is a very solid argument for convincing my parents! ☺︎
ReplyDeleteAs someone who wants to get a tattoo this could help persuade my mom into letting me get one. This seems kind of ironic that something that people view as harmful can have beneficial effects on my health. This was a very interesting topic to read about.
ReplyDeleteI have never heard anything about these findings but I'm glad you brought them to my attention! Although far fetched, I wonder if there are any medical treatment aspects that tattoos (or something similar in theory) could be used for int he future?
ReplyDeleteThis was a super interesting topic to read about! I never thought that getting a tattoo could actually make your immune system stronger. I really liked how you compared it to training for a marathon, in the sense that in the long run, your body gets stronger. This topic also reminded me about Dr. Kottyan's talk on immunology, and how giving severely allergic children increasingly small doses of whatever they're allergic to can strengthen their immune system.
ReplyDeleteThis is so cool! I really want to get a tattoo at some point in my life, just because I like the way they look. One of my main concerns regarding the process, however, surrounded how the tattoo can become infected soon after application. The idea that it could actually have long term benefits instead is incredibly promising.
ReplyDeleteThis was a very interesting post, although it does not make me want to get a tattoo any more than what I already did. I am sure there are other methods of strengthening the immune system. But maybe this research will help change the negative connotation that tattoos have developed.
ReplyDeleteIts like the song and the saying, "if it doesn't kill you it makes you stronger." As long as you go to a reputable parlor and do not contract a fulminate MRSA infection, hepatitis C, or HIV, it is interesting that it can help your immune response. I wonder if just accidentally cutting yourself would have the same effect
ReplyDelete