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Everything to know about UV and black light tattoosMedically reviewed by Debra Sullivan, Ph.D., MSN, R.N., CNE, COI — By Beth Sissons on May 29, 2022UV tattoos use a fluorescent dye, which means the tattoo only appears under UV light. There is little evidence on whether UV tattoos are safe for human skin. UV tattoos, also known as black light tattoos, are invisible under regular lighting and only appear under UV light due to the fluorescent compounds within the ink.
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Oliver Taylor 3 minutes ago
There is no regulation over UV tattoos, so there may be some potential health risks, depending on th...
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Oliver Taylor 2 minutes ago
What are UV tattoos
Share on PinterestSa Nnth Cng Kir Cakr/EyeEm/Getty ImagesUltraviolet (UV), blac...
There is no regulation over UV tattoos, so there may be some potential health risks, depending on the ink’s chemicals. UV tattoos will also require similar aftercare to regular tattoos. This article discusses UV tattoos, safety and possible side effects, aftercare, and how a person can find a reputable tattoo artist.
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Mia Anderson 3 minutes ago
What are UV tattoos
Share on PinterestSa Nnth Cng Kir Cakr/EyeEm/Getty ImagesUltraviolet (UV), blac...
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Sebastian Silva 2 minutes ago
What is in UV ink and is it safe
There is little scientific evidence on the safety of UV tattoos f...
What are UV tattoos
Share on PinterestSa Nnth Cng Kir Cakr/EyeEm/Getty ImagesUltraviolet (UV), black light, or glow-in-the-dark tattoos are tattoos that only appear under UV light. UV tattoos use ink containing a fluorescent dye that responds to UV light. This means the tattoo is invisible to the human eye in regular lighting and is only visible under UV, or black light.
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Ella Rodriguez 1 minutes ago
What is in UV ink and is it safe
There is little scientific evidence on the safety of UV tattoos f...
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Chloe Santos Moderator
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What is in UV ink and is it safe
There is little scientific evidence on the safety of UV tattoos for humans. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) does not currently regulate any tattoo inks, including UV inks.
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Scarlett Brown 3 minutes ago
According to Tattoo Health, the only approved use for UV ink is within the agriculture and fishing i...
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Sophie Martin 1 minutes ago
As awareness increases about the risks of phosphorous, fewer tattoo artists may be using inks contai...
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Scarlett Brown Member
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According to Tattoo Health, the only approved use for UV ink is within the agriculture and fishing industries. There have also been more reports of adverse skin reactions to UV ink than regular tattoo ink. Some UV ink tattoos may contain phosphorous, which may cause side effects such as:severe blisteringpainburning sensationskin rashes
There is also some concern that UV tattoo inks may contain carcinogenic compounds, which means there may be a potential cancer risk.
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Ryan Garcia 9 minutes ago
As awareness increases about the risks of phosphorous, fewer tattoo artists may be using inks contai...
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Mia Anderson Member
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Friday, 09 May 2025
As awareness increases about the risks of phosphorous, fewer tattoo artists may be using inks containing the substance, but there is no regulation to ensure this. Other UV inks may contain nontoxic compounds that react to UV light. Even without phosphorus, people may still experience negative side effects on the skin.
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Evelyn Zhang Member
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A 2016 study, looking at the use of tattoos in breast radiotherapy, used a commercially available UV tattoo ink. The dye contained a nontoxic, fluorescent compound called 7-diethylamino-4-methylcoumarin (coumarin 1).
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Grace Liu Member
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Researchers found no reports of skin toxicity from the tattoos or any reports of the tattoos becoming visible in regular lighting in a 2-year follow-up. How do UV tattoos work
Black light emits a UV light that the human eye is unable to see. UV tattoos contain a fluorescent substance that absorbs UV light during exposure to black light and then emits it at a wavelength visible to humans.
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Brandon Kumar 13 minutes ago
This means UV tattoos are invisible under regular lighting but appear to glow under UV light. How lo...
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According to Tattoo Health, people can opt for UV tattoo removal in the same way as regular tattoos....
This means UV tattoos are invisible under regular lighting but appear to glow under UV light. How long do UV tattoos last
There is limited information on UV tattoos, but some anecdotal sources suggest they last as long as regular tattoos. Research suggests that UV tattoos may last a lifetime, but this could depend on tattoo exposure to UV light.
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Amelia Singh 41 minutes ago
According to Tattoo Health, people can opt for UV tattoo removal in the same way as regular tattoos....
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They may cause skin irritation, such as:rashburning sensationblisteringinfectionspain
Some UV inks m...
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Noah Davis Member
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According to Tattoo Health, people can opt for UV tattoo removal in the same way as regular tattoos. People may choose laser tattoo removal, which breaks up the ink to remove it from the skin. Side effects and possible complications of UV tattoos
UV tattoos may have an increased risk of adverse side effects than regular tattoos.
