J Natl Cancer Inst

Does tattooing increase the risk of melanoma?

September 23, 2025

Study details: This population-based case-control study in Utah included 1,167 melanoma cases (566 in situ, 601 invasive) and 5,835 frequency-matched controls. Investigators assessed the relationship between tattoo exposure (number of sessions, size, age at first tattoo) and melanoma risk using multivariable logistic regression model.

Results: Ever having a tattoo wasn’t strongly associated with melanoma risk. Notably, individuals with higher tattoo exposure—defined as ≥4 tattoo sessions (odds ratio [OR], 0.44; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.27–0.67) or ≥3 large tattoos (OR, 0.26; 95% CI, 0.10–0.54)—had a significantly decreased risk of melanoma compared with never-tattooed individuals. Early age at first tattoo (<20 years) was also associated with reduced invasive melanoma risk (OR, 0.48; 95% CI, 0.29–0.82).

Clinical impact: These findings don’t support a positive association between tattooing and melanoma risk, and in fact suggest a possible inverse relationship with greater tattoo exposure. However, unmeasured confounding (e.g., sun exposure behaviors) may contribute to these results and further research is warranted to clarify causality and underlying mechanisms.

Source:

McCarty RD, et al. (2025, August 21). J Natl Cancer Inst. Tattooing and risk of melanoma: a population-based case-control study in Utah. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/40839395/