The new EU rules on tattoos limit the use or concentrations of substances classified as dangerous in inks, such as those considered carcinogenic, mutagenic and toxic
Anniversaries, drawings, portraits and even song lyrics. It is customary to have moments of life imprinted on the skin one in ten Italians: 14% women, 12% men, with an average age between 35 and 44 years. But from January 4th, tattoos are allowed only in black and white and no colors that can hide potentially harmful chemicals in the inks.
“The new European legislation sheds light on what can be defined as a real tattoo jungle, ”he explains Gabriella Fabbrocini, Director of the Complex Operative Unit of Clinical Dermatology of the “Federico II” University Hospital, as well as Advisor to the Italian Society of Medical, Surgical and Aesthetic Dermatology.
“Under this regulatory measure, intentional use or concentrations of substances classified as dangerous in inks, such as those considered carcinogenic, mutagenic and toxic for reproduction, corrosive and irritating to the skin, irritating and harmful to the eyes, prohibited in cosmetic products.
Furthermore, it provides that only those who are in possession of the tattoo are authorized to carry out this practice the certificate of attendance of a specific regional training course and that they operate in compliance with the health and hygiene requirements established by the guidelines of the Ministry of Health “.
Per curb illegal activity and the use of non-compliant products, among the novelties of the European directive, there is also the obligation for the tattoo artist to deliver to the customer a certification that must report precise information on the traceability of the inks and the quantities of substances used to make the tattoo. Especially if the customer intends after a short time a donate blood without any risk.
If a person decides to get a tattoo, the dermatologist advises, better if it is small, made with biological colors and by professional and expert hands, but especially in areas where there are no snow lesions to be inspected because the tattoo, which in any case is invasive as it pierces the skin, in that case it could become an obstacle to the control of moles and an inducer of inflammatory changes up to causing granulomas from foreign bodies.
According to the rules, it will therefore be forbidden throughout the EU to use pigments related to the production of different ones shades of red, orange and yellow that can be reproduced with natural substances (not green 7 and blue 15 for which there are no alternatives) and therefore more at risk and introduced maximum concentration limits in colors for some substances such as azo dyes and carcinogenic aromatic amines, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (Ipa), metals and methanol.
In other words, many inks will become non-compliant and therefore legally unusable according to EU regulations. Then, starting from January 2023, other blue and green pigments will also be banned. However, there is no need to create alarmism, says the dermatologist.
“Those who have had a tattoo for a long time and have not had reactions, probably means that they have an organism that is able to metabolize foreign substances without problems and therefore there are no conditions for them to be stressed. It must then be taken into account that each pigment is in any case a foreign substance to the skin; therefore, potentially even black could give adverse reactions, albeit in rarer cases. Knowing yourself and listening to your skin is therefore a good idea and for allergy sufferers it is better to avoid tattoos. Not only that, since this is an art, I believe relying on competent people and serious professionals is the best way “.