Study Shows Tattoos Cause People To Sweat Less

Tattoos have long played an important role in the entire human race. And its existence even dates back to the archaic times. Believe it or not, tattooing first started around 12,000 years BC. The term itself comes from the Tahitian word “tatu,” which means “to mark something.”

They were either used as means to drive away illnesses and bad spirits, among others. Tattoos were also used as a symbol of membership in a certain society or clan. These all prove that tattooing has a rich history and is simply not just a form of self-expression or art.

Image via Wikimedia Commons

However, in a recent study, tattoos actually have a significant impact to a person’s health.
Researchers suggest that, in one way or another, if affects how much a person sweats. This in turn can result to some serious health implications.

According to IFLScience, the researchers used pilocarpine nitrate to stimulate the sweat glands and initiate sweat. Afterwards, small discs were utilized to absorb the sweat that was generated. It was later found out that tattooed skin produced half the amount of sweat compared to non-tattooed skin.

Image via Wikimedia Commons

Image via Wikimedia Commons

Moreover, there was a different composition, one that contained twice as much sodium as the skin with no tattoos. Interestingly, the findings were all the same, regardless of the markings’ age.

In light with the recent discovery, the author of study named Maurie Luetkemeier had this to say:

“To our knowledge, this is the first study of its kind to document alterations in sweating function associated with tattooing.”

Luetkemeier explained, however, that they’re still “cautious” with the results. The process they used for stimulation was somewhat different from any normal process. Basically, they had to cool the skin down followed by a sudden rise in body temperature.

Image via Wikimedia Commons

She is confident that the studio will provide further concepts for relevant fields. She warns that heavily tattooed people are more at risk when it comes to any heat-related injuries. This is because their bodies are not just capable of expelling heat at a faster pace.

Dr. Angela Smith of the Thomas Jefferson University in Pennsylvania notes that when it comes to sweating, there’s a maximum rate that can be obtained. It should be noted, though, that she was not part of the study conducted by Luetkemeier and her team.

Smith explains,

“If you’re a marathon runner in the heat, a firefighter, or a soldier in a very hot climate you may already be sweating at your absolute maximum. So if you’re already at your maximum and now you lose your ability of a certain portion of your skin to sweat, all of a sudden you have a lower maximum than you did before... so now you could be at greater risk than if you didn’t have a tattoo.”

While the study proved to be promising, its size is still not enough for people to jump into conclusions. Luetkemeier hopes that one day, they can further illuminate their research and determine if whether or not this is something people with tattoos should be worried about or not.