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We all know that tattoos can look amazing. And they can boost your mental health by helping you deal with trauma, work through grief and loss, increase body positivity, or even change your relationship to pain. But did you know they can confer health benefits, too? It’s surprising, but it’s true. There’s almost nothing tattoos can’t do. So, let’s talk about what the tattoo health benefits are and why ink isn’t just good for your aesthetic—it’s good for you in general.
Tattoos Boost Your Immune System
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Yes, it’s true: getting a tattoo boosts your immunity. That’s because when you get a tattoo, your immune system mounts a response to try and remove the foreign body (the ink) from your system. It takes a while for your immune system to realize that your tattoo is here to stay, but in the meantime, it’s gotten some critical practice. Some studies even show that people with multiple tattoos may heal faster than those without tattoos.
Tattoos Lower Cortisol Levels
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Studies have shown that tattoos reduce cortisol levels, too. Cortisol is the hormone related to stress, which isn’t great to have at high levels in your body. In fact, elevated cortisol levels can cause several health problems like heart disease, sleep issues, and anxiety and depression.
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The idea is that the spike in cortisol that happens when you’re getting a tattoo contributes to a long-term dip in your cortisol because your body has adjusted to higher levels of stress. That’s just another reason to schedule that next tattoo appointment right away.
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Historically, people believed that tattoos could confer medicinal benefits to those who got them. Many ancient tattoos on well-preserved bodies from thousands of years ago correspond with traditional Chinese acupuncture points.
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Even today, people around the world practice therapeutic joint tattooing to help with mobility, chronic pain management, and other medical issues.
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More Tattoo Health Benefits
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Sometimes, tattoos are just practical. For instance, some people will get medical alert tattoos to help emergency medical services have information about them in an instant.
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Whether it’s an anaphylactic allergy or another non-visible medical condition, these kinds of tattoos can save lives.
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These tattoos are especially helpful for folks with rare illnesses since sometimes, looking up a patient’s medical history is not feasible when you’re rushing to perform life-saving medical interventions.
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If you’re ready to plan your next tattoo, check out the Tattooed Women gallery for some inspiration to help you get started!