Am J Hum Biol September 2016 PMID 26946186

Tattooing to "Toughen up": Tattoo experience and secretory immunoglobulin A.

Christopher D Lynn, Johnna T Dominguez, Jason A DeCaro

Mentions

73
Peak: 6 in Apr 2023
across 7 sources since Feb 2019

Extended reach

74,506
potential audience

Total likes

44

Video views

563

Mentions per month

Feb 2019 – Dec 2025

Where it's discussed

  • TikTok34 posts
  • X / Twitter17 posts
  • Facebook13 posts
  • News5 articles
  • YouTube2 videos
  • Reddit1 posts
  • Blogs1 articles

AI synopsis

What people are saying

The discussions reflect overall enthusiasm and curiosity about the study, with comments like 'tattooing inoculates your system' and 'it’s basically an inoculation.' The tone is generally positive and inquisitive, highlighting the potential health benefits of tattoos as signals of immune health, though some acknowledge that further research is needed.

AgreementModerate agreement

Most discussions support the idea that tattooing can bolster immune responses, as evidenced by comments like 'tattoos inoculate your system' and 'tattooing helps the immune system recover quicker.'

InterestHigh interest

The discussions show high interest, with many posters intrigued by the health implications and potential of tattooing as an immune booster.

EngagementModerate engagement

Participants reference multiple studies, share personal opinions, and analyze implications, indicating a moderate level of deep engagement.

ImpactModerate impact

While some discussions suggest tattooing could have health benefits, the overall impact is moderate, reflecting ongoing curiosity rather than definitive conclusions.

Abstract in brief

  • The study investigated whether tattooing acts as a "costly honest signal" of fitness by examining immune responses, specifically secretory immunoglobulin A (SIgA) and cortisol (sCORT), before and after tattoo sessions in participants with varying tattoo experiences.
  • Results showed that with increased tattoo experience, participants exhibited less immunosuppression (higher SIgA levels) after tattooing, suggesting that repeated tattooing helps the immune system habituate to the stressor.
  • The findings imply that individuals with healthier immune systems may recover faster from tattooing, making them more likely to accumulate multiple tattoos over time, supporting the idea that tattooing can signal fitness through an immune response.]

Top posts

Most liked on X and Bluesky
SPERMIFEX
@spermifex · X

HONEST SIGNAL OF FITNESS https://t.co/ioyWFZbKSi (BUT FURTHER RESEARCH IS NEEDED) https://t.co/1QgmTwG1ej

Dec 12, 2022 · 12 likes · 1 share · 26,457 followers View post →
Etiene Dalcol
@etiene_d · X

It's basically an innoculation that you can get from time to time. The more the merrier! Source study: https://t.co/UH45WtyNGF

Nov 14, 2022 · 4 likes · 1 share · 4,037 followers View post →
Human Biology Association & Amer J Hum Biol
@HumBioAssoc · X

Here is the first article from 2017 https://t.co/Anb5nE3otI

Apr 7, 2023 · 2 likes · 2 shares · 2,445 followers View post →
Ratio
@RatioBG · X

If you want to improve your immune response for soft tissue damage, make more... tattoos. https://t.co/MKsOIl9GH4 https://t.co/of3IqXssua

Feb 1, 2020 · 1 like · 445 followers View post →
Susan Hutfless
@Susan_Hutfless · X

Tattooing to “Toughen up”: Tattoo experience and sIgA https://t.co/Hj7YlnzXhy

Feb 7, 2019 · 1 like · 158 followers View post →
Adonai
@adxxnai · X

@GricelTango @enanachora y otra cosa interesante es un estudio que encontró datos que sugieren que tatuarse ayuda al sistema inmune a recuperarse mas rápido de heridas en el tejido blando habituándose al factor estresante del tatuaje doi:10.1002/ajhb.22847

Jul 11, 2023 · 15,125 followers View post →

All mentions

Jabroni
@JabroniTV · X

@FAT9L @MonsoonGG Can't find the specific one I mentioned, but this is a similar one which suggests that tattooing inoculates your system against soft tissue damage https://t.co/odmnbwCwXa

Aug 17, 2024 · 266 followers View post →
Adonai
@adxxnai · X

@GricelTango @enanachora y otra cosa interesante es un estudio que encontró datos que sugieren que tatuarse ayuda al sistema inmune a recuperarse mas rápido de heridas en el tejido blando habituándose al factor estresante del tatuaje doi:10.1002/ajhb.22847

