by Rana Williamson

Created on: March 10, 2009

UV tattoos, popularized by the "raver" culture (a term most used in the United Kingdom for people who attend raves or rave parties), react to blacklight, or UV light, which has a wavelength shorter than visible light. The specialized UV tattoo ink glows or fluoresces in the presence of a blacklight source, but may be completely invisible under normal light (unless scarring is present from the tattooing process.)

*Disadvantages and Controversies*

Not surprisingly, UV tattoos are more expensive and few UV inks have been approved for use in the United States. Controversy exists over whether or not the inks contain carcinogens and allergens, as itching and dermatitis are common adverse reactions. Additionally, UV inks can brown or yellow when exposed to sunlight. No long-term data exists to link the UV ink to cancers, but many tattoo artists will not work with the ink due to the potential for complications and the difficulties of actually applying the medium.

The principle difficulties in application stem from the fact that the UV inks are thin and not easily visible under normal light and they do not blend. If normal ink is applied in conjunction with UV ink, the "glow" is dampened. It is not uncommon, however, for a regular tattoo, once healed, to be highlighted with UV ink creating a sort of hybrid piece of body art.

*Improvements in UV Inks*

Those issues aside, however, improvements in the ink and more stringent FDA testing have led to more UV ink choices that are certified to be free of phosphors and that are not radioactive. The safety of the medium as a whole has been improved by the use of Spectral Marking Pigments in the tracking of wildlife and fish over the past decade, but those inks are not approved for use in humans. With continued advancements in ink safety, UV ink will undoubtedly grow in popularity for tattoos, since the effect can be dramatic and appealing. For examples, click here.

*Bottom Line on UV Tattoos*

Although advancements in the ink are impressive, it is impossible to say at this time that UV inks are 100 percent safe. A range of skin reactions have been reported including blisters, rashes, and infections, and ongoing concern continues about the possible link to skin cancers.

For those considering a UV tattoo, find out what kind of ink your artist will be using and ask to see a list of the ingredients it contains. Do not go with an artist who manufactures his own ink. In general, it's best to stay away from inks that contain phosphors as they are most likely to cause skin irritations.

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