Staying Healthy

Tattoos may raise lymphoma risks

Research we're watching

By , Executive Editor, Harvard Women's Health Watch
  • Reviewed by Toni Golen, MD, Editor in Chief, Harvard Women's Health Watch; Editorial Advisory Board Member, Harvard Health Publishing; Contributor

photo of a woman's forearm showing a tattoo on the inner side

Having a tattoo may increase your risk of developing lymphoma, a type of white blood cell cancer, a new analysis suggests.

The study, published in the June 2024 issue of eClinical Medicine, analyzed the nearly 12,000 cases of lymphoma among Swedish adults ages 20 to 60 that were diagnosed between 2007 and 2017. Using questionnaires, researchers determined which participants had one or more tattoos. After adjusting for other risk factors, the researchers found that tattooed participants had a 21% higher risk of lymphoma than their non-tattooed peers. But size didn't seem to matter: no evidence was found that lymphoma risk increased among individuals with larger areas of tattooed skin.

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About the Author

photo of Maureen Salamon

Maureen Salamon, Executive Editor, Harvard Women's Health Watch

Maureen Salamon is executive editor of Harvard Women’s Health Watch. She began her career as a newspaper reporter and later covered health and medicine for a wide variety of websites, magazines, and hospitals. Her work has … See Full Bio
View all posts by Maureen Salamon

About the Reviewer

photo of Toni Golen, MD

Toni Golen, MD, Editor in Chief, Harvard Women's Health Watch; Editorial Advisory Board Member, Harvard Health Publishing; Contributor

Dr. Toni Golen is a physician specializing in obstetrics and gynecology, practicing in Boston. Dr. Golen completed her residency training at George Washington University Medical Center in 1995, and is an associate professor at Harvard Medical … See Full Bio
View all posts by Toni Golen, MD

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