The Bottom Line on Tattoos and Skin Cancer

Based on the research to date, there doesn’t appear to be a significant risk of tattoos causing skin cancer. I’ve explained this before in a memo several years ago, but here’s the gist of it: I’m sticking this issue under the heading “Reserve Judgment.” When there’s no statistical significance but there may be a relationship between variables, that’s the statistical term that’s appropriate. I know you’re thinking, “Dr. Chet—50 cases. Ever! C’mon, man. What’s your problem?” There are three reasons I’m reserving judgment.

First, while tattoo businesses have . . .

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