Tattoos: are they really indelible?

Institutionnel

Researchers from Inserm, CNRS and Aix Marseille University at the Center of Immunology Marseille-Luminy (CIML) have discovered that while a tattoo may be forever, the skin cells that carry the tattoo pigment are not. These cells transmit this pigment to new cells when they die. Acting on this process could improve current laser removal techniques. This study was published on March 6, 2018 in Journal of Experimental Medicine.

 

Download the press release : https://presse.inserm.fr/en/tattoos-are-they-really-indelible/30785/

 

Bibliography

Unveiling skin macrophage dynamics explains both tattoo persistence and strenuous removal. Anna Baranska, Alaa Shawket, Mabel Jouve, Myriam Baratin, Camille Malosse, Odessa Voluzan, Thien‑Phong Vu Manh, Frédéric Fiore, Marc Bajénoff, Philippe Benaroch, Marc Dalod, Marie Malissen, Sandrine Henri and Bernard Malissen. Journal of Experimental Medicine, 6 mars 2018.

Contacts

Inserm researcher  | Sandrine Henri | henri@ciml.univ-mrs.fr

CNRS researcher | Bernard Malissen | bernardm@ciml.univ-mrs.fr

 

Inserm press office | presse@inserm.fr