Jul 11, 2023 · 15,125 followers View post →
Agustín Fuentes
@Anthrofuentes · X

RT @HumBioAssoc: Here is the first article from 2017 https://t.co/Anb5nE3otI

Apr 11, 2023 · 2 shares · 12,876 followers View post →
Christopher Lynn
@Chris_Ly · X

RT @HumBioAssoc: Here is the first article from 2017 https://t.co/Anb5nE3otI

Apr 11, 2023 · 2 shares · 2,108 followers View post →
Human Biology Association & Amer J Hum Biol
@HumBioAssoc · X

Here is the first article from 2017 https://t.co/Anb5nE3otI

Apr 7, 2023 · 2 likes · 2 shares · 2,445 followers View post →
SPERMIFEX
@spermifex · X

HONEST SIGNAL OF FITNESS https://t.co/ioyWFZbKSi (BUT FURTHER RESEARCH IS NEEDED) https://t.co/1QgmTwG1ej

Dec 12, 2022 · 12 likes · 1 share · 26,457 followers View post →
sudo rm -rf fascism
@misprintedtype · X

RT @etiene_d: It's basically an innoculation that you can get from time to time. The more the merrier! Source study: https://t.co/UH45Wty…

Nov 14, 2022 · 1 share · 4,852 followers View post →
Etiene Dalcol
@etiene_d · X

It's basically an innoculation that you can get from time to time. The more the merrier! Source study: https://t.co/UH45WtyNGF

Nov 14, 2022 · 4 likes · 1 share · 4,037 followers View post →
Br
@jaodasneves99 · X

@joelxjrr E tem um estudo q basicamente mostra q pessoas q já fizeram várias tatuagens apresentam uma imunidade melhor: Tattooing to “Toughen up”: Tattoo experience and secretory immunoglobulin A https://t.co/DaHWW3do3f

Oct 4, 2022 · 110 followers View post →
drdtbs
@drdtbs · X

Alabama üniversitesinde yapılan çalışmaya göre çok sayıda dövme yaptıranların strese karşı daha dayanıklı immün sistem reaksiyonu verdiği gözlenmiş

Jul 2, 2020 · 47 followers View post →
3,141592
@ghostscat · X

@BlagTamara @UN1244 напишите опровержение научной работы https://t.co/LjGuYhLLV4

Mar 15, 2020 · 3,789 followers View post →
Ratio
@RatioBG · X

If you want to improve your immune response for soft tissue damage, make more... tattoos. https://t.co/MKsOIl9GH4 https://t.co/of3IqXssua

Feb 1, 2020 · 1 like · 445 followers View post →
Tattooing & Human Nature
@Inking_Immunity · X

RT @KarlisleG: Tattoo experience and secretory immunoglobulin A "Our data suggest that the body habituates over time to the tattooing stres…

Oct 3, 2019 · 1 share · 487 followers View post →
Anatoly Zhirkov/Жирков Анатолий
@AnaZhirkov · X

I agree to the use of tattoos only for medical purposes, for example: https://t.co/KQk2whIN6s. Tattooing to “Toughen up”: Tattoo experience and secretory immunoglobulin A - Lynn - 2016 - American Journal of Human Biology - Wiley Online Library https://t.co/w0lc1L9Xkb

Aug 23, 2019 · 22 followers View post →
Luker
@luk3_r · X

@Icewalker1974 Es wird Zeit, dass du dich optisch an @ReinhardRemfort angleichst. Tattoos stärken dein Immunsystem.

Aug 19, 2019 · 8 followers View post →
ɹǝɟᴉʇɔou
@KarlisleG · X

Tattoo experience and secretory immunoglobulin A "Our data suggest that the body habituates over time to the tattooing stressor. It is possible that individuals with healthy immune systems heal faster, making them more likely to get multiple tattoos." https://t.co/jPJ6zzwS15

Jul 5, 2019 · 1 share · 152 followers View post →
Susan Hutfless
@Susan_Hutfless · X

Tattooing to “Toughen up”: Tattoo experience and sIgA https://t.co/Hj7YlnzXhy

Feb 7, 2019 · 1 like · 158 followers View post →
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