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Aria Nguyen Member
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They may cause skin irritation, such as:rashburning sensationblisteringinfectionspain
Some UV inks may also contain carcinogenic compounds. Side effects and complications of any tattoo may include:infections from contaminated equipment or ink, or unhygienic practicessevere infections may cause fever and chills and may require treatment with antibioticsallergic reaction, which may persist due to the permanence of the inkrash, redness, or bumps around the tattooscar tissue or keloidsreaction to MRI scans, which may result in swelling or a burning sensation, although this is rare and a temporary reaction
Choosing a reputable tattoo artist
Each state in the United States has different regulations regarding tattooing. Some states regulate safety and sterilization standards, while others only require a person to be of age before they can receive a tattoo.
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Christopher Lee 20 minutes ago
This leaves it largely up to the individual to judge whether a tattoo procedure is safe. The followi...
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Henry Schmidt 50 minutes ago
Aftercare for a UV tattoo may be similar to aftercare for regular tattoos and may involve:keeping a ...
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Isabella Johnson Member
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Friday, 09 May 2025
This leaves it largely up to the individual to judge whether a tattoo procedure is safe. The following tips may help people find a reputable tattoo artist:Finding a tattoo studio that is clean and well-kept.Asking the tattoo artist about the inks they use, the ingredients of the inks, and their experience.Looking elsewhere if the tattoo artist cannot provide thorough answers or becomes irritable at any questions.Checking that the tattoo artist uses a new, sterile needle for every tattoo, single-use disposable ink bottles and that all other tools and equipment are sterileDiscussing thoroughly with the tattoo artist what the procedure will involve, the tools they will use, and the specific design of the tattoo.Making sure a tattoo artist follows proper hygiene practices such as handwashing, wearing latex gloves, and applying Vaseline to the tattoo with a disposable tool. Aftercare
People will need to follow any aftercare instructions from their tattoo artist.
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Aftercare for a UV tattoo may be similar to aftercare for regular tattoos and may involve:keeping a ...
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Andrew Wilson 6 minutes ago
Last medically reviewed on May 29, 2022DermatologyBlood / Hematologypiercingandtattoos 7 sourcescoll...
Aftercare for a UV tattoo may be similar to aftercare for regular tattoos and may involve:keeping a bandage over the tattoo for at least 12 hours following the procedureleaving the area to dry for around an hour after removing the bandage and then washing it gently with soap and water and applying a thin layer of antibiotic creamwashing and applying the cream twice each day for 4–5 days following the procedureswitching to a water-based cream after the 4–5 daysavoiding bathing the tattoo, swimming, or submerging the tattoo in water until the wound has healedavoiding getting dirt into the tattoo wound, and avoiding scratching or picking at the areafollowing aftercare instructions until the wound has completely healed
Summary
UV tattoos use ink that contains a fluorescent compound, making it visible only when the tattoo is under UV light. There are some concerns regarding the safety of UV tattoos, as there is currently no regulation on the use of UV inks on human skin. If a person chooses to get a UV tattoo, they can discuss with a tattoo artist the ink’s ingredients, how they sterilize equipment, potential side effects, and what proper aftercare involves.
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Last medically reviewed on May 29, 2022DermatologyBlood / Hematologypiercingandtattoos 7 sourcescoll...
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Last medically reviewed on May 29, 2022DermatologyBlood / Hematologypiercingandtattoos 7 sourcescollapsedMedical News Today has strict sourcing guidelines and draws only from peer-reviewed studies, academic research institutions, and medical journals and associations. We avoid using tertiary references. We link primary sources — including studies, scientific references, and statistics — within each article and also list them in the resources section at the bottom of our articles.
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You can learn more about how we ensure our content is accurate and current by reading our editorial policy.Black light basics. (n.d.).https://www.scienceworld.ca/resource/black-light-basicsLandeg, S. J., et al.
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(2016). A randomized control trial evaluating fluorescent ink versus dark ink tattoos for breast rad...
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(2016). A randomized control trial evaluating fluorescent ink versus dark ink tattoos for breast radiotherapy.https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5604906Tattooing and body piercing: State Laws, statutes and regulations.
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(2019).https://www.ncsl.org/research/health/tattooing-and-body-piercing.aspxTattoos & perman...
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(2019).https://www.ncsl.org/research/health/tattooing-and-body-piercing.aspxTattoos & permanent makeup: Fact sheet. (2022).https://www.fda.gov/cosmetics/cosmetic-products/tattoos-permanent-makeup-fact-sheetTattoo safety.
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(n.d.).https://www.atg.wa.gov/tattoo-safetyThink before you ink: Are tattoos safe? (2017).https://ww...
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(n.d.).https://www.atg.wa.gov/tattoo-safetyThink before you ink: Are tattoos safe? (2017).https://www.fda.gov/consumers/consumer-updates/think-you-ink-are-tattoos-safeUV tattoos: Application & risks.
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(n.d.).https://www.tattoohealth.org/content/tattoo-ink/uv-tattoos-ultraviolet-tattoo-ink-health-risksFEEDBACK:Medically reviewed by Debra Sullivan, Ph.D., MSN, R.N., CNE, COI — By Beth Sissons on May 29, 2022
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