“Another explanation, which is not mutually exclusive, is that people with higher tattoo experience might also display reduced IgA suppression after tattooing, similar to elite athletes who habituate to moderate and high intensity exercise stress over time.” said the researchers. New research reveals evidence that getting many tattoos lowers the risk of common infections by strengthening an individual’s immunological responses.
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The research showed that people getting their first tattoo showed decreased levels of the antibody immunoglobulin A and increased levels of cortisol – the a stress hormone that suppresses your body’s immune response.
According to The Huffington Post, the level of immunoglobulin A in the candidates who were receiving their first ink dropped much lower than those who had multiple tats.
What it means in layman’s terms? Getting numerous tattoos stresses the body over and over again and this leads to the body adjusting to it instead of going back to the original set point.
“You can even be more susceptible to catching a cold”, says Christopher Lynn, Ph.D., professor at the University of Alabama, and author of the study.
A new research has found that tattoos can offer a surprising health benefit.
Getting tattoos is the latest fashion these days and many people tattoo themselves just to keep up to the trend.
Lynn said he had earlier noted first-hand that receiving tattoos can be physically draining. A person at initial days of hitting gym gets temporary pain the following day. Samples of their salvia have also been collected before and after tattoo sessions. Similarly, getting a tattoo is a painful experience that may get better with time.
“Tattooing may stimulate the immune system in a manner similar to a vaccination to be less susceptible to future pathogenic infiltration”, the study said, comparing it to muscles adapting to repeated workouts.
“Immunoglobulin A is a front line of defense against some of the common infections we encounter, like colds”, Headlines and Global News quotes him as saying.
So, you have been contemplating getting another tattoo, but you’re kind of unsure.
This means that those with multiple tattoos have a stronger immune system than those who just got their first tattoo.
“After the stress response, your body returns to an equilibrium”, Lynn continued. As this process happens, your body tries to figure out an appropriate counter-measure and boosts up the immune response. The researchers analyzed the samples, measuring levels of immunoglobulin A, is an antibody that plays a critical role in immune function in the mucous membranes.
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Of course, the study is far from reflecting the truth, according to some of its critics. However, the immunoglobulin A decrease was not so much in people who had more tattoos. As the study was conducted on a very small group of people, the results can not be deemed conclusive.
