Print Print    Close Close

How tattoos may offer protection from the common cold

Published April 06, 2016

New York Post
tattoo istock

Close up tattoo artist demonstrates the process of getting black and red tattoo with orange paint. Master works on the professional blue mat in black sterile gloves. (ivan-river.com)

Tattoos don’t just make people look tough, they actually can help fight off diseases, according to a new study.

Researchers at the University of Alabama found that inked-up individuals have a better chance of beating a cold than tattoo virgins.

Just like a body gets stronger as a person continues to work out at the gym, it can build up a tolerance to regular inkings.

“After the stress response, your body returns to an equilibrium,” Dr. Christopher Lynn, one of the three UA professors who worked on the study that was published in the American Journal of Human Biology in March, said in a release.

More on this...

  • ‘Blackout’ tattoos trending as people cover skin in ink
  • Rest ink peace: Nonprofit preserves deceased members’ tattoos
  • Tattoo artist offers free tattoos to cover self-harm scars

“However, if you continue to stress your body over and over again, instead of returning to the same set point, it adjusts its internal set points and moves higher.”

Lynn’s team analyzed saliva samples from 29 volunteers before and after they got tatted up. Nine of the participants were newbies and the rest already had a few tattoos.

Print Print    Close Close

URL

https://www.foxnews.com/health/how-tattoos-may-offer-protection-from-the-common-cold

  • Home
  • Video
  • Politics
  • U.S.
  • Opinion
  • Entertainment
  • Tech
  • Science
  • Health
  • Travel
  • Lifestyle
  • World
  • Sports
  • Weather
  • Privacy
  • Terms

This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. © FOX News Network, LLC. All rights reserved. Quotes displayed in real-time or delayed by at least 15 minutes. Market data provided by Factset. Powered and implemented by FactSet Digital Solutions. Legal Statement. Mutual Fund and ETF data provided by LSEG. Do Not Sell my Personal Information - New Terms of Use - FAQ