The latest study tested 75 samples of sealed tattoo and permanent makeup ink sold in the United States by 14 manufacturers that were not named by the FDA. Some of the samples were labeled as sterile.

Looking ahead, company representatives hope to introduce a red ink to join the classic black. They also hope to join the medical space and provide tattoos for patients who need markers on their ...

Of the 49 tattoo ink samples they studied, nine of them were found to have bacterial growth. Out of 35 permanent makeup inks that were tested, nearly half — 17 samples — were contaminated.