Tattoos do not affect exercise-induced localised sweat rate or sodium concentration

Area of Science:

• Exercise Physiology
• Dermatology
• Human Physiology

Background:

• Previous research indicated skin tattoos could alter localized sweat responses.
• Specifically, tattoos were thought to reduce sweat rate and increase sweat sodium concentration ([Na+]) under stimulated conditions.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate if skin tattoos similarly affect sweat rate and sweat sodium concentration during exercise-induced sweating.
• To determine the impact of tattoos on physiological responses during physical exertion.

Main Methods:

• A within-participant, controlled study involving 22 healthy individuals.
• Participants performed intermittent cycling in a controlled environment.
• Sweat was collected from tattooed and non-tattooed skin sites to measure sweat rate and sweat sodium concentration ([Na+]).

Main Results:

• No significant differences were found in sweat rate between tattooed and non-tattooed skin sites (p=0.693).
• No significant differences were observed in sweat sodium concentration ([Na+]) between tattooed and non-tattooed sites (p=0.827).
• Observed variations were within the normal range of within-participant variability.

Conclusions:

• Skin tattoos do not appear to modify the rate or sodium concentration of sweat produced during exercise.
• The influence of skin tattoos on localized sweat responses might have been previously overestimated.