Is it true that people have been getting sick from glow in the dark tattoos because of the phosphorus?

Answer 1

People used to get sick from glow-in-the-dark tattoos, but I don't think they do anymore. In the early days of photoreactive tattoo ink, the ingredient that made the tattoo glow was called EverGlow. It was never intended for use in tattoo ink--it is intended to be used as an ingredient in road paint!

What they do now, is to encapsulate a biologically-safe pigment in little microspheres of Teflon, which itself is biologically safe.

I don't go to enough discos to need a tattoo like that.

AnswerPeople can get sick from the chemicals used in the dye. You are injecting a foreign substance into your body. AnswerAny foreign substance injected into the body can cause a reaction. They "old-school" phospher-inks are not used anymore and we're never tested by the U.S.D.A. for human consumption, ie. tattooing.Currently, a new "safe" version of this ink is available, though I personally do not use it in any tattoos that I apply. AnswerI am unsure if you mean "Glow in the dark" or "blacklight reactive" tattoos. I have never even heard of a substance that can be safely put into the skin that contains a glowing element. Blacklight reactive is another matter. I have a blacklight reactive tattoo on my face and have had no side effects for over 6 years. I looked at the MSDS sheet for the B.R. ink and it contains nothing that would cause any ill side effects. Having said this be very careful about it due to the fact that not EVERYONE will use the same B.R. ink that was used on me.Former Tattoo Artist AnswerI too have a blacklight tattoo... have never had problems with it and I LOVE IT! AnswerI would think people can get sick because the chemical that makes an object glow-in-the-dark is actually RADIOACTIVE!