Hi

Hope this helps. (

UV INK (Black Light Ink)

This type of ink is a relative newcomer to the tattoo scene and has been around approximately 10 years for human consumption, although it has much more recently taken off for use as a tattooing pigment
The ink in essence glows in the dark especially when it is placed under an ultraviolet light (the kind usually found in nightclubs).

Although they come in colour the white ones are not as discernible to the naked eye but the outline of the scar can be seen on the skin.

So what is it made from?

There are two main types of UV ink on the market:

Polymethylmethacrylate 97.5% and micro spheres of fluorescent dye 2.5% suspended in UV sterilized, distilled water.
This was mainly used for marking animals and fish. This was so they could trace at night in the wild.

The second type of pigment used is a photo luminescent pigment, which contains alkaline earth aluminates.

These can include the very toxic soft metals

Barium
Beryllium
Radium
Strontium

All of these are highly toxic to the human body and can lead to cancer and severe allergic reactions.

There is no official research as yet as to whether this type of ink is safe to use in tattooing in the long term.

The other issues are that the ink can fade out to leave blotches of yellow or brown or can go lumpy.

There are many startling tattoo examples of this type of pigment being used but you have to weigh up the health risk vs the look.

Take care
Matthew