About this episode
This episode explores the health implications of tattoos, including potential risks and benefits, through expert interviews.
Tons of us are inked — one in three American adults has a tattoo — but lately, we’ve been hearing that tattoos are actually bad for us. We’re told that they mess with our immune system and could even lead to cancer. Can that be true?! Plus, are there any upsides to having a tattoo? We talk to immunologist Dr. Santiago González, epidemiologist Dr. Christel Nielsen, and psychologist Prof. Viren Swami. Find our transcript here: https://tinyurl.com/ScienceVsTattoos (00:00) Tattoos Under Attack (02:03) Getting Under Our Skin (11:38) Do Tattoos Cause Cancer? (18:50) Should You Get Them Lasered Off? (20:53) The Benefits of Tattoos This episode was produced by Rose Rimler, with help from Blythe Terrell, Ekedi Fausther-Keeys, Meryl Horn, and Michelle Dang. Wendy Zukerman is our executive producer. We’re edited by Blythe Terrell. Fact checking by Diane Kelly. Mix and sound design by Bumi Hidaka and Bobby Lord. Music written by Bobby Lord, Bumi Hidaka, So Wylie, Emma Munger and Peter Leonard. Special thanks to all the experts we spoke with for this episode, including Dr. Signe Clemmensen, Prof. David Kriebel, Dr. John Swierk, Natacha Cingotti, Dr. Sandrine Henri, Prof. Chris Lynn, and…
People in this episode
Host: Wendy Zukerman
Guests: Dr. Santiago González, Dr. Christel Nielsen, Prof. Viren Swami
Topics covered
- tattoos
- health risks
- immune system
- cancer
- psychology
- benefits of tattoos
Keywords
- tattoos
- toxic
- immune system
- cancer
- health benefits
- epidemiology
- psychology
More episodes of Science Vs
- The Woman Who Felt No Fear · June 11, 2026 · 43 min
- Peptides: The Ultimate Body Hack? · June 4, 2026 · 38 min
- How Toxic Is the Air You Breathe? · May 28, 2026 · 41 min
- Ibogaine: A Miracle Psychedelic? · May 21, 2026 · 49 min
- Hantavirus: How Scary Is It?? · May 13, 2026 · 32 min
- Boredom: Is It Good For You? · April 30, 2026 · 33 min
Explore listener stats, chart rankings, contacts and more on the Science Vs podcast page.