#Melanoma

A surprising new look at tattoos and skin cancer is turning the usual cautionary tale on its head. In a large population-based study conducted in Utah, researchers found that people with two or more tattoos showed a lower associated risk of melanoma than those with none or just one tattoo. The strongest signal appeared in individuals with four or more tattoos. Yet the researchers were quick to caution that this is far from a verdict that tattoos protect against skin cancer. The pattern likely reflects unmeasured factors—such as sun-safety behaviors and other health-conscious choices—not a direct protective effect from ink.