Piercing and Tattoo Leprosy Link

People who get tattooed and body pierced could be at risk of developing skin cancer or even developing leprosy according to a shocking report published this week by the European Commission.

The report claimed almost half of all body piercings 'lead to acute infections requiring medical treatment' and warned; "Few, if any, inks used by tattooists have ever been tested by humans'"(The Guardian), adding "would you inject car paint into your skin-"

Even more frighteningly, the Commission spoke of growing evidence linking unhygienic tattoo and piercing parlours with horrific diseases, claiming 'their (unhygienic) practices can bring about viral infections such as hepatitis, HIV, bacterial and fungal infections, and malignant lesions such as melanoma (skin cancer), leprosy and other devastating diseases."

In more tattoo news South Korean authorities have reportedly started cracking down on young men getting large tattoos to try and avoid the country's military draft. According to a report in the Telegraph, military laws prevent men with 'excessively large' tattoos from serving in the armed forces, on the grounds that other soldiers view them as 'abominable'.

"Tattooing is traditionally regarded as offensive in Confucian societies, as lacking respect for the natural state of the body," said the Telegraph.

"Branding with tattoos was a common punishment for criminals across East Asia."
Tags